Want Cheap Starbucks Drinks? Here are 17 Great Options!

What is the Cheapest Starbucks Drink?

Simply put, the cheapest Starbucks drink is a single shot of espresso at $2.45!

Please note that this is the price at the time of writing and prices may have changed since then.

While the second cheapest drink will be a short drip coffee, which costs around $2.55, so it goes without saying, if you're looking for the cheapest Starbucks drinks, then go with a solo espresso or a short drip coffee!

But of course, there are other options available to you as well, and we will share these options with you in a bit.

But first, there's something important to mention. We will share prices with you, but keep in mind that prices will vary at different Starbucks locations, from country to country and even from state to state.

What is the Cheapest Item at Starbucks?

If you're not interested in the cheapest Starbucks drinks, but you want to know the cheapest item at Starbucks, then you would be surprised to know that it's actually a breakfast item!

The cheap Starbucks food item is the plain bagel, which costs around $2.25. That's even cheaper than a short cup of coffee...

But that's not why you're here, so keep reading to discover more cheap Starbucks drinks.

Starbucks Cup Sizes & Price Differences

Starbucks has different cup sizes for their hot drinks and iced beverages.

Hot Drinks

• Short Cup (8 oz)
• Tall Cup (12 oz) - and about 10 cents extra
• Grande Cup (16 oz) - and about 30 cents extra
• Venti Cup (20 oz) - and about 30 cents extra

Cold Drinks

• Tall Cup (12 oz)
• Grande Cup (16 oz) - and about 50 cents extra
• Venti Cup (24 oz) - and about 20 cents extra
• Trenta Cup (30 oz) - and about 30 cents extra

The Trenta cup is HUGE and you can see that the Iced Venti is 4 oz larger than the hot Venti cup.

However, if you're looking for the most cost-effective size, then for hot drinks that would be the Grande Cup because it offers twice the amount of coffee as a short cup and the cost difference is minimal. And the most cost-effective iced drink would be the Venti cup.

But again, if you're only looking for the cheapest drinks, then opt for a short cup of hot coffee or a tall cup of iced coffee.

RELATED:

• Check Out These 8 Best Starbucks Iced Coffee Drinks!
• The Strongest Coffee at Starbucks + Other Caffeinated Drinks

What are the Best Cheap Starbucks Drinks to Buy?

Our goal here is to keep things simple and list the cheapest drinks at Starbucks based on their menu. No hacks or tricks here, just basic menu prices. Most of the drinks are less than $4 to buy, which is enough to give you quite a few options!

Later on, if you keep reading, we will show you some tips and tricks on how to save even more money while ordering at Starbucks. But for now, we're keeping it simple stupid!

And for the sake of consistency, we are going to refer to the prices of Tall Cups because that's the smallest size that is common between hot and cold drinks.

Oh and make sure you read all the way to the section where we share a few tips and tricks to help you save even more money at Starbucks!

1. Solo Espresso (Hot or Iced) - $2.45

As we mentioned earlier, a single shot of espresso is the cheapest and one of the most affordable Starbucks drinks! Plus Starbucks offers two types of espresso beans, their signature espresso as well as their blonde roast espresso. Try both of them out and see which one you prefer.

2. Brewed Hot Coffee - $2.65

No matter the type of coffee whether you're ordering a Blonde Roast, a Mild or Dark Roast, the prices are the same. So you can try out the different roasts and see which one you prefer the most. Their Pike Place roast is offered every day, but their Blonde & Dark Roasts change every week.

3. Doppio Espresso (Hot or Iced), Steamed Apple Juice & Steamed Milk - $2.75

After hot brewed coffee comes two espresso shots, steamed apple juice, and steamed milk. All of these drinks are the same price and they all taste quite different. So you have quite a bit of variety there and you won't run out of options anytime soon! Try out all 3 and see which one tickles your fancy. My favorite out of those three has to be steamed milk because it's a caffeine-free Starbucks drink and I can have it late at night!

4. Double Shot Espresso Macchiato - $2.85

Espresso macchiato is one of those European classics that involves espresso with a dollop of foam and steamed milk. In Italian, a macchiato means "marked" and in this case, the espresso is marked by the milk and foam. Learn more about the macchiato, here!

5. Hot or Iced Tea - $2.95

It doesn't matter if you're feeling hot and need a refreshing green iced tea or if you're feeling cold and need something warm and cozy on a winter day. The price will remain the same! Keep in mind, that this does not apply to hot and iced coffee!

