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Infographic: The Opportunity Cost of a Daily Starbucks Latte
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Key Takeaways
- Buying a grande latte at Starbucks every day for a year (365 days) would amount to roughly $2,095.
- This graphic shows what you would have if you had invested that amount for one year instead.
A daily Starbucks habit might feel like a small indulgence, but over time, those dollars can add up. This infographic explores the opportunity cost of a daily Starbucks latte over the course of one year (2024).
Data was sourced from Starbucks-menus.com (latte cost) and CNBC (stock returns). We used Palantir Technologies (PLTR) and Nvidia (NVDA) as examples because they were two of the best performing S&P 500 stocks in 2024.
| Scenario | Return | Amount After 1 Year |
Gain vs. Daily Latte |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Starbucks Latte ($5.74 x 365) | -- | $2,095 | -- |
| High-Yield Savings Account | 4% | $2,179 | $84 |
| S&P 500 Investment | 24.2% | $2,603 | $508 |
| Nvidia Investment | 171.2% | $5,682 | $3,587 |
| Palantir Investment | 340.5% | $9,229 | $7,134 |
The Power of Equities
At $5.74 per cup, a daily Starbucks latte costs $2,095 per year. Had you placed that amount in a high-yield savings account with a 4% return, you’d end up with $2,179 after one year—a modest $84 gain.
Larger gains could be realized if this money had been invested in equities. In 2024, the S&P 500 grew by 24.2%, while top-performing companies like Nvidia grew by 171.2%. However, it’s important to remember that equity returns fluctuate significantly from year to year, and they aren’t always positive.
This latte example is meant to illustrate a possibility, not a guarantee. It also overlooks the intrinsic value of a latte like the comfort, routine, or small joy it brings to daily life—all things that can’t be measured in dollars.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out 151 Years of S&P 500 Returns on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.