Everyone who likes fizz has asked the same question at some point: is a SodaStream actually cheaper than buying sparkling water and cans from the store? The short answer is: often yes — but it depends on how much bubbly you drink, whether you flavor your drinks, and how you replace CO2 canisters. Below I walk through the math, show realistic scenarios, and give a short checklist so you can decide quickly for your household.

Why volume, CO2 cost and flavoring matter
– If you only pop an occasional can once a week, buying single cans or a 2‑liter bottle will usually cost less.
– If you drink sparkling water every day, SodaStream’s low per‑liter CO2 cost typically wins.
– Flavor syrup or concentrates can add significant per‑drink cost and change the math.

This article stays focused on dollars per drink so you can plug in your own local prices and get an accurate answer.

How I’ll show the math
– Convert cans to liters so the comparison is apples-to-apples.
– Break costs into device (one-time), CO2 (recurring), bottles (one-time or rare), water (negligible), and flavoring (recurring).
– Show sample low/medium/high consumption scenarios and a quick formula to find your break‑even.

Quick assumptions I use as examples
– 1 can = 12 fl oz ≈ 0.355 L.
– Typical SodaStream CO2 cylinder capacity: ~60 L (check your exact model) 1.
– Example store price per 12‑oz can used here: $0.61 (your local price will vary) [2].
– Example cylinder exchange cost: $15; retail replacement cost: $25 (prices vary by store and country).
– New SodaStream device cost example: $100 (models vary; you may get lower or higher).

If you want to jump to ways to pay for an upfront purchase (extra income ideas), see the bottom of the article for a few practical options like a quick side hustle or freelancing on Upwork or Fiverr.

Short decision summary
– If you drink more than a few cans a week, SodaStream can pay for itself quickly — often within a year — when you use CO2 exchange or inexpensive refills.
– Flavor syrups add a nontrivial per‑drink cost. If you flavor every drink, the savings shrink but usually still exist versus typical store prices.
– If you rarely drink sparkling water, keep buying by the can or bottle.

The conversions and the formulas (so you can re-run the numbers)
– 12 fl oz can = 0.3549 L (12 × 29.5735 mL).
– Cans per 60 L cylinder = 60 / 0.3549 ≈ 169 cans.
– CO2 cost per can = CO2 cylinder price ÷ cans per cylinder.
– SodaStream per‑year cost ≈ (device cost ÷ device lifetime in years) + (cylinders per year × CO2 price) + flavoring cost (if used) + one‑time bottle costs spread over years.

Example scenarios — real math you can copy
Below I use the example prices from the assumptions above. Replace the numbers with your local costs and consumption to get your own results.

• Store price per can: $0.61
• Cylinder capacity: 60 L → 169 cans
• Device upfront: $100 amortized over 3 years → $33.33/year
• CO2 options: exchange $15 or buy new $25
• Example syrup: 440 mL container $6.49 → ~25 drinks → $0.26/drink (if you flavor every drink)

Scenario table (annual totals)

Notes about the numbers:
– SodaStream annual totals above include device amortization ($33.33/year) + CO2 exchange cost (computed from how many cylinders are used to supply the yearly cans).
– Syrup cost assumes every drink is flavored; if you flavor only some, adjust proportionally.
– Switching to retail CO2 ($25 instead of $15) raises the SodaStream totals but usually still leaves large savings for medium/heavy drinkers.

Break‑even rule of thumb you can use now
– Savings per can using exchange CO2 ≈ store price − CO2 per can = 0.61 − 0.089 ≈ $0.52.
– Break‑even cans to recoup a $100 device = device_cost / savings_per_can.
– With CO2 exchange: 100 / 0.52 ≈ 192 cans → about 16 cans/month to break even in one year.
– With retail CO2: per‑can CO2 ≈ $0.15, savings ≈ $0.46 → 100 / 0.46 ≈ 217 cans → ~18 cans/month to break even in a year.

Put simply: if you and your household drink more than a couple of cans a week, you’ll usually recoup the SodaStream hardware cost within a year or two.

Other costs and considerations that change the math
– Flavoring: concentrates/syrups vary widely in price. Cheap concentrates can preserve most savings; branded syrups add cost.
– Bottles: included with most starter kits; add replacements if you prefer glass or need multiple bottles. Spread that one‑time cost over the years you expect to use them.
– Water source: tap water is cheapest; filtered or bottled water increases cost.
– Electricity: negligible — carbonating is manual or uses very little power.
– Taste and preference: store sodas (and some sparkling brands) may have sweetener profiles or carbonation levels that your household prefers. If flavor/taste matters, do a taste test before discarding the idea.
– Convenience and space: factor in the time to refill and swap cylinders, plus counter or cabinet space.

Ways to save more on SodaStream ownership
– Use cylinder exchange programs at stores when possible (usually cheaper than buying new).
– Buy multi‑packs of syrups or make your own flavor concentrates.
– Shop sales on SodaStream starter kits, especially around holiday seasons.
– Buy a reliable used machine or older model if you don’t need the newest features.
– If you only want occasional flavored drinks, keep syrup use occasional — plain seltzer is much cheaper.

Quick checklist: should you buy a SodaStream?
– Do you drink sparkling water at least several times per week? If yes, lean toward buying.
– Will you flavor every drink? If yes, estimate syrup cost per drink and re-run the numbers above.
– Can you exchange CO2 cylinders locally (cheaper) or is buying new the only option? If you can exchange, savings grow faster.
– Do you have space and patience to clean and store bottles? If yes, practical to proceed.
– Want to test first? Buy a starter kit or borrow one to test taste and convenience.

Short calculator you can do in five minutes
1. Count how many 12‑oz cans you (household) consume per month.
2. Multiply by 12 to get annual cans.
3. Divide annual cans by 169 to estimate cylinders/year.
4. CO2 cost/year = cylinders/year × your local CO2 price.
5. SodaStream total/year ≈ (device cost ÷ expected years) + CO2 cost/year + syrup cost/year (if used).
6. Compare to annual store cost = annual cans × local can price.

If you prefer to cover the upfront cost with a little extra income
– Try a quick side hustle (short online gigs, selling items you don’t use).
– Earn a few dollars by doing or taking a survey if you have spare minutes.
– Offer freelance micro‑jobs on Upwork or Fiverr.
– Consider starting a blog and learn Pinterest to promote it later (if you want a longer‑term income channel); building a site often requires website hosting and some effort such as social media scheduling and sales funnel planning if you monetize.

These options are low‑barrier ways to cover the initial cost if the math shows a future saving but you don’t want the upfront spend.

Final thoughts
Most households who drink sparkling water regularly will save money with a SodaStream, especially if they use cylinder exchange programs and drink plain or lightly flavored seltzer. Flavor syrups and the choice between cylinder exchange vs. buying new cylinders are the two biggest swing factors. Run the quick calculator above with your local prices, and you’ll have a clear “yes” or “no” for your home.

References
1. Example SodaStream cylinder capacity and practical notes — example reporting and consumer discussions covering typical cylinder sizes (60 L) and how many liters they produce. Source used as background: Penny Hoarder analysis of SodaStream https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/is-sodastream-cost-effective/.
2. National price series and historical soda cost indicators (for example store-price context) — Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) series referenced in consumer analyses: APU0000FN1102 (price per 12‑oz can context) [https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/APU0000FN1102] [2].

(Replace the example prices in this article with current local prices for an exact answer.)

References