The Airport Starbucks Upcharge: New Upgraded Points Study Reveals U.S. Airports Charging Travelers the Most

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Upgraded Points' newest study tracked Starbucks markups at U.S. airports nationwide, comparing the prices of five common menu items at Starbucks locations in 53 major U.S. airports against the same items at Starbucks stores near downtown in the same cities. Researchers then calculated the dollar and percentage differences for each item.

"Everyone expects to pay a little more for convenience at the airport, but the size of that markup can be a real surprise," said Keri Stooksbury, editor-in-chief at Upgraded Points. "Some airports charge travelers 50% more than what the same Starbucks order costs downtown, while others stay a little closer to city prices. We wanted travelers to know what kind of prices to expect before standing in line." 

Study Methodology

The study compared the pretax prices of five common menu items at Starbucks locations in 53 major U.S. airports against a nonairport Starbucks in each corresponding city. One postsecurity airport location (where available) and one nonairport comparison store were sampled per airport, with the nonairport store selected as the first qualifying, company-operated location returned when searching the city in the Starbucks app, generally the nearest eligible store to downtown.

All prices were collected through the Starbucks mobile app in July 2026 using a nonmember account before checkout, so taxes, promotions, rewards, and other discounts were not applied. Data was collected during a single sampling period. The menu items analyzed were:

• Grande brewed coffee
• Grande Caffè Latte
• Bacon, Gouda, and egg sandwich
• Strawberry Açaí Refresher
• Birthday cake pop

For each airport, the dollar and percentage difference between the airport and nonairport price was calculated per item, along with the combined cost difference across all five items.

This study is independent and was not sponsored, endorsed, or commissioned by Starbucks; all prices were collected from publicly available listings.

Top 5 Airports Charging the Most for a Starbucks Order

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) share the top spot, with the five-item order costing $34.95 at both, a $12.60 increase (56.4%) over city prices. These three airports round out the top five:

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): +$12.40 (55%)
• Denver International Airport (DEN): +$11.20 (51%)
• William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): +$11.20 (51%)

Every top-5 airport charges at least 51% more than its city comparison. Some airports, like DEN, have concession-pricing caps, but Starbucks has reportedly been approved for corporate pricing that sidesteps the restriction.

Top 5 Airports Where Starbucks Prices Stay Closest to Street Price

Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is the only airport in the study charging less than its city counterpart: $21.85 versus $22.35, a 2.2% decrease. PIT enforces street-pricing requirements, monitored through spot checks by the Allegheny County Airport Authority. These four airports round out the top five:

• Portland International Airport (PDX): +$1.00 (4.3%)
• Boise Airport (BOI): +$1.40 (6.0%)
• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC): +$1.40 (6.3%)
• Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE): +$1.60 (7.0%)

PDX and SLC both enforce street pricing, requiring concessions to match prices found outside the airport. The gap is sizable: CLT and LAS charge more than 56% more, while the increase is 7% or less at all four airports above.

The Average Upcharge Travelers Should Expect

Across the airports analyzed, the combined cost of the five menu items rose by an average of $6.15, making an airport order 26.5% more expensive than the same order downtown. At some airports, that premium climbed past 50%.

Check out the full results by visiting the study online.

About Upgraded Points LLC

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Upgraded Points is a travel company that helps to demystify the complex world of travel and credit cards. Launched in 2016 by Alex Miller, Upgraded Points uses targeted research efforts and in-depth studies to help travelers maximize their travel, points, and experiences. Learn more at: www.UpgradedPoints.com.

Media Contact:
Alex Miller, Founder
1-214-646-8866
[email protected] 

SOURCE Upgraded Points