As matchas continue to conquer the coffee scene, Edinburgh has been revealed as the UK city with the most expensive iced matcha, according to new analysis.
A staple of Japanese culture, matcha is growing in popularity in the UK, with Gen Z driving the trend. The UK matcha tea market generated £45.3 million in 2024 and is projected to soar to £71.2 million by 2030. However, recent news revealed there is a global matcha shortage as wholesale prices increase in Kyoto.
Matcha is a green tea leaf ground into a very fine powder and is loaded with health perks, from antioxidants to improving heart health, but it might be damaging your financial wellbeing more than boosting it.
From classic lattes to innovative flavour combinations, matcha blends are now becoming a standard on café menus across the country.
The research, created by UK Debt Expert, used Deliveroo to analyse popular chains and independents across UK cities to reveal the most and least expensive places to buy a regular iced matcha.
Edinburgh was revealed as the most expensive location for an iced matcha, with its residents expected to pay up to nearly £6.
For avid matcha drinkers, treating yourself once a week can cost around £301 a year, and up to £925 if you’re buying three times a week.
With the average monthly salary in Edinburgh at £3,187, that’s a big chunk in your budget for a regular treat.
London and Wolverhampton followed behind with a matcha costing up to £5.53. Treating yourself three times per week can cost over £65 a month – the equivalent of a weekly shop for some.
Residents in Belfast appear to be the luckiest as it is deemed the cheapest city with an average cost of £4.11.
Plymouth, Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester and Reading also rank in the top five for being the most affordable for matcha lovers.
MOST EXPENSIVE CITES FOR ICED MATCHA
| City | Average cost of an iced matcha latte | Avg. monthly cost of iced matcha – 1x per week | Avg. monthly cost of iced matcha – 3x per week | Avg. monthly cost of iced matcha – 5x per week |
| Edinburgh | £5.93 | £23.7 | £71.20 | £118.67 |
| London | £5.53 | £22.1 | £66.40 | £110.67 |
| Wolverhampton | £5.45 | £21.8 | £65.40 | £109.00 |
| Liverpool | £5.37 | £21.5 | £64.40 | £107.33 |
| Ipswich | £5.36 | £21.5 | £64.36 | £107.27 |
| Bristol | £5.30 | £21.2 | £63.56 | £105.93 |
| Islington | £5.28 | £21.1 | £63.40 | £105.67 |
| Sheffield | £5.26 | £21.1 | £63.16 | £105.27 |
| Northampton | £5.25 | £21.0 | £62.96 | £104.93 |
| Southampton | £5.1 | £20.4 | £61.20 | £102.00 |
Commenting on the research, personal finance expert Maxine McCreadie said:
“Picking up a coffee now and then isn’t going to break the bank, but not keeping track can quickly lead to overspending. The data reveals that buying one matcha per week can cost just over £20 a month, but, as our research shows, this can quickly creep into the hundreds monthly and annually.
“If you like to enjoy a matcha on your lunch break, make sure to factor this into your monthly budget so you’re not left short, especially when small, frequent purchases start adding up without noticing. It’s about being mindful of the little expenses that can make a big impact over time.”
For the full research, please visit: https://ukdebtexpert.co.uk/blog/matcha-madness-the-uks-most-and-least-expensive-cities-revealed/
