Culver's vs Dairy Queen: Which Is Cheaper — and Which Dessert Wins?
Culver's vs Dairy Queen at a glance
Both chains are covered in full on our Culver's and Dairy Queen guides. Here is how they line up on the numbers that matter.
| Feature | Culver's | Dairy Queen |
| Signature cheeseburger | ButterBurger Cheese, $6.79 (450 cal) | Two Cheese Deluxe Stackburger, $6.39 (650 cal) |
| Cheapest combo | ButterBurger Cheese Value Basket, $10.69 | $7 Meal Deal, $7.00 |
| Signature dessert | Concrete Mixer (Regular), $5.49 (910 cal) | Oreo Blizzard (Medium), $5.49 (780 cal) |
| Rewards app | Delicious Rewards: 25% off first order, 10 points per $1 | DQ Rewards: app-only deals, birthday reward |
| Footprint | About 1,000 restaurants, mostly Midwest and South | About 4,000 US locations |
Which is cheaper, Culver's or Dairy Queen?
Dairy Queen is cheaper. Its $7 Meal Deal includes an entree, fries, a drink and a sundae for $7.00. Culver's cheapest combo, the ButterBurger Cheese Value Basket, costs $10.69. That is a $3.69 gap on the cheapest full meal at each chain.
The gap holds across the menu. DQ also runs a 2 for $5 Mix & Match, and its combos top out at $11.99 for the 6-Piece Chicken Strip Basket. Culver's Value Baskets run $10.69 to $12.69. Single burgers sit closer together: DQ's Two Cheese Deluxe Stackburger is $6.39, and Culver's Original ButterBurger is also $6.39, with the cheese version at $6.79. Full item-by-item lists are on our Culver's menu prices and Dairy Queen menu prices pages.
Concrete Mixer vs Blizzard: what's the difference?
The base is the difference. Culver's serves fresh frozen custard; a Concrete Mixer blends that custard with up to three mix-ins such as cookies, candy, fruit or syrups. Dairy Queen serves soft-serve ice cream; a Blizzard mixes that soft serve with candy or cookie pieces like Oreo or Snickers, and the Oreo Blizzard is famously served upside down.
On price, a Concrete Mixer runs $5.19 for a Short, $5.49 for a Regular and $6.79 for a Tall. An Oreo Blizzard runs $3.49 for a Mini, $4.79 for a Small, $5.49 for a Medium and $6.49 for a Large, and premium Royal Blizzards run roughly $1 more per size. At the matching $5.49 price point, the Regular Concrete Mixer carries 910 calories to the medium Oreo Blizzard's 780.
Which is healthier?
On burgers, Culver's wins: the Original ButterBurger (Single) has 390 calories, while DQ's Two Cheese Deluxe Stackburger has 650. On desserts, it flips: a medium Oreo Blizzard has 780 calories, while a Regular Concrete Mixer has 910. The lightest picks are Culver's Grilled Chicken Sandwich at 390 calories and DQ's small Vanilla Cone at 230. Full nutrition tables are on our Culver's calories and Dairy Queen calories pages.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Dairy Queen on a budget. The $7 Meal Deal, the 2 for $5 Mix & Match and a $1.99 Dilly Bar make it the cheaper stop, and its roughly 4,000 US locations make it easier to find. Pick Culver's for the food: burgers are cooked to order, the custard is made fresh, and Wisconsin Cheese Curds ($6.49 regular) are a side DQ cannot match. Cheapest full meal: DQ. Best burger-and-custard meal: Culver's.
FAQ
Is Culver's or Dairy Queen cheaper?
Dairy Queen is cheaper. The DQ $7 Meal Deal costs $7.00 and includes an entree, fries, a drink and a sundae, while Culver's cheapest Value Basket costs $10.69. On burgers, DQ's Two Cheese Deluxe Stackburger is $6.39 and a Culver's ButterBurger Cheese is $6.79.
What is the difference between a Concrete Mixer and a Blizzard?
A Concrete Mixer is Culver's fresh frozen custard blended with up to three mix-ins, priced from about $5.19 for a Short to $6.79 for a Tall. A Blizzard is Dairy Queen's soft-serve treat mixed with candy or cookies, from about $3.49 for a Mini to $6.49 for a Large.
Is Culver's healthier than Dairy Queen?
It depends on the order. Culver's Original ButterBurger has about 390 calories, less than DQ's 650-calorie Two Cheese Deluxe Stackburger. On desserts it flips: a medium Oreo Blizzard is about 780 calories, while a Regular Concrete Mixer is about 910.