Starbucks vs Costa Prices UK 2026 – Which Is Cheaper?
Starbucks and Costa are the two biggest coffee chains in the UK. Between them they’ve got nearly 4,000 stores — Costa with around 2,670 and Starbucks with roughly 1,350. But which one gives you better value? And which one actually makes better coffee?
We’ve compared prices, taste, loyalty rewards, food, caffeine content, and more across both chains. Here’s the honest breakdown.
Price Comparison: Starbucks vs Costa UK (2026)
Here’s what you’ll actually pay for the most popular drinks at both chains. All prices are for a medium size — that’s Grande at Starbucks and Medium at Costa. Prices are based on standard UK high street locations (London and airports may charge more).
| Drink | Starbucks | Costa | Difference | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | £1.95 | £1.95 | 0p | Draw |
| Americano | £3.60 | £3.80 | 20p | Starbucks |
| Caffè Latte | £4.65 | £4.40 | 25p | Costa |
| Cappuccino | £4.65 | £4.40 | 25p | Costa |
| Flat White | £4.20 | £4.35 | 15p | Starbucks |
| Mocha | £4.65 | £4.60 | 5p | Costa |
| Caramel Latte | £5.15 | £4.85 | 30p | Costa |
| Hot Chocolate | £3.95 | £4.50 | 55p | Starbucks |
| Chai Tea Latte | £4.30 | £4.30 | 0p | Draw |
| Iced Latte | £4.55 | £4.40 | 15p | Costa |
| Frappuccino / Frappé | £5.00 | £5.45 | 45p | Starbucks |
| Filter / Brewed Coffee | £2.10 | N/A | — | Starbucks |
These are approximate prices from UK store visits in early 2026. Prices vary by 10–30p depending on location. London, airports, and service stations typically charge more at both chains. Use each chain’s app for exact local pricing.
So Which Is Cheaper?
It depends on what you drink.
Costa wins on milk-based drinks. Lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, and caramel lattes are all cheaper at Costa — typically by 20–30p per drink. If you order a latte every weekday, that’s roughly £5–6 saved per month at Costa.
Starbucks wins on black coffee and hot chocolate. The Americano and filter coffee are cheaper at Starbucks. Hot chocolate is significantly cheaper too — 55p less. If you drink black coffee, Starbucks gives better value.
Frappuccinos are cheaper at Starbucks than Costa’s equivalent frappés. Starbucks also has far more Frap varieties.
Price Verdict Summary
Since lattes and cappuccinos are the most popular orders in the UK, Costa is cheaper for the average customer. But it’s close — we’re talking pennies, not pounds.
Taste & Coffee Quality
This is subjective, but there are real differences in how each chain makes coffee.
Darker roast, bolder flavour
Starbucks uses a darker roast which gives a stronger, slightly more bitter taste. Some people love the intensity. Others find it too much. The espresso base is consistent across stores — you know what you’re getting. Starbucks also offers a Blonde Roast option which is lighter and smoother.
Mocha Italia blend, smoother taste
Costa’s signature Mocha Italia blend is a mix of Arabica and Robusta beans. It produces a smoother, rounder flavour with less bitterness. Many UK coffee drinkers prefer this — it’s closer to what you’d get at an independent café. The downside is some people find it less punchy.
Verdict: If you like strong, bold coffee — Starbucks. If you prefer smooth, easy-drinking coffee — Costa. Most UK taste tests lean slightly toward Costa for straight espresso drinks like lattes and flat whites.
Caffeine Content Comparison
This is where it gets interesting. Despite Starbucks tasting “stronger”, Costa actually has significantly more caffeine in most drinks.
| Drink (Medium) | Starbucks | Costa | More Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cappuccino | ~150 mg | ~325 mg | Costa (2x more) |
| Latte | ~150 mg | ~277 mg | Costa |
| Americano | ~225 mg | ~277 mg | Costa |
| Flat White | ~195 mg | ~277 mg | Costa |
| Filter Coffee | ~310 mg | N/A | Starbucks |
Costa’s cappuccino has been found to contain nearly double the caffeine of Starbucks’ version. This is because Costa uses more coffee per drink and their Robusta bean blend is naturally higher in caffeine.
