How Much Does It Cost to Attend a Gaming Convention?

Attending a gaming convention can cost less than $100 for a simple local day out or thousands of dollars for a major international trip.

The ticket itself usually isn’t what makes conventions expensive. Travel, accommodation, food, transport and optional spending can quickly become much larger parts of the budget, particularly if you’re travelling to another city or country.

A local gamer might only need to pay for admission, transport and lunch. Someone flying internationally to attend gamescom, Tokyo Game Show or PAX could be budgeting for flights, several hotel nights and an entire holiday around the convention.

So, how much should you actually budget?

As a rough starting point:

These aren’t ticket prices. They’re rough total trip budgets designed to show how dramatically the answer changes depending on where the convention is and how you attend it.

Currency matters too. Throughout this guide, we’ll use real examples in their local currencies where useful rather than pretending an Australian dollar, US dollar and euro are interchangeable.

The good news is that you have a lot of control over the final number. Let’s break down where the money actually goes.

💰 1. Gaming Convention Costs at a Glance

The easiest way to budget for a gaming convention is to separate the essential costs from the optional ones.

You can’t attend without a ticket. If the event is interstate, you probably can’t avoid transport and accommodation either.

You can, however, attend without buying three T-shirts, a collector’s statue and a suspiciously expensive sword from the merchandise hall.

Your Main Convention Expenses

Most convention budgets contain some combination of:

For a local convention, your ticket may be the largest unavoidable expense. Once you’re travelling, accommodation and transport usually become much more important.

A$45 Can Get You Into a Real Gaming Convention

Ticket prices don’t necessarily need to be huge.

For example, Perth’s Pixel Expo 2026 charged A$45 for a single-day general admission pass and A$70 for the weekend. PAX Aus 2026 is substantially larger and currently lists A$82 for a single-day badge and A$190 for a three-day badge.

That gives you a useful illustration of the range even within Australia: different convention sizes and experiences can have very different entry costs.

The expensive part often begins when the convention isn’t where you live.

🎟️ 2. How Much Do Gaming Convention Tickets Cost?

Gaming convention tickets vary considerably depending on the size of the event, country, day and type of pass.

A smaller local convention might cost less than a new full-priced game. Major conventions can charge considerably more for weekend or multi-day access, particularly when demand is high.

Real Gaming Convention Ticket Prices

Some 2026 examples show how wide the range can be:

Prices can change, sell out or vary according to fees and ticket releases, so always check the official event ticket page before budgeting.

The important point is that general admission to a major gaming convention isn’t necessarily hundreds of dollars per day. Getting yourself to the convention can easily cost far more than getting through the doors.

Single-Day vs Multi-Day Tickets

Multi-day passes often reduce the average cost per day, but that doesn’t automatically make them better value.

Suppose you’re only interested in Saturday’s schedule. Paying extra for three days because the daily average looks cheaper doesn’t save money if you weren’t going to attend the other two.

Before choosing a pass, ask:

• How many days will I realistically attend?
• Does each day have different activities?
• Which day has my priority panels or tournaments?
• Will I still want another full convention day after the first?
• How much does the multi-day pass actually save?

If you’re attending your first convention, a single-day ticket can be a perfectly sensible introduction.

Look for Early-Bird Pricing

Some conventions reward people who book early.

PAX Aus 2026, for example, initially offered early-bird badges at A$77 for a single day and A$185 for three days, before the currently listed prices moved to A$82 and A$190.

The saving isn’t enormous, but conventions are full of expenses where saving a little in several places eventually becomes meaningful.

Check What Your Ticket Includes

A cheaper ticket isn’t necessarily better value if the activities you want require additional purchases.

Check whether admission includes:

• Expo hall access
• Panels
• Game demos
• Tournaments
• Concerts
• Workshops
• Autograph sessions
• Evening activities

Some conventions include most programming with general admission, while others charge separately for particular experiences.

Know what you’re buying before comparing prices.

✈️ 3. How Much Does Travel to a Gaming Convention Cost?

Travel is where convention budgets start becoming wildly different.

Someone living in Melbourne can attend PAX Aus without boarding a plane. Someone travelling from Perth has crossed roughly half a continent before seeing the first gaming booth.

International attendees face an even bigger jump.

Local Travel

If the convention is in your city, your transport budget may only need to cover:

• Public transport
• Fuel
• Parking
• Rideshare
• Tolls

This is one reason local gaming events can offer such good value. Removing flights and hotels can reduce the overall cost dramatically.

