Dairy Queen vs Steak 'n Shake: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 20, 2026 7 items matched

The short answer

Dairy Queen is the cheaper of the two. Of the 7 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Dairy Queen is cheaper on 6 of them, by an average of $0.57 per item.

Typical menu price: Dairy Queen $5.00 · Steak 'n Shake $5.79

Matched Items, Side by Side

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

Item	Dairy Queen	Steak 'n Shake	Difference
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$6.49	$7.29	$0.80 cheaper at Dairy Queen
Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$6.29	$6.99	$0.70 cheaper at Dairy Queen
Sundae (medium)vs Sundae	$4.19	$4.49	$0.30 cheaper at Dairy Queen
Chili Cheese Dogvs Chili Dog	$3.99	$4.29	$0.30 cheaper at Dairy Queen
Onion Rings (medium)vs Onion Rings	$3.79	$4.29	$0.50 cheaper at Dairy Queen
Side Salad	$3.49	$4.49	$1.00 cheaper at Dairy Queen
Fries (medium)vs Fries (regular)	$3.39	$2.99	$0.40 cheaper at Steak 'n Shake

Make Dairy Queen and Steak 'n Shake 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.

Milkshake Maker Diner-style shakes at home in about a minute. Check price on Amazon Ice Cream Maker Custard and soft-serve at home. Check price on Amazon Copycat Restaurant Recipes Cookbooks that recreate chain-restaurant favorites. Check price on Amazon

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Dairy Queen vs Steak 'n Shake at a Glance

	Dairy Queen	Steak 'n Shake
Typical menu price	$5.00	$5.79
Average menu price	$6.86	$5.84
Cheapest item	Dilly Bar — $2.29	Coffee — $2.29
Most expensive item	10" Round Ice Cream Cake — $34.99	Chicken Fingers Combo — $11.29
Items priced	42	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1940	1934
Headquarters	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Indianapolis, Indiana
Locations	About 4,300 restaurants in the United States	About 400 restaurants, largely in the Midwest and South

Which One Should You Order From?

Dairy Queen has the lower typical menu price of the two — $5.00 against $5.79 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Dairy Queen gets you in cheaper at $2.29.

Dairy Queen is strongest on Oreo Blizzard, Chicken Strip Basket, Dilly Bar; Steak 'n Shake on Original Double 'n Cheese Steakburger, Hand-Dipped Milkshake, Garlic Steakburger. 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

Dairy Queen

The $7 Meal Deal includes a mini Blizzard alongside a sandwich, fries and a drink — the Blizzard alone is normally $3.99.
A Dilly Bar at $2.29 is the cheapest branded frozen treat at any national chain and has been on the menu since 1955.
A mini Blizzard at $3.99 is $1.60 less than a medium for about two thirds the volume — the mini is the sensible size for one person.

Steak 'n Shake

Most locations run half-price milkshakes in the afternoon — typically after 2:00 PM — which takes a $5.29 shake down to about $2.65.
Ordering at the in-store kiosk rather than through delivery avoids the platform markup, which at Steak 'n Shake is steep.
A double Steakburger combo at $10.59 includes two patties, fries and a drink — competitive with single-patty combos elsewhere.

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.

Dairy Queen vs Steak 'n Shake — FAQ

Is Dairy Queen cheaper than Steak 'n Shake in 2026?

Dairy Queen is cheaper on most matched items — 6 of 7. Across the whole menu Dairy Queen is the lower-priced of the two, at $5.00 for a typical item against $5.79 at Steak 'n Shake.

What is the price difference between Dairy Queen and Steak 'n Shake?

On matched items the average difference is $0.57, or about 15% overall. Dairy Queen averages $6.86 across 42 priced items; Steak 'n Shake averages $5.84 across 44.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Dairy Queen or Steak 'n Shake?

Dairy Queen starts at $2.29 (Dilly Bar) and Steak 'n Shake at $2.29 (Coffee).

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.