The Starbucks Airport Premium: Where Travel Convenience Costs the Most

Researchers analyzed pricing across 53 U.S. airports, comparing menu items like brewed coffee and breakfast sandwiches against non-airport locations in the same cities. The findings highlight a significant disparity in how airports manage concession pricing. While some hubs allow corporate pricing that bypasses local restrictions, others—notably Pittsburgh International—mandate street-level pricing, even resulting in slightly lower costs for travelers compared to the surrounding city.

Across the dataset, the average airport surcharge hit 26.5%, or $6.15 per order. Phoenix Sky Harbor, Denver International, and William P. Hobby Airport join Charlotte and Las Vegas in the top tier of price inflation, with all five locations charging at least 51% more than off-site stores. Conversely, Portland, Boise, Salt Lake City, and Cleveland Hopkins maintain the most consumer-friendly rates, with markups held to 7% or less.