World Cup or your mortgage? Ticket prices rival host city housing costs
With World Cup ticket prices a recurring news theme in recent weeks, we explored exactly what 2026 tournament tickets translate to for the average American, specifically in terms of housing costs. Put simply, we compared ticket prices to the average local rent and average estimated mortgage payment in the 11 U.S. host cities.
To that end, for each city, we researched the cheapest ticket available to the most expensive group-stage game and the overall most expensive game (at the time of publication). As expected, the most expensive games overall are the final, semi-finals and quarter-finals.
Next, we determined the estimated monthly mortgage payment for each city (referenced as average monthly mortgage in this article) based on the local median sale price and a standard 30-year mortgage with a 6.5% interest rate and 20% down payment. Then, we pulled rental data from Rentcafe and compared mortgage and rent metrics to ticket prices.
With kick-off just days away, the gap is already stark: In five of the 11 host cities, the cheapest knockout-stage tickets cost at least a full month’s mortgage or rent. Even the lowest-priced quarter-final seat ($1,333 for Match 97 in Boston) covers one-quarter of a local’s average monthly mortgage payment or one-third of their rent.
Semi-final seats run even higher: The cheapest ticket costs as much as about a month’s mortgage for Atlanta and Dallas residents or five to six weeks of rent. Meanwhile, the lowest-priced World Cup final ticket costs the average New Yorker nearly two months’ mortgage payments or more than six weeks of rent.
Of course, the notable exception is the group-stage Colombia versus Portugal, which is pricier than all matches except the final (so far). But, beyond the highly anticipated Colombia-Portugal showdown, group-stage games are still rivaling locals’ mortgage payments and rent.
In fact, in eight of the 11 U.S. host cities, the cheapest seat at a top-rated group-stage game would cost locals at least 10 days of rent or the equivalent of one week’s mortgage.
Miami
Speaking of the highly anticipated Colombia versus Portugal match, it’s (unsurprisingly) the most expensive game scheduled for Miami Hard Rock Stadium with the cheapest ticket priced at $2,700. So, with Miami’s average estimated monthly mortgage payment sitting at $2,731 and the average rent at $2,696, a ticket to the June 27 game will set locals back a full month’s mortgage or rent.
Furthermore, even a more typical group-stage game — like Scotland versus Brazil — would cost at least $1,673 or more than half a month’s mortgage or rent in Miami.
Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, Match 89 on July 4 is the most expensive overall match, with even the cheapest ticket priced at $1,006. Comparatively, Philadelphia’s housing market is the most affordable among the 11 host cities with the median sale price now at $280,000 and an average monthly mortgage payment of $1,416.
That means that the priciest World Cup game at Lincoln Financial Field costs nearly as much as three weeks of mortgage payments for a Philadelphia homeowner. Meanwhile, with rents averaging $1,984, Philadelphia renters would pay more than two week’s rent for the same ticket.
For a top-rated group-stage game like Brazil versus Haiti on June 19, locals need to spend at least $855, more than half a month’s mortgage and nearly two weeks of rent.
Kansas City, Mo.
Although the cheapest Arrowhead Stadium ticket to a top-rated group-stage game like Argentina versus Algeria would cost a comparatively lower $823, that price would still cost more than half a month’s mortgage or rent in Kansas City.
Otherwise, locals interested in watching the July 11 quarter-final live at Arrowhead Stadium face a steeper $1,567 ticket. For Kansas City residents, that ticket price easily pays the $1,477 average monthly mortgage or the $1,342 average local rent.
Houston
Houston residents face similar price challenges as the cheapest ticket to the top-rated group game scheduled for NRG Stadium — the June 23 Portugal-Uzbekistan match — is priced at $802. Because the average Houston rent sits at $1,347, even the best deal costs as more than two weeks’ rent. And, for Houston homeowners, it pays half of the $1,679 average monthly mortgage payment.
The priciest overall match in Houston so far is Match 90 on July 4, with opponents yet to be determined but tickets costing at least $854. That would pay a little over half of the monthly mortgage of a local and a good two weeks’ rent.
Dallas
Dallas residents looking to catch a World Cup game at AT&T Stadium would pay at least $1,096 for a top-rated group match like Argentina versus Austria. Considering the $1,578 average rent and the $465,000 median sale price of Dallas resulting in a $2,351 average monthly mortgage payment, even the cheapest ticket would cost almost half of the average monthly mortgage payment or nearly three weeks’ rent.
Plus, locals willing to splurge on a semi-final premium would pay at least $2,391 for the July 14 match. That means that the cheapest ticket to the Dallas semi-final costs as much as one month’s mortgage or six weeks of rent.