If you haven’t decided where to go yet, our guide to finding gaming events near you can help you start closer to home.

Interstate or Domestic Travel

Once you need flights or long-distance trains, prices become much more variable.

Your cost will depend on:

• Distance
• Booking date
• Convention dates
• Airline
• Baggage
• Airport transfers
• Whether you’re travelling during a holiday or busy weekend

Popular convention weekends can also increase demand for transport and accommodation around the destination.

Booking early usually gives you more options, even if it doesn’t guarantee the cheapest possible fare.

International Travel

For international conventions, the flight may become the single largest expense.

An Australian gamer travelling to Germany for gamescom, Japan for Tokyo Game Show or the United States for PAX is no longer budgeting for a simple convention weekend. It’s effectively an international holiday with a gaming convention in the middle.

That isn’t necessarily bad value. It just needs to be budgeted honestly.

If you’re travelling that far, consider spending additional time in the destination rather than flying halfway around the world, attending a convention and immediately returning to the airport.

Remember the Journey After the Flight

Your travel budget doesn’t end when the plane lands.

You may also need:

Airport → hotel → convention → hotel → airport

Trains, buses and public transport can keep this relatively inexpensive in some cities. Multiple rideshares across several days can become a noticeable expense.

Researching that journey before booking accommodation can also reveal that the “cheap” hotel you’ve found isn’t quite as cheap once you’re paying to cross the city twice every day.

🏨 4. How Much Does Accommodation Cost for a Gaming Convention?

Accommodation can easily become one of the biggest convention expenses.

A hotel close to a major convention centre may cost considerably more during a busy event, especially if thousands of attendees are searching for rooms over the same dates.

The cheapest room isn’t automatically the cheapest option either.

Staying Near the Convention

Paying more to stay near the venue can give you:

• Shorter travel times
• Lower daily transport costs
• Easier early starts
• Somewhere to rest during the day
• A place to drop off merchandise
• Easier access to evening activities

For a multi-day convention, being able to walk back to your accommodation can be genuinely valuable.

It can also save you from spending part of every morning and evening commuting.

Staying Further Away

Moving further from the venue can reduce accommodation costs, particularly in expensive convention districts.

The important thing is to check the transport connection rather than looking only at distance.

A cheaper hotel 20 minutes away on a direct train may be excellent value. A slightly cheaper hotel requiring several connections and an hour of travel each way may become less appealing by day three.

Split Accommodation With Friends

If you’re attending with friends, sharing accommodation can significantly reduce the cost per person.

A room or apartment that looks expensive for one gamer may become reasonable when divided between several people.

Just make sure everyone agrees on the arrangement beforehand.

Saving money is great. Discovering that one member of the group snores like an idling diesel generator is part of the risk assessment.

Book Early for Major Events

Accommodation near large conventions can sell out or become more expensive as the event approaches.

Once you’ve bought your convention ticket and confirmed you’re attending, accommodation should usually be one of the next things you investigate.

Where possible, flexible or refundable bookings can give you some protection if plans change.

🍔 5. How Much Should You Budget for Food and Drinks?

Food is easy to underestimate because it rarely looks like a major expense on its own.

Then you buy breakfast, convention coffee, lunch, another drink, dinner and perhaps something later in the evening. Repeat that over three days and suddenly food has become a meaningful part of the trip.

Convention Food Can Be Expensive

Food inside major venues often carries convenience pricing.

You may also face queues at peak lunch times, which means the cost isn’t only financial. Spending 40 minutes buying lunch during a convention you’ve paid to attend isn’t always an excellent use of the afternoon.

Before the event, check:

• Venue food options
• Nearby cafes and restaurants
• Supermarkets or convenience stores
• Water refill stations
• Whether outside food is permitted

Having alternatives makes it easier to control both spending and time.

Set a Daily Food Budget

A simple daily allowance works better than trying to predict every meal.

Your budget will depend heavily on the city and how you prefer to eat, but think in terms of:

Breakfast + lunch + dinner + drinks + snacks

If breakfast is included with your accommodation, you’ve already reduced the daily total.

Likewise, buying snacks and drinks from a supermarket can be much cheaper than repeatedly purchasing them inside the venue.

Don’t Save Money by Forgetting to Eat

There is a limit to convention budgeting.

Spending all day walking around a huge expo hall while surviving on one energy drink because lunch seemed expensive isn’t clever financial planning.

Budget enough to eat properly and stay hydrated.

