In-N-Out Burger vs Steak 'n Shake: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 10, 2026 5 items matched

The short answer

In-N-Out Burger is the cheaper of the two. Of the 5 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, In-N-Out Burger is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $0.73 per item.

Typical menu price: In-N-Out Burger $4.35 · 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 — In-N-Out Burger's wording first.

Item	In-N-Out Burger	Steak 'n Shake	Difference
Cheese Fries	$4.35	$4.49	$0.14 cheaper at In-N-Out Burger
Grilled Cheese	$4.10	$4.29	$0.19 cheaper at In-N-Out Burger
Root Beer Float	$3.60	$4.29	$0.69 cheaper at In-N-Out Burger
Shake (chocolate, vanilla or strawberry)vs Classic Shake (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry)	$3.30	$5.29	$1.99 cheaper at In-N-Out Burger
Coffee	$1.65	$2.29	$0.64 cheaper at In-N-Out Burger

Make In-N-Out Burger 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 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

In-N-Out Burger vs Steak 'n Shake at a Glance

	In-N-Out Burger	Steak 'n Shake
Typical menu price	$4.35	$5.79
Average menu price	$4.90	$5.84
Cheapest item	Milk — $1.30	Coffee — $2.29
Most expensive item	4x4 (four patties, four cheese) — $10.35	Chicken Fingers Combo — $11.29
Items priced	31	44
Menu sections	5	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1948	1934
Headquarters	Irvine, California	Indianapolis, Indiana
Locations	About 400 restaurants across the West and Southwest	About 400 restaurants, largely in the Midwest and South

Which One Should You Order From?

In-N-Out Burger has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.35 against $5.79 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, In-N-Out Burger gets you in cheaper at $1.30.

In-N-Out Burger is strongest on Double-Double, Animal Style Fries, Neapolitan Shake; 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

In-N-Out Burger

Animal Style, Protein Style, extra spread, chopped chilies and well-done fries are all free modifications — the best no-cost upgrades in fast food.
A Double-Double at $6.35 costs less than a single premium burger at most competitors and contains two patties.
Building a 3x3 at $8.35 is cheaper than a Double-Double plus an extra patty ordered separately.

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.

In-N-Out Burger vs Steak 'n Shake — FAQ

Is In-N-Out Burger cheaper than Steak 'n Shake in 2026?

In-N-Out Burger is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 5. Across the whole menu In-N-Out Burger is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.35 for a typical item against $5.79 at Steak 'n Shake.

What is the price difference between In-N-Out Burger and Steak 'n Shake?

On matched items the average difference is $0.73, or about 16% overall. In-N-Out Burger averages $4.90 across 23 priced items; Steak 'n Shake averages $5.84 across 44.

Which has the cheaper entry price, In-N-Out Burger or Steak 'n Shake?

In-N-Out Burger starts at $1.30 (Milk) 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.