Controversy Over $2 Tap Water at Vegas Starbucks and Rising Prices in Sin City
Outrage Over Paying for Tap Water at Starbucks in Las Vegas
Remember the uproar last June about the $26 bottled water at Aria Resort in Las Vegas? That controversy over steep water prices appears far from over. Recently, a social media post went viral revealing another surprising charge at a Starbucks located inside the Luxor Hotel & Casino, managed by MGM Resorts International.
Jeff Sotto, an X platform user, shared a receipt from Starbucks at Luxor Convention West showing he was charged $2 for each cup of tap water. His purchase included one Americano and two cups of water, causing the total cost of his drink to rise significantly.
Customer Reaction to Unexpected Tap Water Fees
Jeff expressed frustration, pointing out that tap water should never carry such a premium, saying, “Only in Vegas do you pay $2 for tap water. Now my Americano costs $11. No wonder people complain about Las Vegas — fees everywhere.” His comment, along with the receipt, quickly caught the attention of local influencer Las Vegas Locally, who echoed the sentiment suggesting that a cup of tap water should cost no more than 25 cents.
The post garnered over 72,000 views, with many users voicing their displeasure and speculating on why the high charge exists. Some theorized that it might have been a manager’s tactic to meet sales targets or possibly a mistake by an employee. Others offered alternatives, advising visitors to seek out public drinking fountains instead of paying extra for water.
Despite the state of Nevada’s reputation for pure water supplied in the area, some commenters joked that consumers should be compensated to drink what they called “hard water.” Others humorously labeled Starbucks as the least desirable place to order plain black coffee.
Escalating Food Prices at Popular Vegas Venues
The controversy over expensive water isn’t the only grievance for visitors concerned about rising costs in Las Vegas. Attendees at concerts held at the renowned Sphere venue were similarly stunned when they found out that a standard 18-inch pizza was priced around $170 for guests with special suite access during the Backstreet Boys’ “Into The Millennium” tour in June 2025.
Concert tickets ranged from $92.50 to $162.50, making the pizza prices feel especially excessive and drawing criticism among concertgoers on social media.
