Jack in the Box vs Krystal: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated October 15, 2026 3 items matched

The short answer

Krystal is the cheaper of the two. Of the 3 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Krystal is cheaper on 3 of them, by an average of $0.70 per item.

Typical menu price: Jack in the Box $4.99 · Krystal $2.99

Matched Items, Side by Side

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

Item	Jack in the Box	Krystal	Difference
Onion Rings	$3.79	$2.79	$1.00 cheaper at Krystal
Orange Juice	$3.19	$2.49	$0.70 cheaper at Krystal
Fountain Drink (medium)vs Fountain Drink (Medium)	$2.69	$2.29	$0.40 cheaper at Krystal

Make Jack in the Box and Krystal 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.

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

Jack in the Box vs Krystal at a Glance

	Jack in the Box	Krystal
Typical menu price	$4.99	$2.99
Average menu price	$4.94	$4.79
Cheapest item	Two Tacos — $1.79	Krystal — $1.49
Most expensive item	Munchie Meal (any variety) — $12.49	Bag of 12 Cheese Krystals — $17.99
Items priced	44	37
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1951	1932
Headquarters	San Diego, California	Dunwoody, Georgia
Locations	About 2,200 restaurants, concentrated in the West and South	About 280 restaurants across the Southeast

Which One Should You Order From?

Krystal has the lower typical menu price of the two — $2.99 against $4.99 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Krystal gets you in cheaper at $1.49.

Jack in the Box is strongest on Two Tacos, Munchie Meal, Curly Fries; Krystal on Krystal, Cheese Krystal, Sackful Combo. 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

Jack in the Box

Two tacos for $1.79 is the cheapest hot food at any major chain, and they are available 24 hours a day.
The Munchie Meal at $12.49 bundles an entree, two sides, two tacos and a drink — roughly $5 less than buying the same items separately.
Breakfast is served all day, so a $3.29 Breakfast Jack works as a cheap dinner.

Krystal

The Sackful Combo at about $15.99 is only $1 more than a plain bag of 12 Krystals, so the fries and drink cost a dollar — never buy the bag alone if you want sides.
Krystal regularly runs game-day and app deals that drop a bag of 8 or 12 well below menu price; check the Krystal app before ordering.
A Pup at $1.99 or a Corn Pup is a cheaper filler than a second slider plus fries.

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.

Jack in the Box vs Krystal — FAQ

Is Jack in the Box cheaper than Krystal in 2026?

Krystal is cheaper on most matched items — 3 of 3. Across the whole menu Krystal is the lower-priced of the two, at $2.99 for a typical item against $4.99 at Jack in the Box.

What is the price difference between Jack in the Box and Krystal?

On matched items the average difference is $0.70, or about 3% overall. Jack in the Box averages $4.94 across 44 priced items; Krystal averages $4.79 across 37.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Jack in the Box or Krystal?

Jack in the Box starts at $1.79 (Two Tacos) and Krystal at $1.49 (Krystal).

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.