You’ll enjoy the games more when you’re not staring at them through the spiritual emptiness of someone who hasn’t eaten since 7 am.

🚆 6. Budget for Transport and Parking

Getting to the destination is only part of the travel budget. You still need to get between your accommodation and the convention each day.

For a local event, this may be your main transport expense. For a destination convention, it’s an additional cost on top of flights or long-distance travel.

Compare Public Transport and Parking

If the convention centre has good public transport connections, trains, buses or trams will often be one of the easiest options.

Driving gives you more flexibility, but remember to include:

• Parking fees
• Fuel
• Tolls
• Event-day traffic
• Potentially higher parking rates near the venue

Parking for several days can add up quickly, particularly in major city centres.

Be Careful With Rideshare Costs

One rideshare doesn’t look particularly expensive.

Several trips every day for three or four days can.

If you’re staying away from the venue, estimate how much the return journey will cost before deciding that you’ve found a bargain hotel. Paying less for accommodation only to spend the difference getting there isn’t much of a saving.

Location Has Financial Value

This is why accommodation shouldn’t be compared on room price alone.

Imagine Hotel A costs $30 more per night but is within walking distance of the convention. Hotel B is cheaper but requires two paid journeys every day.

Hotel A may actually be the cheaper option once transport is included, and you also get back the time you’d otherwise spend travelling.

When comparing accommodation, calculate:

Room cost + daily transport cost + travel time

That gives you a much better picture of the real value.

🛍️ 7. How Much Should You Budget for Gaming Convention Merchandise?

Technically, your merchandise budget can be $0.

You can attend a gaming convention, enjoy the entire event and leave without buying anything.

This information may become harder to remember once you’re inside.

Gaming conventions can bring together official merchandise, independent artists, collectibles, clothing, accessories, tabletop products and limited-edition items in one enormous shopping environment. If you already enjoy gaming merchandise, setting a spending limit before arriving is one of the easiest ways to stop optional purchases from becoming a major part of the trip.

Choose a Merchandise Budget Before You Go

There isn’t a correct amount.

One person might set aside $50 for a T-shirt or art print. Another collector may deliberately budget several hundred dollars because shopping is one of the main reasons they’re attending.

The important part is deciding intentionally.

A simple approach is to divide your money into:

Convention essentials + merchandise allowance + emergency reserve

Once the merchandise allowance is gone, you know you’ve reached the amount you originally considered reasonable.

Walk Around Before Buying

Unless something is genuinely limited or likely to sell out, consider exploring before making major purchases.

You may find similar products elsewhere, discover something you like more or realise after an hour that the item you were absolutely convinced you needed has somehow become less essential.

Convention excitement is powerful.

Give your wallet a short loading screen.

Remember You Have to Carry Everything

Large purchases create another problem: logistics.

If you’re flying home, merchandise may mean:

• Additional checked baggage
• Excess baggage fees
• Protective packaging
• Shipping costs
• Carrying large items through the convention
• Finding space in your hotel room

That enormous collectible looks slightly different when you realise it also needs a seat on the journey home.

Include those costs before making expensive or bulky purchases.

🦸 8. How Much Does Cosplay Add to the Cost?

Cosplay can add almost nothing to your convention budget or become one of its largest optional expenses.

It depends entirely on what you’re doing.

Wearing gaming clothing or a simple costume you already own may cost very little. Creating an elaborate custom cosplay with props, wigs, materials and professional components can cost hundreds or considerably more.

Common Cosplay Expenses

Your budget might include:

• Costume or clothing
• Wigs
• Makeup
• Contact lenses
• Props
• Crafting materials
• Shoes
• Repairs
• Storage
• Transport
• Additional luggage

If you’re building the costume yourself, remember that DIY doesn’t necessarily mean free. Foam, fabric, paint, adhesives, tools and the inevitable “I need one more thing” trip to the shop all count.

Travel Can Make Cosplay More Expensive

A costume that’s easy to wear to a local event may be much more complicated when flights are involved.

Large props and delicate costume pieces may require additional baggage or specialised packing. In some cases, shipping parts separately may be safer but adds another expense.

Check airline baggage limits and the convention’s prop rules before building your travel plan around a giant weapon.

You Don’t Need to Cosplay

Cosplay is a major part of many conventions, but participation is completely optional.

You won’t be the strange person because you’ve arrived wearing normal clothes.

Plenty of attendees do exactly that.

If you’re trying to attend on a tight budget, cosplay is one of the easiest costs to leave out entirely.

