Fast Food Value Finder
Fast Food Value Finder — Cheapest Filling Meal Per Dollar
What this calculator does
A hardcoded lookup of common fast-food and budget items ranked by both calories per dollar and protein per dollar, so the cheapest option is also the most filling.
The math, with a worked example
Best value = lowest combined normalized cost per 1000 calories and cost per 100g protein. Cost per 1000 calories = (1000 ÷ calories) × cost; cost per 100g protein = (100 ÷ protein) × cost. A cheesy bean and rice burrito at 430 calories and 14g protein for $1.00 gives about 430 calories per dollar and 14g protein per dollar, making it a strong cheap-and-filling option.
Why this matters
When the goal is the most food for the least money, price per item is the wrong number. Calories per dollar and protein per dollar rank the menu by what it actually feeds you — and the winners are rarely the combo meals.
Methodology and transparency
Each item is normalized 2 ways: cost per 1,000 calories = (1000 ÷ calories) × price, and cost per 100g protein = (100 ÷ protein) × price; best value = lowest combined score. Prices are the input most likely to be stale — they vary by region and change often, so overwrite the defaults with your local menu before trusting a ranking. Calorie and protein figures come from the chains' published nutrition data. Everything runs in your browser; no data is sent or stored.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-08
Common questions
Is this the healthiest choice?
No single fast-food item is a complete diet. The ranking favors the most calories and protein per dollar, which helps when you are stretched, but pair it with vegetables, fruit, and whole grains when you can.
Are prices accurate?
Prices are rough static estimates. Local prices and promotions vary, so use the result as a directional comparison, not an exact menu price.