Costa gives you more caffeine per cup on most espresso drinks. But if you want the absolute most caffeine, Starbucks’ filter coffee (Blonde Roast) packs over 300mg — it’s the single highest-caffeine drink at either chain.
Loyalty Schemes: Costa Club vs Starbucks Rewards
This is where there’s a clear winner.
Free drink after 10 beans (or 5 with reusable cup)
You earn 1 bean per drink. Bring a reusable cup and get a bonus bean — so it only takes 5 purchases for a free drink. That’s roughly £22 spend for a free latte. Costa also sends regular “Treat drops” with surprise discounts. Plus, you get a free sweet treat on your birthday.
Free drink after spending £50
You earn 3 stars per £1 spent. You need 150 stars for a free drink — that means spending £50. You must preload money onto the app or card to earn stars. Gold level at 450 stars unlocks free extras like syrups and whipped cream. You also get a free birthday drink.
Loyalty Comparison
Costa Club is nearly twice as generous. You spend roughly half as much to earn a free coffee. Which? and multiple money-saving sites have rated Costa’s scheme the best mainstream coffee loyalty programme in the UK. Starbucks Rewards is one of the worst value among major chains.
Menu Variety & Seasonal Drinks
Both chains have huge menus, but they focus on different things.
Bigger iced drinks menu
Starbucks has a much wider selection of iced coffees, Frappuccinos (13+ flavours), Refreshas, cold brews, and shaken espressos. Seasonal drinks are a bigger deal — Pumpkin Spice Latte, Gingerbread Latte, and TikTok viral drinks drive massive hype every year. Starbucks also leads on customisation — you can modify almost everything. See the full Starbucks drinks menu.
Stronger hot coffee range
Costa’s hot coffee menu is slightly smaller but focused. Their frappé range has grown but still can’t match Starbucks for variety. Costa does well with hot chocolate (multiple varieties including KitKat hot chocolate) and tea. Seasonal specials like the Toffee Penny Latte and Terry’s Chocolate Orange drinks are popular in the UK.
Verdict: Starbucks wins on menu variety, especially iced drinks and Frappuccinos. Costa wins if you mainly drink hot coffee and want a simpler, less overwhelming menu.
Food Menu Comparison
Neither chain is a restaurant, but both sell breakfast items, sandwiches, and bakery treats.
Decent but limited
Starbucks has a smaller food range — mainly croissants, muffins, cookies, and a few hot sandwiches. The breakfast menu finishes early. Quality is fine but nothing special. See the full food menu and breakfast menu for prices.
Bigger range, more hot options
Costa has a wider food menu with toasties, paninis, wraps, soups, and more bakery options. The cheese toasties are legendary among regulars. More filling lunch options and generally better variety for a sit-down meal.
Verdict: Costa wins on food. More variety, more hot options, and the toasties are genuinely good. Starbucks food is fine but you’re going for the coffee, not the food.
Stores, Atmosphere & App
~1,350 UK stores
Modern, minimal interiors. Generally good wifi and seating for remote work. The Starbucks app lets you order ahead and customise every detail of your drink. Sizes are Tall/Grande/Venti which some people find confusing.
~2,670 UK stores (+ 10,000 Express machines)
Warm burgundy colour scheme, more traditional British café feel. Comfortable seating. Simpler ordering — sizes are Small/Medium/Large. The Costa app is good but less customisation. Over 10,000 Costa Express machines in supermarkets, petrol stations, and offices means you can get Costa almost anywhere.
Costa has nearly double the stores of Starbucks in the UK. Add the 10,000+ Express machines and Costa is far more accessible. Starbucks has a better app for customisation and order-ahead, but Costa is easier to find.
