I Go to at Least 3 Concerts a Month. Here Are the 7 Ways I Get Cheaper Tickets
Ticket prices have gone up faster than the cost of other consumer goods over the last 20 years.
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If you've been waiting to see your favorite artist perform live, you'll likely need to shell out some serious cash. In 2025, that can mean spending hundreds, even thousands, of dollars for one ticket. For instance, the average price for a secondhand ticket to Taylor Swift's three Eras tour shows in Miami in October 2024 was $3,472, according to a study conducted by SeatPick.
CNET
While Taylor Swift is certainly one of the largest artists in the world, demonstrated by the Ticketmaster fiasco surrounding tickets her Eras tour, she's not alone. Artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, who headlined the year's top 100 concerts, have average ticket prices well above $100.
Trust me, I understand the mental debate of deciding between either seeing your favorite artist or spending upwards of $500 on a ticket. But here's the thing: you don't always have to spend that much. I prioritize seeing live music twice a week at local venues, but I also go to at least three bigger concerts (at stadiums or amphitheaters) each month. For instance, I'm going to Jin's tour here in Tampa this July, and was able to score an affordable ticket even though he is one of the biggest K-pop artists in the world.
I won't gatekeep my tricks of the trade. So while concert tickets for bigger musicians may never be cheap, there are effective ways to save. Below, I break down how much concert ticket prices have risen over the years and efficient tips for saving money.
Read more: Buying Concert Tickets Online Is a Mess. 10 Tips for Grabbing the Seats You Want
Are concert tickets getting more expensive?
Concert tickets can be outrageously expensive. I'm not making that statement based on the anecdotal evidence of millions of people who recount the nightmare experience of fighting for presale codes and then being bombarded with taxes and fees after selecting their seats. I'm basing it on decades of data on the rising ticket costs.
According to Pollstar, the average ticket price data from the top 100 tours over the last four years is as follows:
Year Average ticket price
2018
$85.03
2019
$91.18
2022
$102.7
2023
$122.84
Based on data provided by Pollstar, ticket prices have gone up faster than the cost of other consumer goods over the last 20 years and have outpaced inflation.
My 7 go-to tips for saving money on concert tickets
Here are time-honored tips -- plus my own personal lessons from concert ticket debacles over the years -- to finding the lowest ticket prices.
Buy tickets early
Buy tickets as soon as they go on sale. Early-bird tickets are often cheaper than waiting until closer to the concert date.
Being strategic about buying tickets early and using a presale code can help you find the lowest-cost tickets available.
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Sign up for ticket presales
Join artist fan clubs, subscribe to newsletters or follow your favorite artists on social media to access presale offers, which usually have discounted prices. Many concert ticket-distributors, such as Ticketmaster, Live Nation and AXS, offer presale opportunities, so it's best practice to sign up for notifications to never miss out on low ticket prices.
Attend weekday shows
Concert tickets are usually cheaper on weekdays than on weekends, as demand is generally lower. Over the years, I've saved hundreds of dollars opting to see my favorite artists on weekday nights or even Sunday nights rather than on Fridays and Saturdays.
Use student or military discounts
Many venues or ticketing platforms in the US offer discounted tickets for college students, military personnel and seniors. Double-check if you qualify for any special discounts.
Use a credit card with entertainment rewards
You could save up to 4% on concert tickets with an entertainment rewards credit card. Some credit cards may even have partnerships with ticket-distribution companies and will offer card holders exclusive deals, discounts and access to presale tickets.
Volunteer at music festivals or venues
Volunteering at a multiday music festival or music venue can be an efficient way to get free or discounted concert tickets. For many festivals, you can volunteer for a several-hour shift and then attend the rest of the day for free. Volunteers at music venues, symphonies or theaters often receive discounted or free tickets to performances as a thank you for their work.
By volunteering at music venues or festivals, you may receive free or discounted tickets in return for your work.
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Purchase during Concert Week
Live Nation hosts a Concert Week in early May each year in which the ticket-distribution company offers discounts up to 75% off for over 5,000 shows. In 2025, discounted tickets were available for hundreds of artists, which means there's something for everyone, across all genres.
Live Nation also announced the launch of a $30 concert ticket initiative for this upcoming summer. This offering started May 21st and will allow fans to access more than 1,000 shows at select amphitheaters across the US and Canada throughout the summer for just $30. This initiative applies to artists such as The Offspring, Halsey, Avril Lavigne, Kesha, Dierks Bentley, Rod Stewart and more.
For more money saving tips, here's tips for saving money on airfare.
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