# How can a pizza cost $12? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 12, 2014, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011 "2014-12-12T09:43:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/21 "2014-12-12T15:58:39Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Whoops. I meant “local chains.” > > Looking at my local menus again (and I don’t live in an expensive part of town), looks like the average for a 14" sausage and cheese pizza is closer to $17, not including delivery, tax, or tip. In NYC (Queens) a standard pie is 18" and a plain cheese pizza costs $16 from a not-shitty-but-nothing-fancy local pizzeria. A topping is $3 additional. No charge for delivery. Basically identical to the inflation-adjusted cost in “Home Alone.” I’m mystified how a 14" pizza can be a large, unless its a “deep dish chicago-style” pie? ---
**Author:** ![Lubricious\_Integument](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/22 "2014-12-12T16:03:48Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Keep in mind whoever wrote the $12 price tag for the movie probably lived in an area with expensive pizza. That same person might be paying 20-25 today. > > In 1990 I remember being able to get pizza’s for 5-7 bucks. Domino’s had like a 3 pizza for 5 dollars each deal. You had to spend the 7 bucks a pie at better place to get something that actually resembled pizza. Don’t forget [regular price, four bucks four bucks four bucks four bucks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYLKQljwoEM). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/23 "2014-12-12T17:07:26Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I’m mystified how a 14" pizza can be a large, unless its a “deep dish chicago-style” pie? No, I’m talking thin crust pizzas, which is the more commonly eaten pizza here, despite deep dish being more well-known. It may vary by neighborhood, but in the Southwest Side, it’s not atypical to find these (or some variant of these) sizes: Small (10"), Medium (12"), Large (14"), Family (16") Some places may also have a “Jumbo” or “Extra Large” in there (usually 18", but sometimes synonymous with “family,” and sometimes swapped), and some will have Party (usually around 20") as the biggest size. It varies by place, but generally, small, medium, and large are 10",12",14" respectively. I’ve just checked a half dozen places in my general area, and all agree on those three (Beggars, Home Run Inn, Falco’s, Just A Pizza, Obbie’s, Chesdan’s). I’m also looking at Domino’s and Pizza Hut, and it’s the same there. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/24 "2014-12-12T19:06:46Z")
I could be misremembering, but in the movie, didn’t Kevin also order a 2-liter with his pizza? And seeing as how pizza joints generally inflate the prices of 2-liters, 12 bucks wouldn’t be out of line, especially once you tack on a delivery fee and tax. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/25 "2014-12-12T19:13:06Z")
Costco here in Hawaii sells a large (18") for $10, yes ten dollars. Same price for cheese, peperoni, or combination (the works). Don’t have to be a member, sold outside. Same prices back on the mainland - and it’s good pizza. We’ll order 10 for pizza day and feed 50 people with some next day lunch leftovers. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/26 "2014-12-12T19:18:23Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I could be misremembering, but in the movie, didn’t Kevin also order a 2-liter with his pizza? And seeing as how pizza joints generally inflate the prices of 2-liters, 12 bucks wouldn’t be out of line, especially once you tack on a delivery fee and tax. The price as given ($12, or $20 in today’s terms) is perfectly in-line with regular pizza joints around here. In Kevin’s area (northern suburbs of Chicago), which is a wealthy suburb, even more than reasonable. (Plus, a lot of the places here include a free liter of RC in with the price. At least the ma & pop joints do.) I’m honestly wondering whether the OP is surprised by that price being too much or too little. ---
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/27 "2014-12-12T19:46:24Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The price as given ($12, or $20 in today’s terms) is perfectly in-line with regular pizza joints around here. In Kevin’s area (northern suburbs of Chicago), which is a wealthy suburb, even more than reasonable. (Plus, a lot of the places here include a free liter of RC in with the price. At least the ma & pop joints do.) I’m honestly wondering whether the OP is surprised by that price being too much or too little. The pizzas were $12. In the movie the family has ten pizzas delivered and the total is $122.50. Kevin orders “a whole cheese pizza” just for himself and the delivery guys says it costs $11.80. There were no extras, no drinks and that did not include tip. I think that is really expensive- I would think $12 then was about $30 now. But I do not know the inflation rates in the USA. I am in Melbourne, Australia. [http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl](http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl) ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/28 "2014-12-12T19:46:32Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > In the film Home Alone the pizzas cost $12. This was 25 years ago. > How much do pizzas cost in the USA now? > How much is $12 in 1990 compared to now? Ex Round table pizza employee Typical one topping pizza price broke down into 5 primary areas. $15 dollar pizza Food Cost $3 (meat cheese, etc) Labor $3 (prep vegetables, slice meats, roll dough, assemble and bake, etc.) Facility $3 (building/utilities) other misc expenses $3 (business licence, liquor licence, health inspections, office supplies, furniture) Profit $3 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/29 "2014-12-12T20:01:41Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > As for the OP, I’m unsure whether $12 is supposed to be a lot or a little (as there seems to be some degree of surprise in the tone of the title.) I’m wondering that, too. It doesn’t sound like a lot, either now or then, but sounds like the consensus is that it’s pricey… ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/32 "2014-12-13T03:57:00Z")
