Cheapest Cities to Open a Bar / Brewery (2026)
Oklahoma City, Memphis, Cleveland top the list — first-year costs start at $228,748 and reach $515,372. All 50 cities ranked by total cost, adjusted for local cost of living.
The three cheapest cities to start a bar / brewery are Oklahoma City ($228,748/yr), Memphis ($237,016/yr), and Cleveland ($245,284/yr) — vs. $515,372 in New York, the most expensive city in our dataset. All estimates are 2026 figures adjusted for each city's cost of living.
Oklahoma City
OK
Cleveland
OH
Cheapest City
$228,748
Oklahoma City
National Median
$275,600
Phoenix
National Average
$305,640
50-city average
Most Expensive
$515,372
New York
All Cities Ranked — Bar / Brewery Startup Cost
Sorted cheapest to most expensive. Click column headers to re-sort.
| # | City | COL Index | Upfront | Year 1 Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City OK 🥇 | 83.0 | $116,200 | $228,748 | Details → |
| 2 | Memphis TN 🥈 | 86.0 | $120,400 | $237,016 | Details → |
| 3 | Cleveland OH 🥉 | 89.0 | $124,600 | $245,284 | Details → |
| 4 | Detroit MI | 89.0 | $124,600 | $245,284 | Details → |
| 5 | St. Louis MO | 90.0 | $126,000 | $248,040 | Details → |
| 6 | Omaha NE | 91.0 | $127,400 | $250,796 | Details → |
| 7 | Louisville KY | 91.0 | $127,400 | $250,796 | Details → |
| 8 | San Antonio TX | 91.0 | $127,400 | $250,796 | Details → |
| 9 | Indianapolis IN | 92.0 | $128,800 | $253,552 | Details → |
| 10 | Tucson AZ | 93.0 | $130,200 | $256,308 | Details → |
| 11 | Cincinnati OH | 93.0 | $130,200 | $256,308 | Details → |
| 12 | Milwaukee WI | 93.0 | $130,200 | $256,308 | Details → |
| 13 | Houston TX | 93.0 | $130,200 | $256,308 | Details → |
| 14 | Kansas City MO | 94.0 | $131,600 | $259,064 | Details → |
| 15 | Minneapolis MN | 95.0 | $133,000 | $261,820 | Details → |
| 16 | Columbus OH | 95.0 | $133,000 | $261,820 | Details → |
| 17 | Jacksonville FL | 96.0 | $134,400 | $264,576 | Details → |
| 18 | Pittsburgh PA | 97.0 | $135,800 | $267,332 | Details → |
| 19 | Fort Worth TX | 97.0 | $135,800 | $267,332 | Details → |
| 20 | Mesa AZ | 98.0 | $137,200 | $270,088 | Details → |
| 21 | Charlotte NC | 98.0 | $137,200 | $270,088 | Details → |
| 22 | New Orleans LA | 99.0 | $138,600 | $272,844 | Details → |
| 23 | Orlando FL | 99.0 | $138,600 | $272,844 | Details → |
| 24 | Richmond VA | 99.0 | $138,600 | $272,844 | Details → |
| 25 | Raleigh NC | 100.0 | $140,000 | $275,600 | Details → |
| 26 | Phoenix AZ | 100.0 | $140,000 | $275,600 | Details → |
| 27 | Dallas TX | 101.0 | $141,400 | $278,356 | Details → |
| 28 | Tampa FL | 101.0 | $141,400 | $278,356 | Details → |
| 29 | Virginia Beach VA | 101.0 | $141,400 | $278,356 | Details → |
| 30 | Las Vegas NV | 103.0 | $144,200 | $283,868 | Details → |
| 31 | Nashville TN | 103.0 | $144,200 | $283,868 | Details → |
| 32 | Philadelphia PA | 103.0 | $144,200 | $283,868 | Details → |
| 33 | Austin TX | 103.0 | $144,200 | $283,868 | Details → |
| 34 | Atlanta GA | 105.0 | $147,000 | $289,380 | Details → |
| 35 | Chicago IL | 107.0 | $149,800 | $294,892 | Details → |
| 36 | Baltimore MD | 108.0 | $151,200 | $297,648 | Details → |
| 37 | Denver CO | 112.0 | $156,800 | $308,672 | Details → |
| 38 | Portland OR | 113.0 | $158,200 | $311,428 | Details → |
| 39 | Sacramento CA | 118.0 | $165,200 | $325,208 | Details → |
| 40 | Miami FL | 123.0 | $172,200 | $338,988 | Details → |
| 41 | San Diego CA | 146.0 | $204,400 | $402,376 | Details → |
| 42 | Seattle WA | 149.0 | $208,600 | $410,644 | Details → |
| 43 | Washington DC | 152.0 | $212,800 | $418,912 | Details → |
| 44 | Boston MA | 152.0 | $212,800 | $418,912 | Details → |
| 45 | Los Angeles CA | 152.0 | $212,800 | $418,912 | Details → |
| 46 | Long Beach CA | 155.0 | $217,000 | $427,180 | Details → |
| 47 | Oakland CA | 161.0 | $225,400 | $443,716 | Details → |
| 48 | San Jose CA | 170.0 | $238,000 | $468,520 | Details → |
| 49 | San Francisco CA | 179.0 | $250,600 | $493,324 | Details → |
| 50 | New York NY | 187.0 | $261,800 | $515,372 | Details → |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest city to open a bar / brewery?
Oklahoma City, OK is the most affordable city in our dataset for starting a bar / brewery, with estimated first-year costs of $228,748 — $116,200 upfront and $9,379/month ongoing, based on 2026 data adjusted for local cost of living.
What drives cost differences between cities?
The main driver is each city's cost-of-living (COL) index, which reflects local rent, labor rates, and supply costs. High-COL cities like New York (COL index 187.0) cost significantly more than low-COL cities like Oklahoma City (COL index 83.0). A COL index of 100 means average US costs; 80 means 20% below average.
How much more does it cost in the most expensive city?
Starting a bar / brewery in New York ($515,372/yr) costs $286,624 more than in Oklahoma City ($228,748/yr) — a 125% difference.
Should I choose the cheapest city just to save on startup costs?
Not always. Lower-cost cities also tend to have lower average incomes, smaller customer bases, and fewer anchor employers. A bar / brewery in New York may cost twice as much to start but serve a market three times the size. Use this ranking as a starting point, then weigh local demand, competition, and your own personal network before choosing a location.
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