McDonald's vs Starbucks: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 27, 2026 3 items matched

The short answer

McDonald's is the cheaper of the two. Of the 3 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, McDonald's is cheaper on 3 of them, by an average of $1.73 per item.

Typical menu price: McDonald's $4.29 · Starbucks $5.45

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	Starbucks	Difference
Caramel Macchiato (medium)vs Caramel Macchiato	$4.29	$6.15	$1.86 cheaper at McDonald's
Latte (medium)vs Caffè Latte	$3.89	$5.45	$1.56 cheaper at McDonald's
Iced Coffee (medium)vs Iced Coffee	$2.49	$4.25	$1.76 cheaper at McDonald's

McDonald's vs Starbucks at a Glance

	McDonald's	Starbucks
Typical menu price	$4.29	$5.45
Average menu price	$4.97	$4.89
Cheapest item	Apple Slices — $1.29	Plain Bagel — $2.95
Most expensive item	Bundle Box (family) — $24.99	Double-Smoked Bacon, Cheddar & Egg Sandwich — $6.45
Items priced	51	43
Menu sections	6	5
Price range	$	$$
Founded	1955	1971
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois	Seattle, Washington
Locations	More than 13,500 restaurants in the United States	More than 16,000 stores across the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

McDonald's has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.29 against $5.45 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. 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; Starbucks on Caffè Latte, Caramel Macchiato, Pike Place Roast. 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.

Starbucks

Brewed Pike Place at $3.25 with a free in-store refill for Rewards members is by a wide margin the cheapest way to sit in a Starbucks.
Bringing a personal cup takes $0.10 off and earns 25 bonus Stars — small, but it stacks on every visit.
Ordering a Venti instead of a Tall adds 8 ounces for roughly $1.20; on iced drinks that is the largest jump in liquid-per-dollar on the menu.

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 Starbucks — FAQ

Is McDonald's cheaper than Starbucks in 2026?

McDonald's is cheaper on most matched items — 3 of 3. Across the whole menu McDonald's is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.29 for a typical item against $5.45 at Starbucks.

What is the price difference between McDonald's and Starbucks?

On matched items the average difference is $1.73, or about 2% overall. McDonald's averages $4.97 across 51 priced items; Starbucks averages $4.89 across 42.

Which has the cheaper entry price, McDonald's or Starbucks?

McDonald's starts at $1.29 (Apple Slices) and Starbucks at $2.95 (Plain Bagel).

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.