It seems like the price of bake-your-own pizza has risen quite a bit. We were charged $17 for a large Papa Murphys pizza and they used to cost somewhere around $5. Of course, they’re cheaper if you sign-up for an online account and get the online coupons. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/33 "2014-12-13T04:17:51Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > I think that is really expensive- I would think $12 then was about $30 now. But I do not know the inflation rates in the USA. I am in Melbourne, Australia. About US$22 now, or $25-ish Australian dollars. If that seems expensive to you, look at the UK price quoted upthread. For me, it’s a little pricey for just a cheese pizza, but not that far off the mark. And for where he was living, understandable. It’s not a price that would have me scratch my head, let me say that. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/34 "2014-12-13T04:45:36Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Sorry - this thread is about PIZZA. I love me some Little Caesar’s Pizza. Pizza! Pizza! Pan! Pan! This was a ritual with my best friend and me when we watched football on Sunday afternoons. This was in the late 80’s and it was $5 a pizza back then. I also remember as a kid, when Pizza Hut first came on the scene, they would stick up your family and rob you for a pizza. I can remember a large pizza costing well in excess of $20, and that was in the late 70’s. In the Pizza Hut world, which to my knowledge was the first pizza chain here in the US, you had two choices… Thick and chewy or thin and crispy (referring to the crust). That is it. Now, there are more crust choices than colors on a computer. Pizza makers made a fortune off of the public for decades. I am for one grateful to Little Caesar’s for bringing sanity to pizza prices… I filled up on $5 pizzas many afternoons! (Sure, taste was somewhat sacrificed, but you make due.) ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/35 "2014-12-13T05:43:36Z")
I had an issue with Dominoes 2 weeks ago. I always order about 6 toppings so a large pizza runs me about $22.00. The portion of each topping goes down with each additional toppping. I took issue with this because I am charged the full price for each topping. They explained it would not cook right if they put the full portion of each topping on my pizza, I suggested if that was the cae they should lower the price with each additional topping. My six topping had less mass weight than 3 fully portioned toppings. I swithed to another pizza house where I get a full portion of each topping and they have no problem cooking it. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/36 "2014-12-13T12:00:03Z")
Cool story, bro ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/37 "2014-12-13T17:06:14Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And for where he was living, understandable. It is worth detailing this point. Winnetka, Illinois is quite affluent and is located within a cluster of other very wealthy Chicago suburbs called the [North Shore](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Shore_(Chicago)). Ferris and Cameron were from the North Shore. Here’s some lists of [highest income communities](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-income_places_in_the_United_States) with various qualifications. Winnetka is in the top 100 on each list and as high as number 4 (cities greater than 10k pop). Winnetka today has a [per capita income over $200k and average home value a hair under $2M.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnetka,_Illinois) Just for laughs, I Zillow’d Winnetka, found a home for sale near the median price for $1.9M (4 bed, 4.5 baths, 4500 sqft) and the property taxes are over $22,000 a year. Anyone want to go halfsies? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/38 "2014-12-13T17:51:55Z")
The pizza we get locally is quite good, but always significantly more than $20. Probably around $30, but I couldn’t tell you for sure. Cheaper than some meals, more than others. (2014 dollars, for reference by future readers of a possible zombie thread) ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/39 "2014-12-14T04:42:44Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > … closer to $17, not including delivery, tax, or tip. Yes, but, IIRC, he told the filthy animal to keep the change. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/40 "2014-12-14T04:56:06Z")
At that time I worked at Papa Gino’s, a pizza chain in the Northeast. I have a pretty clear memory that a large cheese was right around $7 (I think it was either $6.99 or $7.99). Toppings added about $1 each, but as you got into more toppings each additional topping was a little less (to a point). So an “expensive” pizza was around $11. Pizzas were made on a scale, and there was a matrix above the scale which told you how much cheese to add, and it was reduced with each additional topping (again, to a point). The matrix also told you how much of each topping to add, depending on the total number of toppings. For some reason, I seem to recall that a large pepperoni pizza received 30 slices of pepperoni. Once you were a little experienced you stopped bothering with the scale, which was fine until your alcoholic boss was in a mood and decided this was the day he would note that you weren’t weighing/counting the toppings and he’d then start making you miserable. Ah, memories. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/41 "2014-12-14T14:12:33Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > It is worth detailing this point. Winnetka, Illinois is quite affluent and is located within a cluster of other very wealthy Chicago suburbs called the [North Shore](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Shore_(Chicago)). > Ferris and Cameron were from the North Shore. > > Here’s some lists of [highest income communities](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-income_places_in_the_United_States) with various qualifications. Winnetka is in the top 100 on each list and as high as number 4 (cities greater than 10k pop). > > Winnetka today has a [per capita income over $200k and average home value a hair under $2M.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnetka,_Illinois) > Just for laughs, I Zillow’d Winnetka, found a home for sale near the median price for $1.9M (4 bed, 4.5 baths, 4500 sqft) and the property taxes are over $22,000 a year. > Anyone want to go halfsies? That said, the pizza prices in that area are actually pretty similar to the rest of the Chicago area. (And the only place I could find actually in Winnetka, [Marco Roma](http://www.marcoromapizza.com/files/RegularPizza.jpg), is cheaper than in my neighborhood, interestingly enough.) ---
**Author:** ![Batfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Batfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batfish)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011/42 "2014-12-14T14:45:27Z")
Despite the gritty realism of the rest of the movie, _Home Alone_ is not a documentary. ETA: Words. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-pizza-cost-12/707011.md?page=3)