NYC
With an average monthly mortgage payment of $4,096 and the average rent at $4,872, New York has one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. Yet, even compared to NYC’s high-cost housing, when it comes to the July 19 final, the premium is through the roof: The cheapest World Cup final ticket is priced at $7,256, meaning locals are looking at spending nearly two months’ mortgage or six weeks’ rent to attend.
What’s more, even more typical World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium carry serious price tags: The cheapest ticket to a top-rated group-stage game like Brazil versus Morocco cost $1,465. That breaks down to one-third of the average NYC rent or mortgage payment.
Atlanta
Atlantans interested in a typical World Cup game like the one between Spain versus Saudi Arabia are looking at a $653 ticket at a minimum. So, with Atlanta’s median sale price at $425,000 and rents averaging $1,814, locals are looking at spending about one-third of the average monthly mortgage or rent.
Atlantans wanting to see the July 15 semi-final live at Mercedes-Benz Stadium are contending with a $2,208 minimum get-in price. That means that with the price of a semi-final ticket, Atlanta residents could pay one month’s mortgage or about five weeks’ rent.
Seattle
Seattle residents are also no strangers to high housing costs with the median sale price at $865,000 (for an average monthly mortgage payment of $4,374) and a $2,298 average rent. Even so, watching Team USA play Australia at Lumen Field means a minimum ticket price of $1,096 or one-quarter of the local average mortgage and half a month’s rent.
At the date of publication, the group-stage USA versus Australia match is also the city’s most expensive overall game as well, surpassing knockout stage game prices so far.
Boston
Similar to Seattle, Boston residents are also living in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country — an $850,000 median sale price with a $4,298 monthly mortgage cost and a $3,885 average rent — and will also be hosting a quarter-final game.
That match, scheduled for July 9, now costs at least $1,333, meaning locals would spend more than one-quarter of a month’s mortgage or 10 days rent to attend. Additionally, even a top-rated group-stage game like Norway versus France costs at least $781, or about one-fifth of the local monthly mortgage or rent.
Los Angeles
Home team supporters wanting to catch the USA play Paraguay live are looking at a $905 minimum ticket price. Because Los Angeles’ average rent is $2,773 and homeowners pay $5,057 per month for their mortgage, Angelenos would have to spend about 10 days’ rent or one-fifth of their monthly mortgage to attend.
As for the July 10 quarter-final, the cheapest ticket available costs $1,564. For Angelenos, that’s one-third of your mortgage or more than two weeks’ rent for a live game at SoFi Stadium.
San Francisco
With a weaker group-stage and a high-cost housing market, the math for San Francisco goes somewhat against the other host cities. Specifically, the average San Francisco rent now sits at $3,635, while homeowners are paying an average of $6,842 per month as mortgage expenses.
Here, the cheapest ticket to the top-rated group game at Levi’s Stadium (Paraguay versus Türkiye) is $391 — around 3 days of rent or 6% of their monthly mortgage. Meanwhile, even the most expensive match scheduled for the city — Match 81 on July 1 — costs $682, the equivalent of six days’ rent or 10% of the local monthly mortgage payment.
For Locals, World Cup Tickets Look Like Housing Bills
With kick-off just days away and this edition’s dynamic pricing structure, ticket costs will continue to evolve with many likely to surge further, while some may go down. But, even before the tournament begins, the cheapest seats to the biggest matches are already landing in the same range as major monthly expenses, not just a night out.
Across host cities, that puts the cheapest tickets for top-rated matches at the same level as the cost of a full month’s mortgage or rent — especially once the tournament moves beyond the group stage. And, because the analysis uses the lowest available ticket prices, those figures are only the entry point.
Full Data Table
Methodology
Ticket prices were researched and verified through the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portal, GameTime, SeatGeek, StubHub, TicketData and Vivid and include both first-sale and resale tickets. Ticket prices were last verified at 7 a.m. EST on June 4, 2026.
Match opponents, dates and locations were sourced through the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portal.
Local median sale prices were sourced from proprietary data and local MLS research and reference figures for April-May 2026.
Estimated average monthly mortgage payments (referenced as average monthly mortgage payments in this article) were determined based on a standard 30-year mortgage with a 6.5% interest rate and 20% down payment, applied to the local median sale price.
Rental data was sourced from Rentcafe.com, a Yardi company and references December 2025 figures.
Related:
- The biggest underdog stories throughout World Cup history
- From goals to gigabills: Every World Cup price tag since 1990
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This article originally appeared on Property Shark and was syndicated by MediaFeed.co.
