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

Updated August 27, 2026 6 items matched

The short answer

McDonald's is the cheaper of the two. Of the 6 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, McDonald's is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $0.67 per item.

Typical menu price: McDonald's $4.29 · Whataburger $5.49

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	Whataburger	Difference
McCrispy Chicken Sandwichvs Spicy Chicken Sandwich	$5.69	$6.99	$1.30 cheaper at McDonald's
Iced Coffee (medium)vs Coffee	$2.49	$2.29	$0.20 cheaper at Whataburger
Baked Apple Pievs Hot Apple Pie	$2.19	$2.29	$0.10 cheaper at McDonald's
Sweet Tea (large)	$1.49	$3.09	$1.60 cheaper at McDonald's
Apple Slices	$1.29	$1.99	$0.70 cheaper at McDonald's
Extra Dipping Saucevs Extra Sauce Cup	$0.35	$0.49	$0.14 cheaper at McDonald's

McDonald's vs Whataburger at a Glance

	McDonald's	Whataburger
Typical menu price	$4.29	$5.49
Average menu price	$4.97	$6.87
Cheapest item	Apple Slices — $1.29	Apple Slices — $1.99
Most expensive item	Bundle Box (family) — $24.99	Party Pack Chicken Strips (20 pc) — $39.99
Items priced	51	45
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1955	1950
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois	San Antonio, Texas
Locations	More than 13,500 restaurants in the United States	More than 1,050 restaurants across the South and Southwest

Which One Should You Order From?

McDonald's has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.29 against $5.49 — 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; Whataburger on Whataburger, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, Patty Melt. 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.

Whataburger

The Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit at $3.99 is the best price-to-satisfaction item on the entire menu — and it is available for twelve hours a day.
Whataburger Rewards in the app runs frequent free-item offers and points on every order.
Ordering a Whataburger Jr. at $3.19 instead of the full Whataburger saves over $3 for a similar build at smaller size.

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 Whataburger — FAQ

Is McDonald's cheaper than Whataburger in 2026?

McDonald's is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 6. Across the whole menu McDonald's is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.29 for a typical item against $5.49 at Whataburger.

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

On matched items the average difference is $0.67, or about 28% overall. McDonald's averages $4.97 across 51 priced items; Whataburger averages $6.87 across 44.

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

McDonald's starts at $1.29 (Apple Slices) and Whataburger at $1.99 (Apple Slices).

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.