Taco Bell is smart to serve bowls, considering the dish makes up 70% of sales at Chipotle, a major Taco Bell competitor. But don’t we still look to Taco Bell as a cheaper version of Chipotle? Is there a world where we should be paying the same prices, let alone more? And yet, here we are: Some fans have declared Taco Bell prices to be higher than the prices at Chipotle.
When you compare the ingredients used at each chain, this shouldn’t be the case. Chipotle doesn’t use freezers, and Taco Bell lives on them. You’re getting fresher food at Chipotle, almost always.
To determine whether Taco Bell is more expensive than Chipotle across the board, I compared the prices of the two Asheville, North Carolina, locations nearest to me to find out, using chicken as the base protein for everything.
Tacos
Both of Taco Bell’s Cantina Chicken tacos are $3.29 each, which is expensive for a fast-food taco.
Believe it or not, Chipotle is only charging 11 cents more, at $3.40. While Taco Bell is still cheaper here, the quality difference is a lot more than 11 cents worth.
Quesadillas
A Cantina Chicken quesadilla from Taco Bell costs $6.99, compared to Chipotle’s $9.90 — though you do get options for guacamole and fresh salsa on the side at the latter. Taco Bell still stays cheaper than Chipotle in the quesadilla department.
Burritos
I’ll be honest: The burritos are hard to compare. Taco Bell’s are a lot cheaper (the most expensive burrito on the menus is under $7, and Chipotle’s burritos start at $9.35), but they’re also about a third of the size. One burrito at Taco Bell is probably not enough for a full meal, but a single burrito at Chipotle is enormous, even with all the shrinkflation happening these days.
Bowls
Here we are, the big test. There are plenty of people out there in the internet, complete with screenshots, dedicated to showing how Taco Bell’s Cantina Chicken Bowl is more expensive than Chipotle’s chicken bowl.
I’m not sure where they’re getting their information. The bowl at my local T-Bell costs $8.79, and the chicken bowl at my local Chipotle costs $9.35.
Taco Bell is cheaper. I don’t know where people are finding the Cantina bowls for almost $10, but I’m glad it’s not near me.
Are your local Taco Bell and Chipotle prices in order? Time to do your own investigation.
More fast-food content:
- Our 8 Favorite Chipotle Secret Menu Hacks — These eight Chipotle secret menu items are all easy, hackable ways to upgrade your lunch.
- All 14 Tacos at Taco Bell, Ranked — Taco Bell has a whopping 14 options when it comes to tacos. Here’s where to start.
- 19 Photos That Prove Chipotle Burritos and Bowls Are Much Smaller Now — Chipotle’s luster has worn off entirely, and people are fed up with high prices and tiny portion sizes.