6. Iced Tea Lemonade - $3.25

Starbucks offers different Iced Tea Lemonade flavors: black tea, peach green tea, just green tea, and matcha tea. We think they all taste delicious and they're all worth trying! Here's a more detailed list of some of the best Starbucks lemonades.

7. Caffè Misto - $3.35

Have you ever tried a caffè misto? Many people don't even know what it is, or they confuse it with a cafe au lait or a latte. It's actually quite different. Check out our article about the Caffè Misto if you want to learn more about it.

8. Hot Chocolate - $3.45

Who doesn't just love hot chocolate? I mean it's friggin' delicious and it's perfect for all ages!

RELATED: The Best Starbucks Drinks for Kids - Avoid Caffeine & Sugar

9. Starbucks Iced Coffee, Iced Shaken Espresso, Latte & Cappuccino - $3.75

Iced brewed coffee, lattes and cappuccinos are next on this list and these are classic drinks at Starbucks. Just plain and without any flavored syrup - simply delicious! The Iced Shaken Espresso is fairly new on the Starbucks menu and it is super tasty, especially if you prefer espresso-based iced drinks.

10. Starbucks Cold Brew - $3.95

Next on our list is another Starbucks classic, the Starbucks Cold Brew. It's one of those cheap iced drinks that are forever popular because it is so smooth and refreshing!

11. Tea Lattes, Flavored Lattes, Flavored Hot Milk & Caramel Apple Spice - $4.25

For $4.25, you have a lot of options available to you. It seems that Starbucks loves this price or it seems to be a sweet spot for them. Anyways, some of the more popular and delicious options are:

• Matcha Tea Latte
• Iced London Fog Tea Latte
• White Hot Chocolate
• Cinnamon Dolce Crème
• Caffe Mocha
• Caramel Apple Spice

12. Caramel Macchiato - $4.45

A caramel macchiato is another great and popular option. Many people have tried it and have fallen in love with it. Similar to the espresso macchiato, the caramel macchiato is marked, but this time by the espresso as opposed to the other way around.

13. Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte - $4.55

This drink is made with an extra smooth Starbucks Blonde Espresso roast, with vanilla syrup, steamed hot milk, and a dollop of creamy foam on top. For some variety, you can choose to substitute the vanilla syrup with a different flavored syrup, such as caramel syrup or hazelnut syrup. They have many flavors, so your options are endless!

14. Starbucks Refreshers - $4.65

Starbucks Refreshers are so popular during the summer season and they seem to introduce a new flavor every year. Check out our list of the Best Starbucks Refreshers for a variety of options!

RELATED: Do Starbucks Refreshers Have Caffeine? What You Need to Know!

15. Flat White, Vanilla Cream Cold Brew & Nitro Cold Brew - $4.75

The next batch of drinks includes the recently popular flat white, which originated in Australia back in the 1980s, as well as the delicious cold brew and its variants - the Vanilla Cream Cold Brew and the Nitro Cold Brew.

Make sure you don't add any ice to the Nitro Cold Brew so it doesn't ruin the velvety smoothness of the drink.

16. Cinnamon Dolce Latte - $4.95

The Cinnamon Dolce Latte is an old classic that Starbucks introduced back in the winter of 2006, but decided to bring back permanently because it was a success.

You can enjoy it with or without whipped cream, but hey, why not live a little and ask for all the bells and whistles?!

17. Honorable Mention - Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso - $5.25

The last drink on this list is more than $5 but is worth every penny. The Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. It's so good, the price won't bother you. Try it with light ice and extra oat milk to make up for the cost...

Don't forget to check out our Tips & Tricks on how to save even more money at Starbucks. Click here to jump to that section.

What is the Cheapest Iced Coffee at Starbucks?

The cheapest iced coffee at Starbucks is a shot of espresso over ice or an iced espresso at $2.45. Simple and straightforward. But here are a few more options for you that are less than $4 to buy:

• Iced Double Espresso - $2.75
• Iced Americano - $3.45
• Regular Iced Coffee - $3.75
• Iced Caffè Latte - $3.95

What is the Cheapest Hot Coffee at Starbucks?

The cheapest hot coffee at Starbucks is, again, a single shot of espresso at $2.45. Here are other cheap hot drinks options that wouldn't break the bank:

• Espresso Con Panna - $2.55
• Regular Coffee - $2.65
• Caffè Misto - $3.35
• Caffè Americano - $3.45
• Cappuccino - $3.95

Starbucks Cup Sizes & Prices Vs Other Coffee Shops

If you're wondering how Starbucks stacks up to the competition in terms of cup sizes and prices, then we will put your mind to ease. We will compare the prices of regular drip coffee.

