The Most Affordable Pumpkin Spice Latte Prices in the 15 Largest U.S. Cities
- Philadelphia is the most affordable major U.S. city for a pumpkin spice latte, with an average price of $5.60, while New York City is the most expensive at $6.96.
- On average, buying one PSL per week throughout the 13-week fall season costs $81.33 across the 15 cities analyzed.
- Planning your coffee budget, making PSLs at home some days, and limiting paid add-ons can help keep your seasonal coffee habit from stretching your budget.
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As pumpkin spice lattes make their annual return to coffee-shop menus for the fall season, coffee lovers may be wondering how much their favorite seasonal treat will cost them this year. New analysis from Freedom Debt Relief has revealed the most affordable U.S. cities for a pumpkin spice latte, and where weekly PSL runs could make the biggest dent in your budget.
The study compared the price of a 16 oz. hot pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks, Dunkin’, and two local or state-based coffee chains across the country’s 15 largest cities. It also calculated how much buying one PSL per week could cost consumers over a 13-week fall season.
The 15 Largest Cities With the Most Affordable PSL Prices
PSL Prices Across 15 Large Cities
| Rank | City | State | Average PSL Price | Cost Over 13 Weeks (1 PSL per week) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | PA | $5.60 | $72.77 |
| 2 | Houston | TX | $5.72 | $74.36 |
| 3 | Columbus | OH | $5.84 | $75.89 |
| 4 | Dallas | TX | $5.97 | $77.64 |
| 5 | Fort Worth | TX | $6.16 | $80.08 |
| 6 | Chicago | IL | $6.19 | $80.41 |
| 7 | Charlotte | NC | $6.19 | $80.41 |
| 8 | Jacksonville | FL | $6.26 | $81.38 |
| 9 | San Antonio | TX | $6.32 | $82.19 |
| 10 | Austin | TX | $6.33 | $82.29 |
| 11 | San Diego | CA | $6.37 | $82.84 |
| 12 | Phoenix | AZ | $6.49 | $84.31 |
| 13 | San Jose | CA | $6.67 | $86.74 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | CA | $6.79 | $88.21 |
| 15 | New York City | NY | $6.96 | $90.48 |
Philadelphia is America’s most affordable major city for a PSL
Pumpkin spice latte fans in Philadelphia get the best deal among the cities analyzed, with an average price of $5.60 for a PSL. A weekly PSL throughout the fall season would cost you about $72.77.
Houston offers the second most affordable PSL, averaging $5.72, while Columbus rounds out the top three at $5.84.
A weekly PSL habit costs the most in New York City
At the other end of the ranking, New York City has the highest average PSL price of $6.96. For someone who purchases one pumpkin spice latte a week over 13 weeks, that adds up to $90.48, $17.71 more than the equivalent seasonal cost in Philadelphia.
Texas dominates the affordable end of the ranking
Five Texas cities appear within the top 10: Houston (#2), Dallas (#4), Fort Worth (#5), San Antonio (#9), and Austin (#10).
How to Save Money on Your Fall Coffee Habit
Make your PSL a planned expense
Instead of treating a weekly coffee as an incidental, include it in your monthly or weekly budget to make it easier to enjoy seasonal treats without accidentally overspending.
Alternate coffee shop visits with homemade coffees
Making your pumpkin spice latte at home can be an easy way to reduce the cost of your fall coffee habit. Consider saving coffee shop PSLs for once a week and make your own version at home the other days.
Watch the add-ons
The price of a standard PSL isn’t necessarily the final cost on your receipt. Extra espresso shots, alternative milks, syrups, whipped cream, and other additions can quickly increase the cost of a drink.
Pumpkin spice season doesn’t have to mean blowing your budget. A PSL’s price can add up quickly, especially when extras are added to your order. How often you buy matters more than where you live, so if PSLs are part of your fall routine, consider budgeting for the full season now. Factoring in your weekly coffee runs can help you enjoy your favorite seasonal drink without letting the cost creep beyond your budget.
Methodology
Freedom Debt Relief analyzed pumpkin spice latte prices across the 15 largest U.S. cities. In each city, the study recorded the price of a 16 oz. hot pumpkin spice latte from four establishments: Starbucks, Dunkin’ and two local or state-based coffee chains with at least three locations in the relevant metro area.
Prices for all four establishments, including Starbucks and Dunkin’, were collected through each chain’s official website using its online ordering or pickup service. If online pickup pricing was unavailable for a local chain, another qualifying local chain was selected.
All prices were recorded before tax and service fees using the drink’s default customization. Each city’s average price was calculated across the four establishments, with each contributing 25% to the result.
The 13-week cost was calculated using each city’s unrounded average price and represents the cost of purchasing one PSL per week throughout the fall season. Prices displayed in the table were rounded to two decimal places. Data accurate as of August 25, 2026.
Author Information
Written by
Natasha Pearce
Natasha is a Director of Social and Community. For over 10 years, she has built communities across social media and blogs through enriching storytelling that helps brands deepen connections with consumers.
Reviewed by
Kimberly Rotter
Kimberly Rotter is a financial counselor and consumer credit expert who helps people with average or low incomes discover how to create wealth and opportunities. She’s a veteran writer and editor who has spent more than 30 years creating thousands of hours of educational content in every possible format.