South makes the cheapest pizza

Southern towns lead the list for restaurants serving up inexpensive pizza.

Happy National Cheese Pizza Day (Sept. 5)!

Looking to satisfy your pizza craving but don't want to bust the wallet? A new study by fee crypto exchange Chicksx.com reveals that Austin, Texas, is the most affordable city for pizza in America, with an average pizza costing only $7.50. The folks at Chicksx analyzed pizza prices in 223 U.S. cities to see where consumers get the best value. And guess what? The South—and more particularly Texas and Arkansas—command the list.

Here's what they found:

Austin offers pizza at prices substantially lower than other major cities across the country. The Texas capital's average price of $7.50 puts it at the top spot for budget-conscious pizza lovers nationwide.  

Lubbock, Texas comes in fourth with an average price of $9.02, making Texas the only state with two cities in the top five. The price difference between Austin and Lubbock is approximately 20 percent.

Vero Beach-Indian River, Fla., ranks fifth with pizza averaging $9.50. This coastal area offers pizzas at prices 27 percent higher than Austin. 

The sixth spot goes to Harlingen, Texas, at $9.60, cementing Texas as a pizza value leader with three cities in the top 10.

Three Southern cities tie to complete the top 10, with Charlotte, N.C.; Fayetteville and Jonesboro, Ark., all pricing pizza at $9.99. Arkansas is the second state with multiple entries in the most affordable rankings.

If you're looking for hard facts on this cheesy survey...

Methodology: This study analyzes data from https://www.coli.org/ on the average price of pizza across various cities and states in the United States, with the goal of identifying the locations where pizza is most affordable.

Source: Cost of Living Index - https://www.coli.org/

Weird, Wacky & Wild South is written by pizza lover Cheré Dastugue Coen.