Dairy Queen vs Wendy's: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 25, 2026 3 items matched

The short answer

Wendy's is the cheaper of the two. Of the 3 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Wendy's is cheaper on 2 of them, by an average of $1.30 per item.

Typical menu price: Dairy Queen $5.00 · 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 — Dairy Queen's wording first.

Item	Dairy Queen	Wendy's	Difference
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$6.49	$6.99	$0.50 cheaper at Dairy Queen
Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$6.29	$2.99	$3.30 cheaper at Wendy's
Soft Drink (medium)	$2.49	$2.39	$0.10 cheaper at Wendy's

Make Dairy Queen 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.

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

Dairy Queen vs Wendy's at a Glance

	Dairy Queen	Wendy's
Typical menu price	$5.00	$4.19
Average menu price	$6.86	$4.95
Cheapest item	Dilly Bar — $2.29	Frosty (junior) — $1.49
Most expensive item	10" Round Ice Cream Cake — $34.99	Baconator Combo — $12.29
Items priced	42	49
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1940	1969
Headquarters	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Dublin, Ohio
Locations	About 4,300 restaurants in the United States	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 $5.00 — 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.

Dairy Queen is strongest on Oreo Blizzard, Chicken Strip Basket, Dilly Bar; 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

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.

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.

Dairy Queen vs Wendy's — FAQ

Is Dairy Queen cheaper than Wendy's in 2026?

Wendy's is cheaper on most matched items — 2 of 3. Across the whole menu Wendy's is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.19 for a typical item against $5.00 at Dairy Queen.

What is the price difference between Dairy Queen and Wendy's?

On matched items the average difference is $1.30, or about 28% overall. Dairy Queen averages $6.86 across 42 priced items; Wendy's averages $4.95 across 49.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Dairy Queen or Wendy's?

Dairy Queen starts at $2.29 (Dilly Bar) 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.