McDonald's vs Sonic Drive-In: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 27, 2026 7 items matched

The short answer

McDonald's is the cheaper of the two. Of the 7 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, McDonald's is cheaper on 6 of them, by an average of $1.67 per item.

Typical menu price: McDonald's $4.29 · Sonic Drive-In $4.29

Matched Items, Side by Side

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

Item	McDonald's	Sonic Drive-In	Difference
McCrispy Chicken Sandwichvs Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$5.69	$6.79	$1.10 cheaper at McDonald's
$5 Meal Dealvs 2 for $6 Deal	$5.00	$6.00	$1.00 cheaper at McDonald's
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuitvs Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Burrito	$4.79	$5.29	$0.50 cheaper at McDonald's
Sausage Biscuit with Eggvs Sausage Biscuit	$4.59	$3.49	$1.10 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Double Cheeseburgervs SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger	$4.19	$8.29	$4.10 cheaper at McDonald's
Cheeseburgervs SONIC Cheeseburger	$2.79	$5.49	$2.70 cheaper at McDonald's
Soft Drink (medium)vs Soft Drink (large)	$1.79	$2.99	$1.20 cheaper at McDonald's

McDonald's vs Sonic Drive-In at a Glance

	McDonald's	Sonic Drive-In
Typical menu price	$4.29	$4.29
Average menu price	$4.97	$4.66
Cheapest item	Apple Slices — $1.29	$1.99 Snack Menu items — $1.99
Most expensive item	Bundle Box (family) — $24.99	SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger — $9.29
Items priced	51	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1955	1953
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Locations	More than 13,500 restaurants in the United States	More than 3,500 drive-ins across the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

Both menus sit at the same midpoint, $4.29, so neither is the obviously cheaper choice. Averaged across every priced item Sonic Drive-In edges it — $4.66 against $4.97 — which mostly reflects how each chain prices the top of its menu. At the value end, McDonald's gets you in cheaper at $1.29.

McDonald's is strongest on Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, 10 pc. Chicken McNuggets; Sonic Drive-In on Cherry Limeade, SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger, Tots. 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

McDonald's

The $5 Meal Deal is the single best value on the menu — the same four items ordered separately run close to $12.
The McDonald's app gives a free item on many orders and runs a points programme worth roughly 5% back; app prices are frequently below counter prices for the same item.
20-piece McNuggets at $9.99 cost about $0.50 per nugget against $0.65 for a 4-piece — the best per-unit price on the menu.

Sonic Drive-In

Happy Hour from 2:00 to 4:00 PM every day takes 50 percent off all drinks and slushes — the single biggest recurring discount in fast food.
The Sonic app frequently offers half-price burgers on Tuesdays and free items with a purchase.
Upgrading to a Route 44 (44 oz) for $0.60 more is the cheapest per-ounce drink on the menu, especially during Happy Hour.

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.

McDonald's vs Sonic Drive-In — FAQ

Is McDonald's cheaper than Sonic Drive-In in 2026?

McDonald's is cheaper on most matched items — 6 of 7. Across the whole menu Sonic Drive-In is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.29 for a typical item against $4.29 at McDonald's.

What is the price difference between McDonald's and Sonic Drive-In?

On matched items the average difference is $1.67, or about 6% overall. McDonald's averages $4.97 across 51 priced items; Sonic Drive-In averages $4.66 across 42.

Which has the cheaper entry price, McDonald's or Sonic Drive-In?

McDonald's starts at $1.29 (Apple Slices) and Sonic Drive-In at $1.99 ($1.99 Snack Menu items).

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.