Cook Out vs Whataburger: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 15, 2026 9 items matched

The short answer

Cook Out is the cheaper of the two. Of the 9 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Cook Out is cheaper on 6 of them, by an average of $1.23 per item.

Typical menu price: Cook Out $4.79 · Whataburger $5.49

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	Whataburger	Difference
Grilled Chicken Platevs Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$9.79	$7.29	$2.50 cheaper at Whataburger
Bacon Cheddar Burgervs Avocado Bacon Burger	$6.49	$9.19	$2.70 cheaper at Cook Out
Cajun Chicken Sandwichvs Spicy Chicken Sandwich	$5.49	$6.99	$1.50 cheaper at Cook Out
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$5.29	$7.29	$2.00 cheaper at Cook Out
Cheesecake Shakevs Shake (medium)	$4.79	$4.49	$0.30 cheaper at Whataburger
Onion Ringsvs Onion Rings (medium)	$2.79	$3.79	$1.00 cheaper at Cook Out
Fountain Drink (large)vs Fountain Drink (medium)	$2.79	$2.79	same
Sweet Tea (large)	$2.49	$3.09	$0.60 cheaper at Cook Out
Fountain Drink (regular)vs Fountain Drink (medium)	$2.29	$2.79	$0.50 cheaper at Cook Out

Cook Out vs Whataburger at a Glance

	Cook Out	Whataburger
Typical menu price	$4.79	$5.49
Average menu price	$5.16	$6.87
Cheapest item	Coleslaw — $1.99	Apple Slices — $1.99
Most expensive item	Double Burger Plate — $9.99	Party Pack Chicken Strips (20 pc) — $39.99
Items priced	43	45
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1989	1950
Headquarters	Thomasville, North Carolina	San Antonio, Texas
Locations	About 300 restaurants across the Southeast	More than 1,050 restaurants across the South and Southwest

Which One Should You Order From?

Cook Out has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.79 against $5.49 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Cook Out gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

Cook Out is strongest on Cook Out Tray, Big Double Burger, Cajun Chicken Sandwich; Whataburger on Whataburger, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, Patty Melt. 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.

Whataburger

The Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit at $3.99 is the best price-to-satisfaction item on the entire menu — and it is available for twelve hours a day.
Whataburger Rewards in the app runs frequent free-item offers and points on every order.
Ordering a Whataburger Jr. at $3.19 instead of the full Whataburger saves over $3 for a similar build at smaller size.

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 Whataburger — FAQ

Is Cook Out cheaper than Whataburger in 2026?

Cook Out is cheaper on most matched items — 6 of 9. Across the whole menu Cook Out is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.79 for a typical item against $5.49 at Whataburger.

What is the price difference between Cook Out and Whataburger?

On matched items the average difference is $1.23, or about 25% overall. Cook Out averages $5.16 across 40 priced items; Whataburger averages $6.87 across 44.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cook Out or Whataburger?

Cook Out starts at $1.99 (Coleslaw) and Whataburger at $1.99 (Apple Slices).

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.