The Cheapest Beers You Can Buy—Other Than Natty Ice
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We all love a good craft beer, but sometimes we want something cheap, and those don't always cut it. So we decided to put together the ultimate guide to the cheapest beer you can buy. Cold, inexpensive beer is perfect for filling the cooler at your next barbecue and for just having handy for whenever.
If you're looking for more beer recommendations, you can check out our guide to the best summer beers and expert-approved IPAs.
How We Picked These Products
My love of a good spreadsheet really paid off when writing this story. We selected 11 beers that come to mind when we think of cheap beer: Bud Light, Miller Lite, Budweiser, Coors Light, Busch, Miller High Life, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Rolling Rock, Coors Banquet, and Michelob Ultra. While there are plenty of other low-budget beers on the market, we chose big brands that are easy to find across the country.
Then I turned to Total Wine & More and selected four locations across the U.S.: River Edge, New Jersey; El Paso, Texas; Brookfield, Wisconsin; and Fresno, California. I tallied and averaged all the prices for 30-packs for each beer (for the stores that had them). In the case of a tie, I averaged the prices of a 12-pack to find the winner. Here are the 11 cheapest beers you can buy, listed in order of average price. Note that the links go to the Total Wine & More online store, which will have a different price than the average.
Natural Ice
We found the average price of Natural Ice to be $18.66 for a 30-pack, which puts each can at about $0.62. That's a total steal for a beer that has an ABV of 5.9%, which is much higher than your typical "cheap beer."
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $18.66
Busch Beer, 30-Pack
At an average of $0.65 per can, there's no questioning this American-style lager is super cheap. It was the runner-up in our nationwide survey.
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $19.49
Miller High Life, 30-Pack
Known as The Champagne of Beers, are you surprised to see this one so high on the list? Bubbly, light, and oh so refreshing, Miller High Life is an affordable beer for celebrating.
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $20.24
Pabst Blue Ribbon
We all know the unmistakable can. PBR got its start in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1844, and it's still one the cheapest beers you can buy.
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $20.24
Rolling Rock
The Latrobe Brewery launched Rolling Rock in 1939. On average, a can will cost you about $0.73.
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $21.99
Miller Lite, 30-Pack
At only 96 calories and just over three grams of carbohydrates, Miller Lite is a great light beer option.
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $22.87
Budweiser
Known as "The King of Beers," you can find Budweiser in over 70 countries. Plus, it'll only set you back about $0.76 per can.
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $23.37
Coors Light
There's nothing quite like an ice cold Coors Light. It's crisp, refreshing, and clocks in at only 102 calories. Add some orange juice for a beermosa.
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $23.37
Bud Light
Bud Light has had some controversy this year, with some retailers supposedly slashing prices due to the boycott on the already "cheap" beer. That being said, it made our list at an average of $0.78 per can.
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $23.37
Coors Banquet
Compared to Coors Light, Coors Banquet has a slightly higher ABV and a more robust flavor and body, but we found it to be the same price on average.
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $23.37
Michelob Ultra, 30-Pack
Jumping up a few dollars from the other picks is Michelob Ultra. It's brewed with grains and Herkules hops for a light lager that's only 95 calories.
Average Price For A 30-Pack: $26.55
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