Final Verdict: Starbucks vs Costa UK
Here’s the summary of every category:
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Price (milk-based) | Costa | 20–30p cheaper per drink |
| Price (black coffee) | Starbucks | Americano and filter cheaper |
| Taste (espresso) | Costa | Smoother, preferred in UK tests |
| Caffeine | Costa | Nearly 2x more in most drinks |
| Loyalty scheme | Costa | Free drink at £22 vs £50 |
| Menu variety | Starbucks | More iced drinks, Fraps, seasonal |
| Food | Costa | More hot options, better variety |
| Number of stores | Costa | 2,670 stores + 10,000 Express |
| App & customisation | Starbucks | Better order-ahead, more options |
| Iced drinks & Fraps | Starbucks | 13+ Frappuccinos, Refreshas |
Overall: Costa wins on value, Starbucks wins on variety
If you drink lattes, cappuccinos, or flat whites and want the best value — Costa is the clear winner. Cheaper prices, better loyalty scheme, more caffeine per cup, and nearly double the UK locations.
If you love iced drinks, Frappuccinos, seasonal specials, or want maximum customisation — Starbucks is better. The app is excellent and the menu variety is unmatched.
For most UK coffee drinkers who order a standard milk-based coffee? Costa gives you more for your money.
Sign up for both apps. Use Costa Club for everyday coffees (cheaper + faster rewards). Use Starbucks when you want a Frappuccino, seasonal drink, or to use the order-ahead feature. Bring a reusable cup to both — save 25p at Starbucks and earn a bonus bean at Costa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Starbucks more expensive than Costa in the UK?
For most drinks, yes. Starbucks is about 20–50p more expensive on milk-based coffees like lattes and cappuccinos. However, Starbucks is cheaper for Americanos, hot chocolate, and filter coffee.
Which has better coffee — Starbucks or Costa?
It depends on taste. Costa uses a smoother Mocha Italia blend that most UK drinkers prefer for everyday coffee. Starbucks has a bolder, darker roast that some prefer for stronger flavour. Both are consistent across stores.
Which has more caffeine — Starbucks or Costa?
Costa, by a significant margin. A medium cappuccino at Costa has about 325mg of caffeine compared to around 150mg at Starbucks. Costa uses more coffee per drink and their Robusta bean blend is naturally higher in caffeine.
Which loyalty scheme is better — Costa Club or Starbucks Rewards?
Costa Club is much better value. You earn a free drink after about £22 of spending (or just 5 drinks with a reusable cup). Starbucks requires £50 spend for a free drink — more than double.
Are Starbucks and Costa owned by the same company?
No. They are completely separate companies. Costa Coffee was founded in London in 1971 and is now owned by The Coca-Cola Company. Starbucks was founded in Seattle in 1971 and operates independently as a public company.
Which chain has more stores in the UK?
Costa has nearly double — around 2,670 stores compared to Starbucks’ 1,350. Costa also has over 10,000 Express self-serve machines in supermarkets, petrol stations, and offices across the UK.
Does Costa charge for alternative milk?
Costa removed the surcharge for plant-based milks in most UK stores. Starbucks has also dropped the extra charge for oat, almond, and coconut milk. Both chains are now equal on this.
Which is better for iced drinks?
Starbucks, easily. They have 13+ Frappuccino flavours, cold brew, Refreshas, and shaken espressos. Costa’s iced range is growing but much smaller. If you mainly drink cold coffee, Starbucks is the better choice.
Explore Our Full Starbucks UK Guides
Prices, menus, secret drinks, and more.
Starbucks Menu UK Team
We visit both Starbucks and Costa stores regularly across the UK. Prices, caffeine data, and loyalty details were verified in early March 2026. Rankings and taste opinions are based on in-store testing and UK consumer research.
Disclaimer: starbucks-menu.co.uk is not affiliated with Starbucks Corporation or Costa Coffee. Prices are approximate and may vary by location. Updated March 2026.
