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

Updated October 15, 2026 5 items matched

The short answer

Steak 'n Shake is the cheaper of the two. Of the 5 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Steak 'n Shake is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $1.50 per item.

Typical menu price: Shake Shack $6.49 · 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 — Shake Shack's wording first.

Item	Shake Shack	Steak 'n Shake	Difference
Bacon Cheese Friesvs Cheese Fries	$7.29	$4.49	$2.80 cheaper at Steak 'n Shake
Hot Dog	$5.79	$3.29	$2.50 cheaper at Steak 'n Shake
Cheese Fries	$5.49	$4.49	$1.00 cheaper at Steak 'n Shake
Fountain Drinkvs Fountain Drink (regular)	$3.29	$2.79	$0.50 cheaper at Steak 'n Shake
Bottled Water	$2.99	$2.29	$0.70 cheaper at Steak 'n Shake

Make Shake Shack 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

Shake Shack vs Steak 'n Shake at a Glance

	Shake Shack	Steak 'n Shake
Typical menu price	$6.49	$5.79
Average menu price	$6.76	$5.84
Cheapest item	Bottled Water — $2.99	Coffee — $2.29
Most expensive item	Shack Stack — $13.49	Chicken Fingers Combo — $11.29
Items priced	33	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$$	$
Founded	2004	1934
Headquarters	New York, New York	Indianapolis, Indiana
Locations	More than 350 locations across the United States, plus licensed Shacks abroad	About 400 restaurants, largely in the Midwest and South

Which One Should You Order From?

Steak 'n Shake has the lower typical menu price of the two — $5.79 against $6.49 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Steak 'n Shake gets you in cheaper at $2.29.

Shake Shack is strongest on ShackBurger, Crinkle-Cut Fries, SmokeShack; 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

Shake Shack

Shake Shack has no combo pricing, so a ShackBurger, fries and fountain drink is simply $7.69 + $4.49 + $3.29 = $15.47 — order exactly what you want and skip the drink if you are getting a shake.
A single-scoop custard cup at $4.69 costs $1.70 less than a shake and is the cheapest way to try the frozen custard.
The Shack App periodically runs offers for app orders, such as free fries — check it before paying at the counter.

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.

Shake Shack vs Steak 'n Shake — FAQ

Is Shake Shack cheaper than Steak 'n Shake in 2026?

Steak 'n Shake is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 5. Across the whole menu Steak 'n Shake is the lower-priced of the two, at $5.79 for a typical item against $6.49 at Shake Shack.

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

On matched items the average difference is $1.50, or about 14% overall. Shake Shack averages $6.76 across 33 priced items; Steak 'n Shake averages $5.84 across 44.

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

Shake Shack starts at $2.99 (Bottled Water) 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.