October is National Pizza Month, and it's also a good excuse to ask a question most people never check: did you actually pay a normal price for that pizza, or did you get taken for a ride? The honest answer depends a lot on where you live.
Average pizza price by state in 2026
NetCredit's 2026 U.S. Pizza Index priced a medium cheese pizza from the 10 biggest U.S. pizza chains across the 100 biggest American cities. State averages ranged from about $13.95 up to $19.70 -- a gap of nearly $6 on the exact same size and topping, just based on geography.
The cheapest state for pizza
Indiana came out as the most budget-friendly state in NetCredit's 2026 index, with an average medium cheese pizza running $13.95 across the 10 biggest chains -- well under the national spread.
The most expensive state for pizza
Hawaii topped the list at $19.70, followed closely by California ($18.85) and Alaska ($18.60) -- not surprising given shipping and import costs to island and remote markets, though California's high average reflects its generally higher cost of living rather than geographic isolation.
How much should a pizza cost where you live?
The honest answer is "it depends which region you're in" -- a price that would be a steal in Indiana might be completely normal in San Diego, which NetCredit found to be the single most expensive large city for pizza at $20.76. Comparing your receipt to a single flat "national average" number can be misleading; comparing it to your actual region is more useful.
The Regional Pizza Price Index Checker lets you enter what you paid and pick the region closest to your own pricing, then tells you instantly whether you overpaid or got a deal -- based on NetCredit's 2026 state-level data.
Try the Regional Pizza Price Index Checker →
Source: NetCredit, "The Cost of Pizza in Every State and Major City" (2026 U.S. Pizza Index).