Affordable Pizza Spots for Your Summer Road Trip
Planning a pizza stop on your summer road trip? A recent report highlights some of the best and most affordable places to grab a slice across the U.S.
With many Americans conscious of their dining expenses, this study sheds light on how travelers can stretch their food budgets during the summer months.
The US Pizza Index, an online lending platform, examined prices for medium cheese pizzas from the ten largest pizza chains, gathering data from Grubhub and DoorDash across 180 cities. This includes the 100 most populous cities and the three largest cities in every state.
According to the findings, Indiana tops the list as the most budget-friendly state for pizza, with an average price of $13.96 per pie.
On the flip side, Hawaii stands out as the most expensive state, where a medium cheese pizza costs an average of $19.70. That’s about 41 percent higher than in Indiana, mainly due to the costs of importing food items.
California doesn’t fare much better either, with prices averaging $18.85.
After Indiana, the next most affordable states include Alabama ($14.04), Michigan ($14.32), Kentucky ($14.64), and Kansas ($15.00).
As for the pricey states, following Hawaii and California are Alaska ($18.60), Illinois and New York ($17.87), and Rhode Island ($17.76).
For urban dwellers, Houston, Texas, offers the best deal, averaging $14.42 for pizza. The report notes that the three cities with the highest pizza prices are all in California: San Diego ($20.76), San Jose ($20.02), and Los Angeles ($19.84).
It’s striking that California claims five of the six most expensive cities for pizza, with Honolulu, Hawaii, in fourth place at $19.70.
After Houston, Charlotte, North Carolina, is the second most affordable city at $14.50, followed closely by Austin, Texas, which averages $14.64.
These findings come as many consumers seek ways to cut back on restaurant spending while still indulging in their favorite meals.
A related report from the New York Times highlighted that people have been opting for smaller pizzas with fewer toppings to cope with financial constraints. This shift seems to align with the preferences and health consciousness of younger generations.
To save money while enjoying pizza, the study suggests the somewhat surprising tactic of ordering larger pizzas. It explains that a 16-inch pizza is actually four times the size of an 8-inch pizza. So, if you’re sharing, it might be wise to order one large pie instead of two smaller ones.
Additionally, to keep costs down, checking for coupons and specials before placing your order, or adding some store-bought sides for a DIY pizza night, can also be great strategies.
