Have you ever considered trying Dry January? It’s a popular health challenge in which people start off the year by pausing their drinking — some do it to reevaluate their drinking habits, others do it to get in better shape, others do it simply to save a little money as the year gets started.
How much, though, can you save by not drinking for a month?
That’s a question GOBankingRates sought to answer. Localizing the study to the largest 50 cities in America (by population), GOBankingRates analyzed the average costs of domestic beer (both at home and in restaurants) of each city, as well as the daily, monthly and annual amount of drinks consumed by the average drinker in each metropolis. From that matrix, GOBankingRates was able to determine just how much is spent in America’s 50 biggest cities on beer, ranked from most expensive to least expensive.
From this list, you’ll be able to see not just the monthly cost of drinking in America’s most populous locations, but how much you can save by participating in Dry January in each.
Key Findings
- Seattle is the priciest drinking city: Other American cities may have higher costs of living, but Seattle ranks first in terms of costliest drinking.
- One state appears more than any other in the top 50: Eight California cities — Bakersfield, Fresno, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose — make it into the list of locations where you can save by not drinking in January. Texas comes in second place with seven cities.
- Even the lowest city on the list offers savings: Arlington, Texas, may come in 50th in the ranking, but you can still save over $30 there in January by skipping on booze.
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1. Seattle
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $31.16
- Cost of beer in January: $55.96
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2. New York
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $30.78
- Cost of beer in January: $55.58
3. Atlanta
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $36.92
- Cost of beer in January: $55.52
4. Boston
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $29.48
- Cost of beer in January: $54.28
5. Dallas
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $23.25
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $30.60
- Cost of beer in January: $53.85
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6. Washington, D.C.
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $28.64
- Cost of beer in January: $53.44
7. Los Angeles
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $28.37
- Cost of beer in January: $53.17
8. San Francisco
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $28.37
- Cost of beer in January: $53.17
9. Sacramento, California
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $23.53
- Cost of beer in January: $48.33
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10. Miami
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $23.53
- Cost of beer in January: $48.33
11. Chicago
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $21.70
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $26.23
- Cost of beer in January: $47.93
12. Baltimore
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $21.70
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $25.58
- Cost of beer in January: $47.28
13. Denver
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $21.70
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $25.48
- Cost of beer in January: $47.18
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14. Portland, Oregon
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $21.70
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $25.48
- Cost of beer in January: $47.18
15. San Jose, California
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $26.35
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $20.74
- Cost of beer in January: $47.09
16. Detroit
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $21.70
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $23.90
- Cost of beer in January: $45.60
17. San Diego
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $20.18
- Cost of beer in January: $44.98
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18. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $19.44
- Cost of beer in January: $44.24
19. Austin, Texas
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $25.30
- Cost of beer in January: $43.90
20. Long Beach, California
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.03
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $18.23
- Cost of beer in January: $42.25
21. San Antonio, Texas
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $16.28
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $25.76
- Cost of beer in January: $42.04
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22. Jacksonville, Florida
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $23.25
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $18.79
- Cost of beer in January: $42.04
23. Phoenix
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $23.16
- Cost of beer in January: $41.76
24. Minneapolis
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $22.51
- Cost of beer in January: $41.11
25. Oakland, California
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $24.80
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $16.09
- Cost of beer in January: $40.89
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26. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $22.23
- Cost of beer in January: $40.83
27. Nashville, Tennessee
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $21.70
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $18.60
- Cost of beer in January: $40.30
28. Houston
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $21.58
- Cost of beer in January: $40.18
29. Louisville, Kentucky
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $21.39
- Cost of beer in January: $39.99
30. Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $21.20
- Cost of beer in January: $39.80
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31. Columbus, Ohio
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $20.93
- Cost of beer in January: $39.53
32. Kansas City, Missouri
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $21.70
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $17.67
- Cost of beer in January: $39.37
33. Fresno, California
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $23.25
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $16.09
- Cost of beer in January: $39.34
34. Indianapolis
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $21.70
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $17.39
- Cost of beer in January: $39.09
35. Las Vegas
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $20.15
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $18.60
- Cost of beer in January: $38.75
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36. Mesa, Arizona
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $19.62
- Cost of beer in January: $38.22
37. Tucson, Arizona
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $18.97
- Cost of beer in January: $37.57
38. Philadelphia
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $18.79
- Cost of beer in January: $37.39
39. Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $18.41
- Cost of beer in January: $37.01
40. Wichita, Kansas
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $16.28
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $20.55
- Cost of beer in January: $36.83
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41. Bakersfield, California
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $17.86
- Cost of beer in January: $36.46
42. Memphis, Tennessee
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $20.15
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $16.09
- Cost of beer in January: $36.24
43. El Paso, Texas
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $17.05
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $19.16
- Cost of beer in January: $36.21
44. Oklahoma City
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $17.48
- Cost of beer in January: $36.08
45. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $16.74
- Cost of beer in January: $35.34
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46. Milwaukee
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $17.05
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $18.23
- Cost of beer in January: $35.28
47. Omaha, Nebraska
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $18.60
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $16.46
- Cost of beer in January: $35.06
48. Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $15.50
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $18.23
- Cost of beer in January: $33.73
49. Fort Worth, Texas
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $15.97
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $17.30
- Cost of beer in January: $33.26
50. Arlington, Texas
- Monthly cost of beer at restaurant: $15.97
- Monthly cost of beer at home: $17.30
- Cost of beer in January: $33.26
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the largest 50 cities in the U.S. by population, according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The daily, monthly, and annual amount of drinks consumed was calculated using the amount of drinks in the last 7 days, sourced from from Gallup. The average cost of a domestic beer at home and at a restaurant was sourced from Numbeo for each city. Assuming drinks at home are consumed 75% of the time and drinks in restaurants are consumed 25% of the time, the monthly and annual cost of drinks was calculated for each location. The places were sorted to show the largest amount spent on drinks first. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Dec. 17, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Doing Dry January? How Much Money It Can Save You in 50 US Cities
