USA | Upgraded Points' newest study tracked markups at U.S. airports, comparing prices for five common Starbucks menu items at 53 major U.S. airports with the same items at Starbucks stores near downtown in the same cities.
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 analysed 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 non-airport price was calculated per item, along with the combined cost difference across all five items.
This study was independent and not sponsored, endorsed, or commissioned by Starbucks; all prices were collected from publicly available listings.
Top Five 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 USD 34.95 at both, a USD 12.60 increase (56.4 percent) over city prices. These three airports round out the top five:
- Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport (PHX): +USD 12.40 (55 percent)
- Denver International Airport (DEN): +USD 11.20 (51 percent)
- William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): +USD 11.20 (51 percent)
Every top-five airport charges at least 51 percent 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 Five Airports Where Starbucks Prices Stay Closest to Street Price
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) was the only airport in the study charging less than its city counterpart: USD 21.85 versus USD 22.35, a 2.2 percent decrease. It has enforced 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): +USD 1.00 (4.3 percent)
- Boise Airport (BOI): +USD 1.40 (6.0 percent)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC): +USD 1.40 (6.3 percent)
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE): +USD 1.60 (7.0 percent)
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 percent more, while the increase is 7 percent or less at all four airports above.
Across the airports analysed, the combined cost of the five menu items rose by an average of USD 6.15, making an airport order 26.5 percent more expensive than the same order downtown. At some airports, that premium climbed past 50 percent.
"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 travellers 50 percent more than what the same Starbucks order costs downtown, while others stay a little closer to city prices. We wanted travellers to know what kind of prices to expect before standing in line."
Full results here
