Summer is here, and whether you’re clocking in hours at your internship, catching UV rays or cramming for a summer session exam, ice cream is a non-negotiable summer staple. Good news: The Bay Area has no shortage of ice cream shops serving up sweet flavors with even sweeter prices. Here’s a list of some of my favorite spots offering single scoops for less than $6. But be warned: Your curiosity may get the best of you. Once you’ve been convinced to sample nearly every flavor, a double — or even triple — scoop starts looking less like a splurge and more like a necessity.

Melt Me Creamery

Located on Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Berkeley, Melt Me Creamery goes above and beyond with their artisanal Asian-inspired flavors. Mango sticky rice, ube malted crunch and Thai tea & brown sugar mochi just begin the list, and with a menu that rotates monthly, there’s always a new scoop to try. Single scoops are $5.95, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll be frozen with indecision with these impressive flavor offerings. This is why I recommend coming with a few friends to try the 4-flavor flight for $9.95. At about $2.50 a scoop with the flight, it doesn’t get any sweeter than this.

Almare Gelato Italiano

Almare Gelato Italiano has two Berkeley locations: One is steps from the Downtown Berkeley BART station and the other is conveniently located inside the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building. Popular flavors such as pistachio, hazelnut and stracciatella will cool you down and give you a taste of Italy for just $4.50 a scoop at the MLK Student Union location. If you have UC Berkeley flex dollars, use them here for an easy on-campus sweet treat that feels almost free. Gelato is the perfect excuse for a study break.

Meadowlark Dairy

This Pleasanton staple has been offering unforgettable soft serve, oversized swirls and quick drive-through service for decades. Cones start at $3.25, and if you’re looking to indulge, pints still fit in the budget at 6 bucks. Check Meadowlark’s social media to see which rotating flavors it’s offering, but you can’t go wrong with mainstay flavors such as vanilla and chocolate. That first taste of soft serve will make the drive-through line worth it, trust me.

Miyako Old Fashion Ice Cream Shop

If you’re looking to head into the city, Miyako Old Fashion Ice Cream Shop is old-school and cash-only, with more than 100 flavors to choose from. With a plethora of options staring back at you, you’ll realize this won’t be an easy decision. You’ll be grateful you can sample your way to your winner. Double scoops are only $5, so don’t worry if you can’t settle on one flavor. Finding ice cream this affordable and this good in San Francisco is rare, so next time you cross the bridge, bring some extra cash and a sweet tooth.

Next time you’re craving something sweet and cold, come back to this list. Your wallet — and your taste buds — will thank you.