this is a legit travel question in that other countries charge much less for this product.

at the only gelato stores i've seen they charge 3.75 for a cup! a tiny cup! i just paid 7.50 for the "large" because that was the only size with a lid.

any shop owners there who can explain why it costs so much?

thanks.
kerikeri

that is 'cup" as in dish, not 8 ounces!

Is it imported or made locally? Everything imported is much more expensive.

seriously, why is gelato so expensive in the us?

Because that's what people are willing to pay for it? Supply and demand?

It's about supply and demand. The demand for the product is low here, so the supply is limited. Store owner has to buy the stuff and store it. That costs money and store space, money and space that could be used for other stuff that sells more quickly. So, the seller needs to make a larger profit because of the lower sales of the gelato.

You are paying extra because the product is there when you want it.

I think it's expensive because it recalls an experience... you know, people aren't just buying gelato, they're buying the feeling you get when you eat gelato-- the wistful feeling of being in Europe.

Or something

It's funny you say that. My partner ate a ton of gelato in Italy, most often paying 4 euro for a "medium" sized dish. That's over $5 -- and a smaller dish of gelato than he gets here in Naples, Florida for $3. The smaller ones are often 2.50 or 3 euro in Italy and they are really small. So I find it cheaper here than there!

For the size, gelato, ice cream was less expensive here in Boston than inFrance.

My first reaction was that it's expensive in Italy too. I recall it being around 3 Euro a cone in Florence, a bit less in Siena because DD was living there and knew the non-touristy places to go.

From the ones I've tried here, offhand I think it was Cio Bella, it wasn't worth the price--didn't even come close. Though there's a place here (Seattle) downtown that's not bad, and the price is comparable to Italy.

you're all great to respond.

thanks so much!

kerikeri

It's expensive for the same reason that a dish of "pasta" at a "ristorante" costs twice as much as a plate of spaghetti at a "restaurant". 'Cause they can but people still pay it.

One gelato maker told me the scoops appear smaller (although it may weigh the same as regular ice cream) because it doesn't have air whipped in like regular ice cream. Also, it doesn't contain fillers, only pure natural ingredients. But that hasn't convinced me to keep going back to pay those prices.

If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, gelato is sold in their frozen section...and it's pretty good too.

You must have been in a "touristy" area when you paid $7.50 for gelato. I've seen it at $4.75 for a small in Las Vegas while away from the strip it is $2.95 for a larger serving.
Don't forget that in tourist areas such as the Vegas strip or Times Square in NY, the shop owners have much higher rent to pay.

In Las Vegas, Glacier Ice Cream (based in Boulder colorado) has nice gelato at a fair price. But it's a 15 minute drive from the south strip at the tippy top of West Tropicana Avenue.

I have no answers, but agree with your observation. I am thinking of a local gelato chain which makes its gelato fresh here in town. I am also thinking of a local ice cream shop that makes its ice cream fresh on site, with great ingredients. Yet the "size small" of the gelato costs about $1 more than the "size small" of the ice cream.

Greed.

Americans will pay more for whatever is promoted to them as a premium product.

Gelato is promoted as a premium product, and, in the U.S.A., it's allure is magnified by the fact that it is a specialty product.

I love how as with many issues this turns to a case of "American bashing". As already explained, we found that gelato in Italy was generally MORE expensive than at nice actual gelato shops here in the US -- so how in the world is this being turned into "greed" and "Americans will pay more" issue? I sure saw a lot of Italians paying those high prices for a tiny scoop of gelato in Italy.

For the same reason that a restaurant can charge $2 more for a dish with "Japanese Breadcrumbs."

It's all in the image and the marketing. There is a perception that Gelato is worth a premium price.

Ryan,
IMHO REAL gelato is!