How steep are World Cup ticket prices for locals?

The price of tickets has turned the World Cup into an elite spectacle and data shows just how costly tickets are for residents of the host cities.

While World Cup tickets are a hot commodity in many of the 16 host cities across North America, local economic disparities mean at least some fans would have to fork over months of disposable income just to attend a match.

Data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that in the state home to Guadalajara, Mexico, average incomes are the lowest of any host region, yet the cost of tickets on the secondary market ranks among the most expensive of the tournament, according to the price-tracking site TicketData — likely pricing out many locals.

At the other end of the spectrum, those in San Francisco, located in one of the wealthiest states in the U.S., are paying some of the lowest ticket prices because of underwhelming demand.

Using these metrics, Toronto comes in as the fourth least affordable, with average income on the lower end compared to American host cities, but ticket prices lower as well. Vancouver offers a slightly better deal. Despite locals having a similar income average to Torontonians, the lower ticket prices make securing a seat easier.

Perhaps the most eye-popping prices emerge when comparing final match ticket prices to those of previous years. In New Jersey, Category 4 seats, (the most affordable option available for the final) were officially priced at $2,030 US following December’s draw. Even when adjusted for inflation, that's nearly nine times the cost of a comparable seat in 2022.

FIFA responded to fans who were furious about the cheap-seat prices by allocating a small number of $60 US tickets for each game. But