Monterey Jack vs Colby: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Monterey Jack has 373 calories and 24.5 g of protein, while Colby contains 394 calories and 23.8 g of protein. Monterey Jack is lower in calories and slightly higher in protein.

Monterey Jack and Colby are both popular types of cheese, each with unique flavors and textures. This comparison highlights their nutritional differences to help you make informed dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Monterey Jack and Colby?

Monterey Jack is a semi-hard cheese originating from the United States, known for its mild flavor and creamy texture. It is often used in cooking and as a table cheese. Colby is a semi-soft cheese that originated in Colby, Wisconsin, characterized by its mild flavor and slightly crumbly texture. It is commonly used in sandwiches and cheese platters.

Monterey Jack vs Colby: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of Monterey Jack and Colby cheese, showcasing their nutritional content.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Monterey Jack	Colby cheese
Calories	373 kcal	394 kcal
Protein	24.5 g	23.8 g
Carbs	0.7 g	2.6 g
Sugar	0.5 g	0.5 g
Fat	30.3 g	32.1 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	600 mg	604 mg

Which Is Better, Monterey Jack or Colby?

For weight loss: Monterey Jack has 373 calories, while Colby has 394 calories, making Monterey Jack the better option for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Monterey Jack contains 24.5 g of protein, compared to Colby's 23.8 g, making it slightly better for muscle building.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Monterey Jack has 0.7 g of carbs and 0.5 g of sugar, while Colby has 2.6 g of carbs and 0.5 g of sugar, making Monterey Jack the lower-carb option.

How to Track Monterey Jack and Colby Accurately

Cheese portions can be easy to misjudge, leading to unexpected calorie and macro intake. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which cheese has more protein?

Monterey Jack has 24.5 g of protein, while Colby has 23.8 g of protein.

Which cheese has fewer calories?

Monterey Jack contains 373 calories, whereas Colby contains 394 calories.

What is the fat content in Monterey Jack?

Monterey Jack has 30.3 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the carbohydrate content in Colby?

Colby has 2.6 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

How much sodium is in Monterey Jack?

Monterey Jack contains 600 mg of sodium per 100 g.

What is the sugar content in both cheeses?

Both Monterey Jack and Colby have 0.5 g of sugar per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Monterey Jack: 373 calories, 24.5 g protein, 30.3 g fat.
• Colby: 394 calories, 23.8 g protein, 32.1 g fat.
• Monterey Jack: 0.7 g carbs, 0.5 g sugar.
• Colby: 2.6 g carbs, 0.5 g sugar.
• Monterey Jack sodium: 600 mg, Colby sodium: 604 mg.
• Monterey Jack is lower in calories and higher in protein than Colby.