Why are comic cons so expensive?
If you’ve attended a large comic convention, then you absolutely know how expensive it can be for the entire weekend! If you haven’t, then you will know. It’s easy to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for just 1 particular comic con. And if you’re attending some of the biggest ones, you can bet everything will be even more expensive, especially the hotels.
But why are comics so expensive? That’s what we’ll be finding out in this post.
To clarify, this isn’t a knock or criticism on comic conventions at all. In fact, some of the best conventions out there are comic cons. I mean, where else do you get the opportunity to dress up as your favorite superheroes AND get to meet your favorite pop culture celebrities all in one event? There’s a reason why comic cons are so popular and big; people love them!
In this post, I’ll go over 5 big reasons why are comic cons so expensive? Some of these may seem reasonable, while others can be within your control. By the end of this post, you’ll have a better understanding of where your money goes and I’m sure you’ll find it suitable to spend your money at a comic con.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
1. The celebrities
First and foremost, we have the celebrities and guest that show up for comic cons. These aren’t just regular guests; these are big-name movie stars and pop icons that appear at the largest comic conventions such as San Diego Comic-Con. And as you can imagine, bringing them over to your local convention is not cheap! Bringing them over to the event, along with paying for their hotel and accommodations, is going to cost a ton of money for the convention organizers.
Celebrities cost a lot of money to have for an event, not just for a comic con but for any type of event. However, a large appeal of comic cons is the big-name guests and celebrities that show up for these conventions. Attendees love it when their favorite celebrities are there!
2. Cost of running the show
Any type of fan convention can be very pricey to operate. Even smaller conventions are not cheap to run. Securing a venue like a convention center is expensive and with comic conventions, even more so. There are tons of logistical things that cost a lot of money, such as licensing, contracts, marketing, insurance, security, providing space for vendors and much much more.
Now imagine managing all this while trying to fit tens of thousands of attendees in one building. I’m sure you could imagine how much hard work and planning it takes to manage all this. But of course, doing all this is a ton of money. And that is why your comic convention badge can be expensive; it pays for the cost of running that gigantic comic con!
3. The extras do add up
This is more for the attendees themselves. The convention badge itself can be really expensive; prices over $100 USD are not uncommon for an entire weekend. Buying food at the convention center tends to be more expensive as well. But that’s just the start of expenses for many people. There are other things that can really drain your wallet, such as:
- Celebrity autographs and photographs. Yes, you usually have to pay extra in order to receive an autograph and/or photograph with a celebrity. And yes, you have to pay separately for an autograph AND photograph! I know for one comic convention, they were charging $100 for an autograph and another $100 for a photo with them. I’m not arguing for or against it, but just showing how your costs can quickly add up. If you’re getting an autograph and photo with at least 3 different celebrities, that’s already $600 you would need to spend!
- Dealer’s room. I’ve mentioned on my blog that the dealer’s room can easily drain your wallet. There are so many wonderful products and items that vendors sell. The temptation is real! So if you plan to buy things from the dealer’s room for you, your friends/family/kids, then you could expect to spend a ton of money at a comic convention.
- Special events. Things such as VIP and separate shows can cost extra on top of your badge. If you decide to purchase add-ons, then your expenses for a comic convention will definitely go up.
As you can see, there are so many other things you can purchase at a comic convention (not just your badge to get into the con). When you add it up, it can get REALLY expensive!
4. Hotel rooms
Your hotel room is one of the biggest expenses if you plan on staying beside a comic con for the weekend. Many comic cons take place in the city center of a large metropolitan area, meaning hotels are always going to be expensive in that area.
When you add the comic con event, the demand for hotel rooms will skyrocket, meaning even higher prices. Expect to pay at least $200 USD/night for a hotel during a comic con, especially if it’s a popular one. Fortunately, many comic cons are able to negotiate some good deals with hotels to get discounts for their attendees.
5. Cost of transportation
Unless you’re taking public transportation, I feel like we tend to forget how expensive it is to travel to a comic con. Even if you’re not traveling by plane to get there, the costs associated with transportation can also add up. For example, if you’re driving to the convention, you’ll have to pay for parking. And it can be expensive if you’re parking right inside the convention center; their rates can be crazy!
My friends who have driven and parked to a comic convention are easily paying $25/day to leave their vehicles there. It might not sound like much, but over the course of 3-4 days, that’s around $100 for parking; almost the same as a weekend badge. Just another expense to add to your convention weekend!
Summary
Let’s throw some ballpark numbers to see how much a typical comic con will cost you…
| Expense | Costs |
| Weekend pass | $100 (for an entire weekend) |
| Celebrity autograph + photo | $200 |
| Dealer’s room | $100 |
| Hotel room | $100 for you (assuming you split between 4 of you and for 2 nights) |
| Transportation | $50 (parking for 2 days) |
| Food/drinks | $50 |
TOTAL COST = $600
As you can see, comic cons can easily be expensive!
And there you have it; 5 different reasons why are comic cons so expensive. I hope you found this post informative. Comic conventions aren’t going to get any cheaper but you can always save up for one. Click here to see how you can do that.
If you enjoyed this post, check out my other articles related to this:
If you have any questions or comments, leave them below!
My name is Roger Senpai. I’m a cosplayer that’s been in the community for well over a decade now. I’ve traveled all over the world to Anime and Comic conventions and hosted my own cosplay events. Now I’m writing articles for new and experienced cosplayers like you to help inspire, save you money and improve your cosplays!