⚠️ 9. Hidden Gaming Convention Costs People Forget

Tickets, hotels and flights are obvious.

It’s the smaller expenses that tend to sneak into the final total.

None of them necessarily costs much individually, but several unexpected charges across a weekend can make your original budget look increasingly fictional.

Extra Baggage

This is particularly relevant when flying.

If your ticket only includes cabin baggage and you return with merchandise, cosplay pieces or convention freebies, you may need to purchase additional baggage.

Airline baggage bought at the airport can also be more expensive than arranging it beforehand.

Ticket and Booking Fees

The advertised convention ticket price isn’t always the exact amount you’ll pay.

Booking platforms may add service, transaction or delivery fees. Currency conversion or international card fees can also apply when buying overseas tickets.

Check the final checkout price rather than budgeting from the number on the event poster.

Travel Insurance

For an expensive interstate or international convention trip, travel insurance is another potential cost.

Flights, hotels and event tickets can represent a substantial amount of prepaid money. Depending on the policy, insurance may provide protection against certain cancellations, medical expenses, lost luggage and other travel problems.

Read the actual policy rather than assuming everything connected to the convention is automatically covered.

Mobile Data and Roaming

International travellers should think about phone connectivity before arriving.

An eSIM, local SIM or roaming package may be useful for maps, transport, convention apps and messaging. It isn’t usually a huge expense, but forgetting about international roaming can produce a considerably less entertaining surprise later.

Lockers and Cloakrooms

Some venues charge for lockers, bag storage or cloakrooms.

The cost may be small, but these services can be extremely useful if you’re carrying merchandise, luggage or heavy clothing.

Special Activities

General admission doesn’t always include everything.

Depending on the event, you could encounter additional charges for workshops, tournaments, premium experiences, autograph sessions, after-parties or other activities.

If one of these is a major reason you’re attending, include it in the core budget rather than treating it as an optional surprise.

The Emergency Buffer

Finally, keep some money unallocated.

A delayed train, extra meal, unexpected rideshare or baggage problem shouldn’t destroy the entire budget.

You don’t need a huge reserve, but around 10–15% of your expected trip cost can provide useful breathing room.

If you don’t spend it, excellent.

You have successfully returned from a gaming convention with money.

Achievement unlocked.

📊 10. Example Gaming Convention Budgets

Now we can put the individual costs together.

There isn’t one universal gaming convention budget, so the most useful approach is to compare different types of trips.

The examples below use Australian dollars (A$) as illustrative budgets for an Australian attendee. They’re planning examples rather than fixed prices – actual costs will depend on the event, city, travel dates and how you choose to attend.

Budget 1: Local One-Day Gaming Convention

Suppose the convention is in your own city and you don’t need accommodation.

Skip the merchandise and bring your own permitted snacks, and the same day could potentially cost under A$100.

This is why local events can offer excellent value. Most of your money is going towards the actual convention rather than simply reaching it.

Budget 2: Local Multi-Day Convention

Now imagine attending a larger event in your city for three days.

That could be reduced significantly by limiting merchandise and food spending.

It could also become considerably more expensive if you walk into the merchandise hall with the financial philosophy of we’ll see what happens.

Budget 3: Interstate Gaming Convention

Now let’s imagine travelling from Perth to Melbourne for a major convention weekend.

This is where the ticket becomes a relatively small part of the total cost.

Sharing accommodation, finding cheaper flights or staying longer with friends could reduce the total substantially. Booking late during a busy weekend could push it higher.

Budget 4: Budget Interstate Trip

The same basic trip can look very different when cost is the priority.

That’s still a significant amount for one convention, but it’s almost half the previous example.

The event hasn’t changed.

The way you’re attending it has.

Budget 5: International Gaming Convention

Finally, imagine an Australian gamer travelling internationally for a major convention.

This is why asking “How much is a gamescom ticket?” doesn’t tell you how much attending gamescom will actually cost from Australia.

For an international convention, you’re budgeting for a trip, not merely an event.

Compare the Five Budgets

The difference becomes much clearer when they’re side by side:

These numbers aren’t targets. You don’t need to spend A$550 simply because you’re attending a convention for three days.

They’re there to show where the money goes and how much travel choices, accommodation and optional spending influence the final cost.

The convention ticket may get you through the door.

Everything around it determines what the weekend actually costs.

💡 11. How to Attend a Gaming Convention on a Budget

You don’t need to turn a gaming convention into an expensive weekend away.

The biggest savings usually don’t come from obsessing over tiny expenses inside the venue. They come from making better decisions about which event you attend, when you book and how you travel.

