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

Updated October 15, 2026 4 items matched

The short answer

Krystal is the cheaper of the two. Of the 4 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Krystal is cheaper on 4 of them, by an average of $1.00 per item.

Typical menu price: Krystal $2.99 · 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 — Krystal's wording first.

Item	Krystal	Steak 'n Shake	Difference
Chili Cheese Fries	$3.99	$5.49	$1.50 cheaper at Krystal
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuitvs Sausage Egg & Cheese Biscuit	$3.79	$4.29	$0.50 cheaper at Krystal
Onion Rings	$2.79	$4.29	$1.50 cheaper at Krystal
Fountain Drink (Medium)vs Fountain Drink (regular)	$2.29	$2.79	$0.50 cheaper at Krystal

Make Krystal 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

Krystal vs Steak 'n Shake at a Glance

	Krystal	Steak 'n Shake
Typical menu price	$2.99	$5.79
Average menu price	$4.79	$5.84
Cheapest item	Krystal — $1.49	Coffee — $2.29
Most expensive item	Bag of 12 Cheese Krystals — $17.99	Chicken Fingers Combo — $11.29
Items priced	37	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1932	1934
Headquarters	Dunwoody, Georgia	Indianapolis, Indiana
Locations	About 280 restaurants across the Southeast	About 400 restaurants, largely in the Midwest and South

Which One Should You Order From?

Krystal has the lower typical menu price of the two — $2.99 against $5.79 — 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.

Krystal is strongest on Krystal, Cheese Krystal, Sackful Combo; 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

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.

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.

Krystal vs Steak 'n Shake — FAQ

Is Krystal cheaper than Steak 'n Shake in 2026?

Krystal is cheaper on most matched items — 4 of 4. Across the whole menu Krystal is the lower-priced of the two, at $2.99 for a typical item against $5.79 at Steak 'n Shake.

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

On matched items the average difference is $1.00, or about 18% overall. Krystal averages $4.79 across 37 priced items; Steak 'n Shake averages $5.84 across 44.

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

Krystal starts at $1.49 (Krystal) 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.