Revealed Budgets for Concert Attendees: Unveiling Dream Expenditures at Dream Concerts in America and Canada
Canadians and Americans Willing to Spend Hundreds to Thousands on Dream Concerts
A new survey reveals that both Canadians and Americans are prepared to spend significant sums to attend their dream concert or music festival. The total cost, including travel, tickets, seating, and accommodations, can range from several hundred to over a thousand dollars per event.
In Canada, the average spend per person is estimated to be around $738.21 CAD. Notably, residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) are the most extravagant, with an average spend of $1,215.07 CAD per person. On the other hand, Quebecois are the least concert-going spenders, budgeting an average of $622.79 CAD for their dream concert.
Nova Scotians are third in concert spending, allocating an average of $853.78 CAD towards their concert budget. Manitobans are the second most extravagant, preparing to spend an average of $958.61 CAD. However, Idaho is the nation's lowest concert spender, with an average of $298.96 spent per person. Unfortunately, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon were not accounted for due to an insufficient amount of data.
In the United States, Montana is the biggest concert-going spenders, with an average of $1,427.14 USD spent per person. Americans, on average, are willing to spend an estimated $728.49 USD to attend their dream concert or music festival. For comparison, 73.7% of Americans are willing to drive 405.7 miles to attend their dream music event, while 65.6% of respondents would not spend more cash to stay overnight while attending their dream event. For those who do stay overnight, they spend an average of $282.06 USD on accommodations.
Key factors influencing total spending include ticket prices, transport costs, accommodation expenses, and premium seating or VIP upgrades. Ticket prices in Canada start around $87 CAD for day passes for major music festivals like Ottawa Bluesfest. With added expenses such as travel (gas), premium seats, and accommodations, total costs can easily exceed several hundred dollars per attendee.
The live music sector plays a significant role in the economies of both countries, and these spending behaviors are reflected at large popular festivals. For instance, the Cavendish Beach Music Festival accounts for over 15,000 room nights, indicating substantial accommodation expenses on top of ticket costs. Similarly, in the U.S., concert ticket prices have increased approximately 20% between 2021 and 2023, with the concert industry growing to $62.5 billion in revenue in 2025.
In summary, while exact average spends per person vary by festival size, location, and duration, it is reasonable to estimate that concert-goers in both countries often spend several hundred to around a thousand dollars to fully experience their dream concert or festival when including all associated costs (tickets, travel, seating, and accommodations).
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- Some Canadians might prefer a luxury experience at a casino instead of a concert, given that the average spend for attending a dream concert can reach up to $1,215.07 CAD in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- For individuals who enjoy a diverse mix of entertainment, a blog that covers travel, music, and lifestyle events could offer an appealing alternative to spending thousands on a single concert.
- Following the trend of significant concert spending in the US, one might anticipate a sizable casino or entertainment business in Montana, which allocates an average of $1,427.14 USD per person for their dream music event.