Start With Local Gaming Events

If cost is your main concern, attending locally is the obvious place to start.

Removing flights and accommodation can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You can also attend for a single day without worrying about whether you’ve travelled far enough to justify the trip.

Use StackedGame Events to explore upcoming gaming events or our guide to finding gaming events near you for more ways to discover events in your area.

Book Major Travel Costs Early

For destination conventions, start researching flights and accommodation once the event dates are confirmed.

You don’t necessarily need to book the first price you see, but waiting until the last minute can leave you with fewer accommodation choices and inconvenient flight times.

Hotels closest to major convention venues can also fill quickly.

Where possible, compare refundable accommodation options. Paying slightly more for flexibility may be worthwhile when you’re booking months ahead.

Share Accommodation

Travelling with friends can dramatically reduce the cost per person.

If a hotel room costs A$240 per night, that’s expensive for one attendee. Split appropriately between several people and the calculation changes considerably.

Apartments and larger rooms may also become economical for groups, although you should always check occupancy limits and accommodation rules.

Use Public Transport

Convention venues are often located in major city centres with good public transport.

A train, tram or bus can be much cheaper than paying for parking or taking multiple rideshares every day.

Check whether the destination offers daily caps, weekend fares or multi-day transport passes. Small transport savings become more meaningful across several convention days.

Reduce Food Costs Without Living on Snacks

Eating every meal inside a convention centre can become expensive.

Look for supermarkets, cafes and inexpensive restaurants near your accommodation or venue. If outside food is permitted, bringing a few snacks can also reduce impulse purchases without requiring you to carry an entire pantry around all day.

Breakfast included with accommodation can be surprisingly valuable over a multi-day trip.

Give Yourself a Merchandise Limit

Merchandise is one of the easiest convention costs to control because it’s optional.

Set an amount you’re comfortable spending before you arrive. If you’re attending several days, don’t necessarily spend the entire budget during your first lap of the expo hall.

You may discover something better tomorrow.

Or you may wake up the next morning mysteriously less convinced that you needed a giant illuminated gaming sword.

🧮 12. How to Create Your Own Gaming Convention Budget

The best convention budget isn’t one copied from somebody else’s trip.

Build it around your event, your location and the way you want to attend.

Start with the unavoidable expenses, add your optional spending and then include a small buffer.

Step 1: Calculate the Essential Costs

Begin with:

Ticket + travel + accommodation + local transport + food

These are the costs that determine whether attending is financially realistic.

For example:

A$190 ticket + A$450 flights + A$450 hotel + A$60 transport + A$150 food = A$1,300

Before buying merchandise or adding premium activities, you already know the basic trip will cost around A$1,300.

Step 2: Add Optional Spending

Now add the things you want rather than need:

• Merchandise
• Cosplay
• Premium activities
• Restaurants
• After-parties
• Extra sightseeing
• Upgraded accommodation

Keeping these separate makes it much easier to reduce the budget if the total becomes uncomfortable.

If the trip costs A$1,300 before merchandise, setting a A$200 merchandise budget means you’re deliberately planning a A$1,500 trip rather than being surprised when it becomes one.

Step 3: Add a Buffer

Unexpected costs are normal when travelling.

Add roughly 10–15% where appropriate for things such as transport changes, extra food, baggage or other expenses you didn’t predict.

You don’t need to spend this money.

It’s there so an unexpected A$70 rideshare doesn’t suddenly become a financial crisis.

Step 4: Look at the Total

This is the important part.

Don’t evaluate each expense independently.

A$190 convention pass might seem reasonable. A$450 flight might also seem reasonable. So might a A$600 hotel.

But you’re not buying them independently.

You’re buying a trip.

Add everything together and ask whether the total experience is worth that amount to you.

⚖️ 13. Is a Gaming Convention Worth the Cost?

There isn’t a universal amount where gaming conventions suddenly become too expensive.

A local A$100 day out could feel like poor value if the event doesn’t interest you. A much more expensive trip could feel completely worthwhile if it’s a convention you’ve wanted to attend for years.

The useful comparison is cost against experience.

Consider What You’re Actually Going For

Ask yourself what you’d be excited to do at the convention.

If your list includes new games, indie developers, panels, tournaments, cosplay, merchandise and meeting other gamers, you’re getting several different experiences from the same ticket.

If the only thing you care about is one 15-minute game demo, travelling interstate to attend becomes much harder to justify.