Starbucks

• Short (8 oz) - $2.55
• Tall (12 oz) - $2.65
• Grande (16 oz) - $2.95
• Venti (20 oz) - $3.25

Dunkin' Donuts

• Small (10 oz) - $1.59
• Medium (14 oz) - $1.89
• Large (20 oz) - $ 2.09
• X-Large (24 oz) - $2.29

Tim Hortons

• Small (10 oz) - $1.90
• Medium (14 oz) - $2.15
• Large (20 oz) - $2.35
• X-Large (24 oz) - $2.65

McDonald's

• Small (12 oz) - $0.88
• Medium (16 oz) - $1.13
• Large (21 oz) - $1.31

Panera Bread

• Small (12 oz) - $2.46
• Medium (16 oz) - $2.72
• Large (20 oz) - $2.93

Peet's Coffee

• Small (12 oz) - $2.60
• Medium (16 oz) - $2.95
• Large (20 oz) - $3.25

Here's How you can Save Money at Starbucks!

So we've gone over and shared the cheapest drinks at Starbucks, now we'll show you how to save more money while you're there!

Choose the right cup size

It goes without saying that the smaller Starbucks cup sizes are cheaper, so if a drink is offered in their "short cup" then order that size.

When it comes to iced drinks, then choose the "tall cup" since that is the smallest size offered for iced drinks.

In general, you want to avoid the "venti cup" since it costs much more for just a little bit of extra beverage. However, if you're going with a friend, then order that size and split it between the two of you!

Chai Tea instead of Chai Tea Latte

If you are a chai tea latte lover but you don't want to pay $4.25 for a tall cup, then order a tall chai tea (just the tip... I mean tea bag 😂), then add milk to it. The price is much cheaper at $2.95 - it's basically a steal!

Ask for Light Ice

It's obvious that ice takes up space in shaken iced tea and iced coffee drinks. So if you want to beat the system, then ask for tall drinks with light ice, and you're pretty much getting Grande drinks with regular ice, but paying much less!

Save with a Free Refill

So this is also a neat trick that Starbucks doesn't advertise and that's free refills during the same store visit. First, you would have to have a registered Starbucks card or the Starbucks app. Then you would need to purchase using the card or app. Then you can enjoy a refill of free coffee, iced coffee, cold brew, hot tea, or iced tea - without lemonade, of course!

For non-members or those who don't have the Starbucks app or registered card, you can pay about 50 cents per refill.

Do keep in mind that this offer is only available at participating Starbucks locations and once you leave the store, then your visit has ended and you no longer qualify for this offer.

Bring your Own Cup

You might already know this, but many people are not aware of this fun fact!

It is a fact that Starbucks will shave 10 cents off your drink if you bring your own cup or travel mug. Plus rewards members get 25 stars in addition to the discount.

Not only are you saving the environment but you're also saving your money. It's a win-win! And if you don't own a Starbucks cup or travel mug, then buy one now. These ones from Etsy are super cool and have stellar reviews, plus they have them in about 40 different colors!

Skeleton Starbucks Inspired Tumbler

Check Price on Etsy

Or if you want a more traditional-looking cup, then check out these reusable cups that look exactly like a regular Starbucks Cup. The best part is that you get 2 of them, so you don't have to worry about washing your cup every day so you can use it the next day - but make sure you hand wash these.

Here's how Starbucks is Helping You Save Money

Surprisingly, Starbucks is also trying to help you save money, on the condition that you choose to be loyal to them.

So if you want free drinks and free food every now and then without having to worry about what's the cheapest Starbucks drinks you can order, then download the Starbucks App for their Rewards and Freebies!

Starbucks Stars & Freebies

The Starbucks app allows you to collect stars every time you purchase something from Starbucks stores. The accumulated stars allow you to get free drinks and free food, so the more you spend with them the more freebies you get!

Plus, Starbucks will give you a freebie on your birthday week as a small thank-you gift for being a loyal customer. The Starbucks app will inform you of this freebie closer to your birthday! So make sure you download it and continue to use it...

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

This list of cheap Starbucks drinks should give you a few options to save money but still enjoy your daily or weekly trips to Starbucks cafes.


Have a Happy Savings Spree!