Ryan Um | 

Starbucks vs Dunkin': Which is Cheaper?

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Starbucks vs Dunkin’. . . although one is known for their Frappuccinos and the other for their donuts, they both generate strong feelings when it comes to their coffee.

Since both of these chains sell coffee and pastries, what’s the difference? If you’re deciding between Starbucks and Dunkin’, we’ve done all the research to help you decide where to get your cup of joe.

But if you’re loyal to Starbucks or Dunkin’, you should check out our ways to get free coffee from Starbucks and our ways to run on Dunkin’ Donuts coffee for less.

 

1. Starbucks coffee is 27% more expensive than Dunkin’.

person holding a large starbucks hot beverage outside store

If you’re just looking at price, Dunkin’ Donuts has the cheapest coffee (and with larger quantities). Here’s the Starbucks vs Dunkin’ coffee breakdown:

starbucks vs. dunkin' donuts price comparison chart

 

2. Dunkin’ will serve you a higher caffeine dose than Starbucks.

hand holding specialty iced coffee near Dunkin sign inside restaurant

If you’re looking for a caffeine boost to your day, Dunkin’ tends to have more caffeine in their drinks than Starbucks. However, there are a few drinks, such as the Dark Roast and Nitro Cold Brew, where Starbucks will get you more caffeine. Here’s the breakdown:

starbucks vs. dunkin' donuts caffeine comparison chart

Starbucks Grande (16 oz) Dark Roast at $2.95 for 235 – 410 mg of caffeine, vs. Dunkin’ Large (20 oz) Original Blend at $2.49 for 150 – 300 mg of caffeine: a 34.5% difference

Starbucks Grande (16 oz) Iced Coffee at $3.95 for 120 – 235 mg of caffeine vs. Dunkin’ Small (16 oz) Iced Coffee at $2.49 for 198 – 396 mg of caffeine: a 37% difference

Starbucks Grande (16 oz) Caramel Macchiato at $5.25 for 75 – 225 mg of caffeine vs. Dunkin’ Large (20 oz) Macchiato at $5.29 for 237 – 371 mg of caffeine: a 19.8% difference

Starbucks Grande (16 oz) Iced Chai Tea Latte at $4.95 for 70 – 145 mg of caffeine vs. Dunkin’ Small (16 oz) Iced Chai Tea Latte at $3.99 for 54 – 107 mg of caffeine: a 19.4% difference

Starbucks Grande (16 oz) Cold Brew at $4.45 for 215 – 280 mg of caffeine vs. Dunkin’ Small (16 oz) Cold Brew at $2.99 for 174 – 260 mg of caffeine: a 32.8% difference

 

3. Starbucks Donuts are 53% more expensive than Dunkin’ Donuts.

 

glazed, iced, sprinkles, and filled dunkin donuts varieties

When it comes to donuts, Starbucks vs Dunkin isn’t even close, for obvious reasons. Every donut at Dunkin’ Donuts is going to cost you $1.29, but if you wanted to get a Starbucks Glazed Doughnut, you’ll be paying $2.65. That’s a 51.3% difference. And there isn’t a guarantee that your local Starbucks will have them.

 

4. Dunkin’ Munchkins can save you 72% when compared to Starbucks Cake Pops.

dunkin' donut hole munchkins treats and box

At Starbucks, a Cake Pop will cost you $2.95 and weighs about 43 grams. The Dunkin’ equivalent of a Cake Pop is the Munchkins, which are the center of donuts. You can get three 16 gram Munchkins for $0.90. That’s a 72.7% difference.

Unfortunately, Starbucks Cake Pops were not able to avoid the Starbucks price increase.

 

 

5. The Starbucks Rewards program will get you more value than Dunkin’s DD Perks.

person holding large starbucks hot beverage near rewards signage


When you become a member of the Dunkin’ or Starbucks Rewards program, you’ll earn points for every dollar you spend on your coffee and food purchases. You can then cash in those points for freebies.

The value of your rewards points is straight-up better with Starbucks vs Dunkin’. You can get up to 15% of your spend back in freebies with Starbucks Rewards, while at Dunkin’ you get up to 12.5% of your spend back in freebies.

 

6. Starbucks gift card discounts are better than Dunkin’ gift card discounts.

hand holding starbucks gift card near reusable cups

Before you go to either coffee shop, make sure to pick up a discounted gift card from Raise.com. Currently, you can get a 4.4% discount on Starbucks gift cards and a 0.8% discount on Dunkin’ gift cards.

If you have a Target RedCard, you can also purchase a Starbucks gift card and get a 5% discount on your purchase. Always and forever.

If you’re not sure about the benefits of discounted gift cards, we’ve got you covered on all your purchases. Unfortunately, there are no Dunkin’ gift cards being sold at Target.

NOTE: An added benefit to using a Starbucks gift card is that they can get you double Stars if you add them to your Starbucks Rewards account.

 

7. Dunkin’ delivery is cheaper than Starbucks delivery.

dunkin takeout bag and small coffee on front porch welcome mat

We’ve checked the average delivery prices for Dunkin’ and Starbucks and found that Dunkin’ tends to have the cheapest delivery fees. Here are the delivery fees you can expect from third-party delivery services:

  • Uber Eats: $0.49 for Dunkin’; $2.49 for Starbucks
  • DoorDash: $1.99 for Dunkin’; $4.99 for Starbucks

Before you order from third-party delivery services, make sure you check out our ways to get free Uber Eats and DoorDash delivery strategies.

 

8. Coupons are rare for Starbucks, but you can easily find Dunkin’ coupons through the app.

person holding iPhone with dunkin' app DDPerks near bag and coffee

If you’re looking for Starbucks coupons or Dunkin’ coupons, your best bet is to check your app often. Dunkin’ tends to give them out more frequently, with deals like free drinks (up to $3.99) and $3 off seasonal drinks, and Starbucks tends to give theirs out randomly. In the past, we’ve seen offers for free Cake Pops, 50% off drinks on specific days, and BOGO free drinks for random Rewards customers.

 

 

 

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