Dairy Queen vs Whataburger: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 20, 2026 4 items matched

The short answer

Whataburger is the cheaper of the two. Of the 4 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Whataburger is cheaper on 2 of them, by an average of $0.43 per item.

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

Item	Dairy Queen	Whataburger	Difference
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$6.49	$7.29	$0.80 cheaper at Dairy Queen
Malt (medium)vs Malt	$5.19	$4.79	$0.40 cheaper at Whataburger
Shake (medium)	$4.99	$4.49	$0.50 cheaper at Whataburger
Onion Rings (medium)	$3.79	$3.79	same

Dairy Queen vs Whataburger at a Glance

	Dairy Queen	Whataburger
Typical menu price	$5.00	$5.49
Average menu price	$6.86	$6.87
Cheapest item	Dilly Bar — $2.29	Apple Slices — $1.99
Most expensive item	10" Round Ice Cream Cake — $34.99	Party Pack Chicken Strips (20 pc) — $39.99
Items priced	42	45
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1940	1950
Headquarters	Minneapolis, Minnesota	San Antonio, Texas
Locations	About 4,300 restaurants in the United States	More than 1,050 restaurants across the South and Southwest

Which One Should You Order From?

Dairy Queen has the lower typical menu price of the two — $5.00 against $5.49 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Whataburger gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

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

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.

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.

Dairy Queen vs Whataburger — FAQ

Is Dairy Queen cheaper than Whataburger in 2026?

Whataburger is cheaper on most matched items — 2 of 4. Across the whole menu Dairy Queen is the lower-priced of the two, at $5.00 for a typical item against $5.49 at Whataburger.

What is the price difference between Dairy Queen and Whataburger?

On matched items the average difference is $0.43, or about less than 1% overall. Dairy Queen averages $6.86 across 42 priced items; Whataburger averages $6.87 across 44.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Dairy Queen or Whataburger?

Dairy Queen starts at $2.29 (Dilly Bar) 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.