I Used to Go to Concerts All the Time. Here Are 3 Financial Reasons I've Cut Back a Lot

I've been to hundreds of concerts since my teenage years. And during my 20s, going to concerts was something I prioritized, so much so that I intentionally kept my essential bills as low as possible to free up the money to do that.

But these days, I don't go to 20 or more concerts a year. Quite the contrary -- I think I've seen one live show since the start of 2023, and I don't currently have tickets to any other act.

Part of cutting back on concerts has to do with the fact that I have kids and therefore can't easily just set off for an evening. But the reasons I've cut back on concerts are mostly financial. Here's specifically why my concert-going days have been whittled down.

1. Prices are higher

At the risk of sounding like the oldest person on the planet, there was a time when I could spend $40 or $50 on tickets to see a band I liked. These days, I find that it takes a minimum of $100 to get into a show, and that's usually for the seats in the back. So unless it's a band I really love, I can't justify that sort of credit card charge.

An April survey from Insuranks found that the average concert ticket costs $113. Ouch. That's what I might spend on a week's worth of groceries at Costco.

2. The fees are obnoxiously high

Services like Ticketmaster, which are hard to avoid, are notorious for charging ridiculously high fees on top of inflated concert ticket prices. And it bothers me to pay those fees because I don't feel like the convenience of getting to order my tickets online is enough to justify them -- especially since you can order just about anything online these days.

Last year, The Hustle analyzed fees on 40 tickets to recent concerts, and it found that the average fee came to about 28% of a ticket's face value. So for a $113 concert ticket, that's about an additional $32.

3. Living in the suburbs has made it more expensive to get to shows

When I lived in New York City, I could easily walk or take a train to a major concert venue without spending more than a couple of dollars. Nowadays, getting into the city is a costly endeavor. I either have to pay for a train trip, which, in my neck of the woods, is around $40, or I have to drive into the city and cover the cost of parking, which might easily be $40 or more.

Even when I go to see a show somewhere in New Jersey (which is where I live), I often have to pay a hefty parking lot fee, and there's also gas to think about. Since it's hard to find bargain tickets anywhere, the expense of getting to and from venues tends to seal the deal and keep me from seeing live shows.

When the cost just isn't worth it

All told, seeing concerts has gotten a lot more expensive than what I'm used to. And to me, the value just isn't there. I'll make an exception for my favorite bands. But if it's not an act I'm super eager to see, I'll just stay home.

If money is tight in your world, you may want to take a similar approach and limit yourself to concerts you really want to go to. You can also ask for concert tickets as holiday or birthday gifts. And while I'm not a fan of them at all, you should know that Ticketmaster sells gift cards, so asking for one of those the next time people need gift ideas for you could open the door to seeing more live shows.

Of course, if you like live music but don't like credit card debt, a happy medium may be to look into local bands playing at bars and restaurants in your area. You may not even have to pay a cover to see acts like that (though it's always nice to tip). That way, you can get your fill of concerts without breaking the bank.