Fast Food Value Rankings 2026
Cheapest signature order, ranked
| Chain and item | Calories | Price |
| Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich | 420 cal | $5.29 |
| Whataburger | 590 cal | $5.59 |
| Culver's ButterBurger | 390 cal | $6.39 |
| Dairy Queen Two Cheese Deluxe | 650 cal | $6.39 |
| Little Caesars Classic Pepperoni (whole pizza) | 280 cal per slice | $6.99 |
| Raising Cane's Sandwich | 740 cal | $6.99 |
| Jimmy John's #1 Pepe | 640 cal | $7.49 |
| Wingstop 6 Classic Wings | 430 cal | $7.49 |
| Five Guys Hamburger | 700 cal | $9.19 |
| Jersey Mike's #13 Original Italian | 910 cal | $11.65 |
Cheapest combo meal, ranked
| Chain | Cheapest combo |
| Whataburger | $5.00 |
| Raising Cane's | $6.49 |
| Little Caesars (Lunch Combo, 4 slices + drink) | $6.49 |
| Jersey Mike's | $6.99 |
| Dairy Queen | $7.00 |
| Chick-fil-A | $8.89 |
| Wingstop | $9.99 |
| Culver's | $10.69 |
Most protein per dollar, ranked
| Chain and item | Protein per $1 |
| Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich ($5.29, 29g protein) | 5.5 g |
| Whataburger ($5.59, 30g) | 5.4 g |
| Wingstop 6 Classic Wings ($7.49, 40g) | 5.3 g |
| Raising Cane's Sandwich ($6.99, 32g) | 4.6 g |
| Five Guys Hamburger ($9.19, 39g) | 4.2 g |
| Jimmy John's #1 Pepe ($7.49, 27g) | 3.6 g |
| Culver's ButterBurger ($6.39, 21g) | 3.3 g |
| Jersey Mike's #13 ($11.65, 38g) | 3.3 g |
Prices here are multi-location US averages collected in June 2026 and rechecked monthly; see how we source prices. Calories and protein come from each chain's official nutrition data, listed on our per-chain calories pages.
What changed in the July 2026 update
This is the first edition of these rankings. From next month, this section tracks the movers: value-menu additions, price hikes that change an order, and any chain that overtakes another. The 2026 value-menu wave (like the Whataburger Whatadeal) is the trend to watch, since it keeps dragging the cheapest-combo bar down.
For the full picture, see how much fast food costs in 2026, the cheapest fast food menus, and combo meal prices compared.
FAQ
Which fast food chain gives the most food for the money?
For feeding more than one person, Little Caesars wins: a whole HOT-N-READY pizza costs about $6.99, less than a single combo at most chains. For one person, a $5 Whataburger value combo or the $6.49 Little Caesars Lunch Combo is the cheapest full meal we track.
What is the cheapest fast food combo in 2026?
Whataburger has the cheapest true combo we track at about $5, followed by Raising Cane's and the Little Caesars Lunch Combo at about $6.49. Most chains sit between $7 and $11 for a standard combo.
Which fast food has the most protein per dollar?
The Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich leads at about 5.5 grams of protein per dollar, with the Whataburger (5.4 g) and Wingstop classic wings (5.3 g) right behind. Grilled nuggets and value burgers are also strong picks.