The Cost of a Pint of Guinness in Every State [2026]

Guinness is one of the most valuable beer brands on Earth. On St. Patrick's Day alone, millions of pints are consumed globally, including in bars and Irish pubs across the United States.

Beyond the beer's general ubiquity, Guinness has gained traction and new fans in recent years thanks to the "splitting the G" challenge, which went viral on social media in 2024, helping the brand maintain massive popularity despite steep declines in alcohol consumption.

As St. Patrick's Day approaches, revelers around the country are preparing to enjoy a traditional pint in celebration. But where will that creamy dark pint cost the most and least in the U.S. this year?

To find that out, the FinanceBuzz team determined the average cost of a pint at bars and pubs in every state, revealing which states' residents can expect to pay the most and least for this beloved Irish brew.

Key findings

• The average price for a pint of Guinness around the country is $7.89. That's an increase of more than 5% from last year's price ($7.49).
• At $9.75, a pint of Guinness costs the most in California. Four other states have prices of $9.00 or more: Washington state ($9.66), Virginia ($9.30), the District of Columbia ($9.10), and Florida ($9.00).
• A pint of Guinness is most affordable in West Virginia, costing just $6.15 on average. Nebraska ($6.40) is the only other state where a Guinness pint costs less than $6.50 on average.

Guinness prices over time

Some revelers may be curious how pint prices for this year compare to previous St. Patrick's Days and whether or not they're getting a better or worse deal on the iconic drink.

While the average price tag on a pint of Guinness has risen every year since 2022, the year-over-year increases have been relatively reasonable. Since 2022, the price for a pint of Guinness has risen by $1.18 — a 17.6% increase. From 2025 to 2026, the average price for a Guinness pint rose by 40 cents, the biggest year-over-year increase since we started tracking pint prices.

The average cost of a pint of Guinness in every state

After collecting Guinness pricing data from 250 pubs and bars across the country, we determined the average cost of a pint in the U.S. is $7.89 in 2026. That is a 5.3% increase compared to last year, when a pint cost $7.49 on average.

States where a pint of Guinness is most expensive

On the high side, we found that California charges the most for a pint. Its average price of $9.75 beats out every other state in the country. Another West Coast state is where pint prices are second-highest, as Washington state's average price for a pint of Guinness is $9.66, just nine cents less than California.

Three other states have average costs of at least $9.00: Virginia ($9.30), the District of Columbia ($9.10), and Florida ($9.00).

Among the top 10 states where Guinness pints are most expensive on average, there is an interesting split. Around half of those states — California, Washington, Nevada, and Hawaii — are located in the western region of the country, while most of the other half — DC, Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida — are all on the East Coast. Louisiana is the only state in the top 10 for Guinness costs located in the middle of the country.

States where a pint of Guinness is least expensive

West Virginia has the most affordable pint, costing just $6.15 on average. That amount is more than $3.50 less than what Guinness fans in California have to pay for their favorite Irish beer. It costs nearly $5 less for Guinness fans in West Virginia to buy four pints ($24.60) than it costs to buy three pints in California ($29.25).

The Midwest is well represented on the list of the most affordable states for a pint of Guinness. Six different Midwestern states are among the top 10, including Nebraska, which has the second-lowest average price for a pint ($6.40). Also on the list are Kansas ($6.70), Missouri ($6.95), Indiana ($7.15), South Dakota ($7.15), and Iowa ($7.20).

Tips to help you sip and save

No matter what a pint of Guinness costs where you live, it's always possible to save on dining and drinks. Here are a few tips for your next night out:

• Get tasty rewards when dining out. Some credit cards offer specific rewards when you spend on dining. Use one of the best credit cards for dining out every time you visit a restaurant to get the most out of your culinary adventures.
• Top off your portfolio by investing in beer. It's possible to buy stock in all kinds of businesses, including ones that produce adult beverages. If you love a cold brew, then it may be time to explore investing in beer stocks. Try one of the best investment apps to get started.
• Earn travel rewards for a true Irish experience. For Guinness fans, a trip to the brewery is a must. Using one of the best travel credit cards allows users to earn rewards toward an unforgettable trip to Dublin or anywhere else in the world just by making everyday purchases.

Methodology

FinanceBuzz collected the price for a pint of draft Guinness from current online menus from five different pubs or bars in each state and then averaged those prices to find the average cost per pint in every state. Guinness is traditionally served as a 20-ounce "imperial pint," but some bars in this analysis serve a 16-ounce "American pint" instead. Pricing for each bar's default pint size was used throughout. When both sizes were available, pricing for the imperial pint was used. Price data was collected in February 2026.

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