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

Updated August 27, 2026 8 items matched

The short answer

Wendy's is the cheaper of the two. Of the 8 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Wendy's is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $0.67 per item.

Typical menu price: McDonald's $4.29 · Wendy's $4.19

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	Wendy's	Difference
McCrispy Chicken Sandwichvs Classic Chicken Sandwich	$5.69	$6.49	$0.80 cheaper at McDonald's
Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddlesvs Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit	$5.39	$4.19	$1.20 cheaper at Wendy's
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit	$4.79	$4.19	$0.60 cheaper at Wendy's
Sausage Biscuit with Eggvs Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit	$4.59	$4.19	$0.40 cheaper at Wendy's
Cheeseburgervs Jr. Cheeseburger	$2.79	$2.49	$0.30 cheaper at Wendy's
Iced Coffee (medium)vs Coffee	$2.49	$1.99	$0.50 cheaper at Wendy's
Soft Drink (medium)	$1.79	$2.39	$0.60 cheaper at McDonald's
Sweet Tea (large)	$1.49	$2.49	$1.00 cheaper at McDonald's

McDonald's vs Wendy's at a Glance

	McDonald's	Wendy's
Typical menu price	$4.29	$4.19
Average menu price	$4.97	$4.95
Cheapest item	Apple Slices — $1.29	Frosty (junior) — $1.49
Most expensive item	Bundle Box (family) — $24.99	Baconator Combo — $12.29
Items priced	51	49
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1955	1969
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois	Dublin, Ohio
Locations	More than 13,500 restaurants in the United States	About 6,000 restaurants in the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

Wendy's has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.19 against $4.29 — 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; Wendy's on Dave's Single, Baconator, Spicy Chicken Sandwich. 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.

Wendy's

The $5 Biggie Bag is the most complete meal for the money at any national burger chain — the four items separately run about $11.
A junior Frosty at $1.49 is the cheapest dessert in fast food, and Wendy's regularly sells a season-long Frosty Key Tag for around $3 that gives one free junior Frosty per visit for a year.
A small chili at $3.49 is more food per dollar than a small fries at $2.49 and is the only hot vegetable-and-protein side on a burger 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 Wendy's — FAQ

Is McDonald's cheaper than Wendy's in 2026?

Wendy's is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 8. Across the whole menu Wendy's is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.19 for a typical item against $4.29 at McDonald's.

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

On matched items the average difference is $0.67, or about less than 1% overall. McDonald's averages $4.97 across 51 priced items; Wendy's averages $4.95 across 49.

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

McDonald's starts at $1.29 (Apple Slices) and Wendy's at $1.49 (Frosty (junior)).

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.