The Price of Starbucks in Every Country Mapped

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Starbucks’ intimidating mission statement is to “inspire and nurture the human spirit–one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.”

Since opening its first international unit in Tokyo, Starbucks has spilled out into 80 nations in just a quarter-century. It now boasts over 32,000 stores across the world. In the fast-food ranks, Starbucks is the second largest fast-food chain after McDonald’s, and it depends on its store-to-store consistency even more.

But whether you purchase a Tall Latte in an unusual Indian Starbucks or one of the 600 new Chinese stores that Starbucks has scheduled this year, there is one significant distinction to expect – cost. Starbucks prices its menu variously from country to country and even U.S. state to U.S. state.

So, SavingSpot trawled delivery apps like Deliveroo, Just Eat, Pedidosya, Uber Eats, or used local food delivery services in every Starbucks territory to observe how the cost of that Tall Latte differs–and highlight some other grande prices worldwide.

For countries where a local app was not available, the team used desk research and Google Reviews to find recent images of menus to determine the prices.

How much a Starbucks Latte costs around the world

The Most Expensive Starbucks Items in the World

“We combine our rich, full-bodied espresso with vanilla-flavored syrup, milk, and ice, then top it off with a caramel drizzle for an oh-so-sweet finish,” declares Starbucks of their Iced Caramel Macchiato.

“Take our francs!” cries the Swiss, throwing $9.31-worth of local banknotes over the counter. The Zürich Central branch of Starbucks was the first to open in continental Europe–and with national GDP of $87,367, you can see what was on the fast-food corporation’s mind.

Undoubtedly, Switzerland is the fastener on Europe’s ‘wealth belt,’ with neighboring Denmark, Luxembourg, and France also offering frappuccinos and smoothes the wrong side of seven bucks. Spain and the UK make it 6 out of ten European nations in the top 10 for most costly Starbucks items.

How the Price of Starbucks Compares to Global GDP

Starbucks’ affordability varies worldwide, not just on prices but also on local earnings.

For instance, while Egypt may have one of the world’s cheapest lattes, the African nation also has the lowest GDPs. Denmark and Switzerland are more than makeup for their expensive coffees with world-leading earnings. But Argentina must grapple with the worst of both worlds: GDP in the bottom third, against a latte that costs more than in the United States, Germany, or Qatar.

The price of a Starbucks Latte in North America

Starbucks opened in Panama in 2020 to promote its reach into Latin America. But nowadays, Panamanians pay the most in North America for their Tall Late – an eye-watering $4.70 against a GDP of just $12,373.

Guatemala has the most affordable Tall Latte ($3.23) in North America. Canada and Caribbean islands also get their buzz on for under 4 bucks.

The price of a Starbucks Latte in every U.S. state

Mississippi ($2.89) and other southern U.S. states offer the most affordable Starbucks lattes in the United States. Most of the states where you can get a Tall Latte for under 3 bucks are in the south – with the outstanding anomaly of South Dakota ($2.95).

The more metropolitan states serve more expensive coffee, and the overall number one is Hawaii – where it costs $3.92 for a Tall Latte. Washington State, where the first Starbucks was established (in Seattle, 1971), has the 10th most expensive Starbucks in the United States.

The price of a Starbucks Latte in South America

Chile ($4.95) and Argentina ($4.67) each boast a Tall Latte that costs more than in the U.S. Chilean Starbucks, franchised by Mexico’s Grupo Alsea, attracted controversy when the corporation froze the contracts of 90 percent of its workers at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Brazil has the global 2nd most affordable Starbucks. Tall Latte there costs just $1.96. Starbucks is growing in Brazil nowadays, taking advantage of local beans and other ingredients. One recent marketing action saw a São Paulo Starbucks transformed into a registry office for trans people to legally change their names – resulting in seven times the typical daily legal name changes for the city.

The price of a Starbucks Latte in Europe

Europe is home to the global most expensive Starbucks Tall Latte. And also the 2nd and 3rd costliest. Switzerland ($7.17) takes first place, but the high-earning Scandinavian countries Denmark ($6.55), Finland ($5.67), and Norway ($5.08) are not far behind. It’s slightly cheaper in Sweden ($4.83), where Starbucks has failed to make an impact – its large premises and unfashionably sugary beverages have estranged Swedes, leaving 15 stores to close and the brand’s future in Sweden unsure.

Only Belgium and Portugal suggest an affordable price in western Europe. Poland ($3.56), Hungary ($3.34), and Bulgaria ($2.69 – the continents most reasonable, if Turkey counts as Asia) are among several eastern nations with a bargain Starbucks. In the center-south of Europe, Italy also has a super-cheap latte ($2.84) – but not by local standards. In particular, Starbucks didn’t enter the Italian market until 2018, suspicious of the Italian’s patriotic, meticulous, yet reasonable café culture. Even its modest prices dwarf local indies, leading an Italian consumer group to complain.

The price of a Starbucks Latte in the Middle East and Central Asia

There are two types of black gold in the Middle East. But despite their oil wealth, nations such as UAE ($4.29) and Saudi Arabia ($4.27) don’t charge as much for their Starbucks coffee as Europe’s overpriced branches in Scandinavia.

Turkey straddles Europe and Asia, and either way, it has the most inexpensive Tall Latte worldwide. With over 500 stores, Turkey has the most Starbucks branches in the area – and yes, you can purchase a traditional Turkish coffee there.

The price of a Starbucks Latte in Asia and Oceania

Japan is home to Starbucks’ first foreign store and its most giant coffee cup, which weighs in at 20.9lbs and $700. But the coffee itself is reasonable, with a Tall (but not that tall) Latte selling for just $3.57. The heady business hubs of Hong Kong ($5.52) and Singapore ($4.90) come out on top.

The region’s most affordable is right next door to Singapore, in Malaysia ($3.04). Starbucks opened as early as 1998 in Malaysia and now owns 320 stores and 3,000 workers.

The price of a Starbucks Latte in Africa

Starbucks buys coffee from 9 African nations (Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Zambia) – but only deals it in three. Morocco ($2.81) is the most overpriced, and Egypt ($2.23) is the least.

South Africa is nestled in the middle at $2.64. But Starbucks has difficulties in South Africa. Even though $2.64 out prices local competitors, and in challenging economic situations, the nation’s limited middle-class customer base tends to go for the more inexpensive option. Expansion by the local franchisees was set on hold in 2019.

Key Findings

• Switzerland has the world’s most overpriced Starbucks, at $7.17 per Tall Latte.
• The Swiss also have the globally most pricey Starbucks item of all, the $9.31 Iced Caramel Macchiato.
• The United States has the world’s 16th most expensive Starbucks Tall Latte, at $3.26.
• Turkey has the most affordable Starbucks, with a $1.31 Tall Latte.