Compare It With Other Entertainment

It can also help to compare the total cost with other things you could do with the same money.

A local convention might cost roughly the same as a concert, sporting event or full day of entertainment. An international convention could cost as much as an entire holiday – because at that point it essentially is an entire holiday.

Neither is automatically good or bad value.

It depends on how much you care about the experience.

Our full guide to whether gaming conventions are worth it looks at that decision in much more detail.

Don’t Stretch Your Finances for a Convention

There will be another gaming event.

If attending means taking on debt, missing important expenses or putting yourself under financial pressure, the convention isn’t worth it.

Find something closer, attend for fewer days or wait for another event.

Gaming conventions are supposed to be fun.

Spending the next three months regretting what the weekend cost rather defeats the point.

❓ 14. Frequently Asked Questions About Gaming Convention Costs

How Much Money Should I Bring to a Gaming Convention?

If your ticket and transport are already paid for, you mainly need enough for food, local transport and any optional purchases.

For a local one-day convention, A$50–A$150 in additional spending money may be plenty for many attendees, depending on food and merchandise plans. Someone intending to buy collectibles or premium merchandise may deliberately budget much more.

You don’t necessarily need physical cash. Check what payment methods the convention and venue accept before attending.

How Much Does a Gaming Convention Ticket Usually Cost?

Ticket prices vary considerably between events.

Smaller local conventions may charge around A$40–A$70 for a day, while major events can cost more and multi-day passes may reach several hundred dollars.

For example, PAX Aus 2026 currently lists A$82 for a single-day badge and A$190 for a three-day badge.

Always check the official convention website because prices can change between years and ticket releases.

Is It Cheaper to Buy a Weekend Pass?

Sometimes.

Multi-day passes often reduce the average admission cost per day, but they’re only cheaper in practice if you actually want to attend those additional days.

Spending A$190 instead of A$82 isn’t saving money if you only wanted to attend Saturday.

Compare the schedule before deciding.

How Much Should I Budget for Merchandise?

There is no required merchandise budget.

You can spend nothing and still enjoy the convention.

If shopping is part of the experience for you, setting aside A$50–A$200 gives you room for smaller purchases without allowing merchandise to take over the entire budget. Collectors buying premium items may choose a much larger amount.

The important part is setting the number deliberately.

Why Are Gaming Conventions So Expensive to Attend?

The convention itself isn’t always particularly expensive.

Travel and accommodation are often what make major events costly, especially if you’re attending from another city or country.

A ticket costing less than A$100 can become part of a A$1,500 weekend once flights, hotels, food and transport are included.

That’s why the total trip cost is a much more useful number than the admission price.

Can You Attend a Gaming Convention for Under A$100?

Potentially, yes.

If you have an inexpensive local convention, use public transport, don’t need accommodation and limit food and merchandise spending, a day at a gaming convention can cost under A$100.

The easiest way to keep convention costs low is usually to remove travel and accommodation, not to save tiny amounts once you’re inside.

How Much Does an International Gaming Convention Trip Cost?

For an Australian traveller, a major international gaming convention trip could easily cost around A$3,000–A$6,000 or more once flights, accommodation, tickets, transport, food, insurance and spending money are included.

Destination, travel dates, trip length and accommodation choices can move that number substantially in either direction.

For international conventions, it’s usually better to think of the event as part of a holiday rather than budgeting for it as a standalone ticket.

🚀 15. Plan Your Gaming Convention Budget

So, how much does it cost to attend a gaming convention?

For a simple local event, you might spend under A$100 to a few hundred dollars.

For an interstate convention weekend, A$1,000–A$2,000 or more is entirely possible.

Travel internationally from Australia for one of the world’s biggest gaming conventions and the complete trip could easily reach several thousand dollars.

The important thing is knowing what you’re paying for before you commit.

Start with the essentials:

Ticket + travel + accommodation + transport + food

Then add the optional stuff:

Merchandise + cosplay + premium activities + entertainment

Finally, give yourself a small buffer.

Once you know the complete number, you can decide whether the convention fits your budget and whether the experience feels worth the cost.

If you’ve decided to attend, our guide to how to prepare for a gaming convention covers the practical planning before convention day. You can also use our upcoming What to Bring to a Gaming Convention – Complete Checklist to make sure you’ve packed what you need.

Still looking for the right event? Browse upcoming gaming events on StackedGame Events and see what’s happening near you or worth travelling for.

A gaming convention doesn’t need to be cheap to be good value.

It just shouldn’t cost more than you thought it did.