Cook Out vs Wendy's: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 25, 2026 4 items matched

The short answer

Cook Out is the cheaper of the two. Of the 4 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Cook Out is cheaper on 3 of them, by an average of $0.80 per item.

Typical menu price: Cook Out $4.79 · Wendy's $4.19

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Cook Out's wording first.

Item	Cook Out	Wendy's	Difference
Cajun Chicken Sandwichvs Classic Chicken Sandwich	$5.49	$6.49	$1.00 cheaper at Cook Out
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$5.29	$6.99	$1.70 cheaper at Cook Out
Chicken Wrap (side)vs Chicken Wrap	$2.99	$3.49	$0.50 cheaper at Cook Out
Sweet Tea (large)	$2.49	$2.49	same

Make Cook Out and Wendy's at Home

Whichever of the two wins on price, cooking the favorites at home beats both. These are the sauces, mixes and kitchen tools that get closest to the real thing.

Burger Press Uniform smash-style patties in seconds. Check price on Amazon Cast Iron Griddle The crust fast-food flat-tops are known for. Check price on Amazon Copycat Restaurant Recipes Cookbooks that recreate chain-restaurant favorites. Check price on Amazon

Cook Out vs Wendy's at a Glance

	Cook Out	Wendy's
Typical menu price	$4.79	$4.19
Average menu price	$5.16	$4.95
Cheapest item	Coleslaw — $1.99	Frosty (junior) — $1.49
Most expensive item	Double Burger Plate — $9.99	Baconator Combo — $12.29
Items priced	43	49
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1989	1969
Headquarters	Thomasville, North Carolina	Dublin, Ohio
Locations	About 300 restaurants across the Southeast	About 6,000 restaurants in the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

Wendy's has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.19 against $4.79 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Wendy's gets you in cheaper at $1.49.

Cook Out is strongest on Cook Out Tray, Big Double Burger, Cajun Chicken Sandwich; Wendy's on Dave's Single, Baconator, Spicy Chicken Sandwich. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Cook Out

The Cook Out Tray at $7.49 to $8.79 includes an entree, two sides and a drink — the cheapest complete combo of any national or regional chain.
Upgrading the tray drink to a milkshake for $2.99 costs less than buying the shake separately at $4.29.
Cook Out stays open until 3:00 or 4:00 AM, which makes it one of the only late-night sit-down-quality options in much of the Southeast.

Wendy's

The $5 Biggie Bag is the most complete meal for the money at any national burger chain — the four items separately run about $11.
A junior Frosty at $1.49 is the cheapest dessert in fast food, and Wendy's regularly sells a season-long Frosty Key Tag for around $3 that gives one free junior Frosty per visit for a year.
A small chili at $3.49 is more food per dollar than a small fries at $2.49 and is the only hot vegetable-and-protein side on a burger menu.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Cook Out vs Wendy's — FAQ

Is Cook Out cheaper than Wendy's in 2026?

Cook Out is cheaper on most matched items — 3 of 4. Across the whole menu Wendy's is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.19 for a typical item against $4.79 at Cook Out.

What is the price difference between Cook Out and Wendy's?

On matched items the average difference is $0.80, or about 4% overall. Cook Out averages $5.16 across 40 priced items; Wendy's averages $4.95 across 49.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cook Out or Wendy's?

Cook Out starts at $1.99 (Coleslaw) and Wendy's at $1.49 (Frosty (junior)).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.