(NEXSTAR) — The year was 2004. MySpace was the top social networking site, movies like “Shrek 2” and “Spider-Man 2” were box office hits, and the newly released Motorola Razr was the hottest tech hit.
You can also walk into a coffee shop and expect to pay less than $3 for a cup of coffee. According to the report GOBankingRatesThe average cost of coffee in 2004 was just $2.15. In some places it was even lower — Starbucks made headlines for raising prices in 2004, raising the price of a premium wine from $1.40 to $1.50 (which currently costs about $3).
The current national average for a regular cup of coffee is $3.08, according to a recent report from Toast, a restaurant sales and management system. The company reviewed restaurants using its platform and analyzed their prices for regular coffee over the first few months of 2024.
While the average price for a regular cup of coffee was a little over $3, that price varied significantly across cities in the U.S. Toast found that restaurants in the Western part of the country most often charged around $4 for a cup of coffee.
Nowhere was coffee more pricey than in Hawaii, where the average price was nearly $5 from January through March. California had the second-highest average coffee price, $3.88.
If you’re looking for coffee at 2004 prices, you’ll have to go to Nebraska, where the average cost was $2.12, according to Toast’s analysis.
The interactive map below shows how much a cup of coffee costs in each state, based on data from Toast.
How fancy your coffee is, of course, will affect how much you pay. Let’s say you order a frosty brew. It will still be the most pricey in Hawaii, at about $6.29, Toast found. California was a close second, with an average price only 10 cents lower.
To find the cheapest frosty brew at $4.61, you have to drive quite a ways across the country to West Virginia. However, if you buy your coffee in Nebraska, you can drive south to Kansas and get frosty brew for about the same price, $4.63.
Maybe you’re more of a latte lover. Toast found that restaurants in Hawaii and Alaska charge the most for them, at $6.69 and $6.09, respectively. Those were the only states with an average latte price above $6. The national average in Toast’s data was $5.46.
Kansas ranked lower again, with an average latte price of $5.09.
The company attributes the high cost of its drinks to the isolation of both Hawaii and Alaska. Meanwhile, Kansas has often considered one of the most affordable places to live.
According to the latest consumer price index According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, coffee prices (roasted and instant) fell about 2.5% in May compared to May 2023. However, costs at your favorite coffee shop may still seem high.
Earlier this month, Starbucks has launched its own economy menu in an effort to win back budget-conscious consumers. That includes a elevated warm or iced coffee or tea with a buttered croissant that starts at $5 — significantly more than you probably would have paid in 2004.
