Is Taco Bell a better value than McDonald's?

Everyone is looking to save a buck where they can and sometimes, that translates to our fast-food choices. For some, McDonald's is king but they're looking to branch out to a place like Taco Bell.

For those who are long-time Taco Bell fans, most of us know the best hacks to save some money and get the most bang for our buck. In particular, Taco Bell fans on Reddit know what's up.

However, not everyone is hunting to try to find the best hack or just doesn't care to look things up. Let me start by saying that the best thing to do when ordering at Taco Bell is to become a Taco Bell Rewards Member.

With that being said, we're going to compare some of the basic items, combos and other items from both places. (Editor's Note: Reminder that prices will vary based on your location for both chains and the prices mentioned in this piece are based on locations in Maryland.)

Which is the best value: Taco Bell or McDonald's?

Beginning with the most basic of items, let's start with the Taco Bell as the Crunchy Taco and Soft Taco are $1.79 which isn't terrible. Then at McDonald's, we have to compare it to the Hamburger which is priced at $2.19. Between the two, the winner is easily Taco Bell as you're spending just slightly more at McDonald's.

Moving onto some of the combos at the two different fast-food chains, I wanted to compare two somewhat similar meals so I decided to use the 3 Crunchy Tacos Combo which comes with 3 Crunchy Tacos and a large Fountain Drink. The 3 Crunchy Tacos Combo comes out to $8.19 which isn't terrible but not cheap either.

Then at McDonald's, you have the 2 Cheeseburger Meal which includes 2 cheeseburgers, a medium fry and a medium drink. That is priced at $8.99 so this one is pretty even because you're getting more at McDonald's but you're not getting a large drink either. Honestly, this one feels like more of a tie so it's 2-1 for Taco Bell.

Next up are the Group Packs and for McDonald's, we're featuring the Combo Pack which is priced at $24.89 and include 4 McChickens, 2 Cheeseburgers, 2 McDoubles and 4 medium fries. Then at Taco Bell, you can get the Meal for 4 which is 2 Crunchwrap Supremes, 2 Chicken Quesadillas, 4 Soft Tacos and 2 orders of Chip and Cheese. This Meal for 4 is priced at 20.83 and I will say that price-wise, Taco Bell is the clear winner.

However, the one thing I will knock both TB and McDonald's for is not including drinks. That's honestly incredibly weird and something worth noting. With those out of the way, I wanted to share a comparison on drinks which is something McDonald's dominated in for the longest time but now might be a toss-up.

If you're grabbing a medium soft drink from McDonald's, you're be paying $1.39 and at Taco Bell, you'll be spending $2.79. While that isn't technically a food item, it's something to consider when you're dining there and have a set amount of money. With all of that being tallied up, the winner of this round was Taco Bell with a 3-2 win over McDonald's.

Ultimately, it depends on what you're craving and want to spend but between the two, Taco Bell has the better value for your money.