Concert ticket prices highest in Austin, Las Vegas, study says

AUSTIN, Texas — If you’re thinking of gig-tripping — or traveling to a different city for a concert — you could be paying more to see a show in the Live Music Capital compared to other cities.

A study by Upgraded Points reveals that Austin has the most expensive concert ticket prices in the U.S., with the average price of a single concert ticket in Austin being approximately $279.03, followed by Las Vegas ($260.52), San Francisco ($244.33) and New York ($231.06).

Ticket prices in the study are based on the 2023-2024 tours of top artists like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo and Bad Bunny.

Overall, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston are the four most expensive cities in the U.S. for gig-tripping.

This is based on the prices of:

• One concert ticket

• One round-trip flight

• A two-night stay at an Airbnb

• Two 16-ounce domestic beers at the venue

• Two ride-shares

• One tour T-shirt

• Five meals

• Four alcoholic beverages outside of the venue

Based on these factors, Austin is still the most expensive Texas city to gig-trip to, with an overall cost of $1,331.73. Dallas is closely behind it ($1,303.97), followed by Houston ($1,225.57) and San Antonio ($1,217.32).

Concert parking in Austin is also the most expensive when compared to other Texas cities. The average cost of parking at a venue in Austin is a whopping $66.10, only topped by San Francisco ($89.11) and Los Angeles ($79.50).

If you’re looking for a less expensive city to gig-trip to, consider these:

• Lexington, Kentucky ($1,037)

• Cleveland, Ohio ($1,073)

• Cincinnati, Ohio ($1,097)

• Memphis, Tennessee ($1,123)

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ($1,128)

But keep in mind that these cities are not popular tour stops for many artists.