Last Updated on January 9, 2025 by Cute Frog
What does a kpop concert cost? And how can you save money? Learn how much you’ll pay for a kpop concert and how to spend less while still having fun!
Kpop concerts are a great way to enjoy your favorite group or idol’s music and meet up with other fans. But here’s the thing: kpop concerts cost money. And sometimes, they cost a lot of money.
Between tickets, travel expenses, and merchandise you could easily spend thousands of dollars on a single kpop concert. And if you’re a cash-strapped kpop fan on a budget, that is not what you want to hear.
Here’s a look at the typical kpop concert cost, plus some of my favorite hacks for saving money as a kpop fan!
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Table of Contents
What Does the Average Kpop Concert Cost?
The average cost of a kpop concert is difficult to pin down since there are a lot of things that can influence what you pay, including:
- Ticket prices
- The popularity of the group you’re seeing
- Whether you’re spending extra for VIP tickets so you can attend soundcheck or hi-touch
- Travel expenses, including hotels, food, and airfare if the venue isn’t in your hometown
- Kpop merch prices
- Clothing and accessories (if you plan to put together a cute kpop concert fit)
At a minimum, you should expect to spend a few hundred dollars to go to a kpop concert.
How much do kpop concert tickets cost?
The cost of kpop concert tickets will vary based on the group, the venue, and the type of ticket you buy. A typical kpop concert ticket may cost you anywhere from $50 to $200, but that’s just a starting range.
Here are some guidelines to know about kpop concert ticket pricing:
- Tickets to see a newer or less popular group are going to be cheaper than tickets for a group with a huge global following, like Blackpink or BTS.
- VIP tickets are always going to cost more than standard tickets.
- Most of the time, you’ll pay more to buy resale tickets versus getting your tickets when they go on sale.
Here’s one more tip to know to estimate your kpop concert cost. The ticket prices listed usually don’t reflect all the fees and surcharges that the ticket seller adds on.
Ticketmaster is pretty notorious for this but you’ll also pay fees to buy kpop concert tickets from AXS, LiveNation, and other sellers. The fees can add anywhere from $50 to $100 (and sometimes more) to the price of your tickets.
What are the most expensive kpop concerts?
Some kpop concerts cost more than others, usually because the group is in demand and/or they’re performing at a huge venue. Here are some of the most expensive kpop concerts that kpop fans have lined up for:
- According to Seatgeek, ticket prices for Enhypen’s 2025 Coachella performances start at $723.
- Lollapalooza tickets to see groups like TXT, Stray Kids, and Seventeen ranged from $400 to $4,000.
- VIP tickets for some stops on Blackpink’s Born Pink tour ran as high as USD 1,400+.
- BTS’s 2022 Permission to Dance concerts at Allegiant Stadium were reselling for as much as $19,500.
How Much to Budget for a Kpop Concert?
How much does the typical kpop fan spend on concerts? It depends on your budget and what you can afford. Some fans spend more; others spend less.
We’re definitely on the spend more side of things. From 2022 to 2024, we went to eight kpop concerts. Here’s how the average cost for each show broke down:
- Tickets: $1,500 to $2,000 (We bought four resale tickets for almost every show, which automatically made them more expensive)
- Travel: $1,500 to $2,000 (We had to book hotels for every show, spend money on gas there and back, and buy every meal)
- Merch: $500 to $1,500 (Visits to the kpop stores are a must and each time we walked away with a stack of albums, photocards, and other merch)
You don’t have to be a math genius to see that a lot of money was spent on our kpop concert trips. Maybe too much if we’re being honest, considering these shows were all in the U.S. and we didn’t have to travel internationally.
Now, how are we able to pay for this? We both have businesses that make money, including our Etsy shop, and no debt. We aren’t rich but we do plan and save to be able to indulge in our kpop habit.
Do you need to spend that kind of money to have fun at a kpop concert? Not at all and you might enjoy the trip a little better if you don’t come home with a big credit card bill to pay off.
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How to Afford Kpop Concerts
How can you go to a kpop concert when you’re broke? It’s doable, if you can get a little creative with your finances. Here are some tips for saving money on kpop concert costs.
- Stick with the lowest-priced tickets. It might be your dream to go VIP and get barricade at a kpop concert but if you’re on budget, you might have to save up for a future show. Choosing less expensive tickets is a simple way to save money.
- Snag a presale spot. Presale means you get to buy tickets a day before everyone else does (and avoid having to buy resale tickets later). There are a few ways to get presale spots–joining your favorite group’s fan club membership is one of them–but you can also get early access to tickets if you have a credit card with entertainment benefits or sign up for the ticketing site’s email list.
- Drive instead of flying. We always drive to kpop concerts because my anxiety won’t let me get on a plane. And an added benefit is that it’s cheaper to pay for gas than plane tickets most of the time.
- Go with friends. Going to a kpop concert alone is fine, but if you can go with friends you’ll have someone to split travel expenses with. You can share gas costs, meals, and a hotel or AirBNB, which is a huge help for your budget.
- Skip the merch at the venue. We’ve bought kpop merch at the venue and for the most part, it’s just not worth it. The quality is terrible or you can find the same items for sale at a kpop store online for less. If you plan to buy a lightstick at the show, bring your own batteries so you don’t have to pay for overpriced ones in the merch line.
- Skip the snacks at the venue too. My dumbest purchase at a kpop concert was a bottle of water I paid $12 for at a TXT concert in Atlanta. Food and drink prices at kpop concerts are stupidly expensive so if you can get through the show without any snacks, you could save a lot of money.
- Shop your closet for a kpop concert outfit. Some people dress up for kpop concerts and if that’s something you want to do, consider how you can use what you already have. You might be able to pull together a cute outfit for nothing versus spending money on a dress, shoes, or accessories.
- Set up a kpop savings account. Saving a little money at a time is a great way to make sure you can afford your kpop concert cost when it’s time to pay for tickets, travel, and merch. I like saving money at an online banks because the rates are higher and the fees are lower. Try to save a set amount each week or each month, even if it’s only $5 or $10. And use extra money like cash you get for report cards if you’re a student, allowance, and gift money for birthdays or holidays to grow your kpop savings.
What about credit cards? If you’re going to use a credit card to pay for kpop concerts, HAVE A PLAN FOR PAYING IT OFF!
The last thing you want to do is pile up a bunch of debt just to see your favorite kpop artist in concert. It’s really not worth it in the long run. And when you add in all the interest you’ll most likely pay, that concert will cost you even more money.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re going to your first kpop concert or your 10th one, cost is always something to keep in mind. Planning a budget and using some of the hacks we’ve shared here can help you have a great time while still saving money.
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