Live music has always been a thrilling way to connect with our favorite artists, but in recent years, concert tickets have hit some serious high notes, both in price and demand. From Taylor Swift's record-shattering Eras Tour to Beyonce's Renaissance Tour, fans are sparing no expense to secure a seat.
But just how much are we really spending to see our favorite stars? CouponCabin surveyed music lovers to uncover how much fans are willing to spend on concert tickets and their favorite strategies for saving big.
People attended an average of seven concerts in 2024, and they plan to see more and spend more in 2025. Nearly 36% indicated that they plan to spend $100-$499 in 2025, while over 17% plan to spend $500-$999. Roughly 2% more plan to spend between $1,000-$2,499 this year than last year.
People attended an average of seven concerts in 2024, and they plan to see more and spend more in 2025.
In 2024, 45% of respondents spent $99 or less on concert tickets. 32% spent between $100 and $499, and over 4% spent $2,500 or more.
Despite planning to attend more shows this year, over 90% of respondents believe that concert tickets are overpriced. That said, the majority of respondents (over 62%) buy mid-range tickets (not the nosebleeds but not VIP) when attending a show.
- Over 62% of respondents purchase a mid-range ticket.
- Nearly 33% of respondents purchase the least expensive ticket.
- Nearly 5% of respondents purchase premium tickets.
Given the high cost of concert tickets, people have gotten creative with ways to save money. Over 46% cut costs by buying tickets directly from platforms like Ticketmaster, while 40% buy through an artist’s official preorder. Artist Preorder offers a way to get early access to concert tickets through an email list, fan club or special sign-up registration. Typically, individuals can get preorder tickets if they have a Citi or Chase credit card. Be sure to have the first six digits of your card available when buying tickets (this is known as the BIN code), as this usually works as the password to enter the ticket queue.
Furthermore, over 36% turn to secondary markets like SeatGeek, StubHub and Vivid Seats, 15% buy from local marketplaces like Craigslist or Facebook, and 5% opt for scalpers to save money.
Online savings can make tickets more affordable, including Ticketmaster codes and Vivid Seats coupons.
In hopes to save even more money, over 72% of respondents said they try to cut back on other expenses the day of a concert to help offset the cost of their ticket.
The most common way to save was by skipping concessions (over 61%), followed by avoiding new clothing for the concert (54%) and not purchasing merchandise (nearly 54%). Additionally, over 48% of respondents who try to save on concert day cut back by not going out for drinks afterward, while over 40% skip dining out before the show. Surprisingly, just 23% use public transportation to reduce costs.
Getting to your venue can add expenses to your budget. If you’re attending a game or concert at Wrigley Field in Chicago, skip the official lots that can cost up to $70 and use the SpotHero app to book a cheaper parking space, or look for free parking on neighboring streets.
More than 40% of respondents travel out of state at least once a year to see a show, showing that fans are willing to go the extra mile to experience live music, despite the expense. But whether you’re seeing a show at home or in another country, increasing your savings will make these events affordable.
How to Stack Your Savings
CouponCabin makes it easy to save money on upcoming concerts and events. Here’s how:
Use coupons. At CouponCabin, we offer coupons for sites like Ticketmaster, SeatGeek and StubHub. Individuals can click through a site like StubHub to save on their purchase.
Take advantage of loyalty. Always sign up for a rewards account to get tickets for less. For example, with a Vivid Seats Rewards account, you can get every 11th ticket for free.
Get credit card perks. Buy your tickets with a credit card, like the Capital One Savor card, to get cash back on entertainment purchases.
Survey Method:
This survey was conducted on behalf of CouponCabin on December 29th, 2024, among 1,032 consumers.
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