Why fans are justifying spending over $2,000 to experience Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Canada

Taylor Swift has officially begun the last leg of her infamous Eras Tour, and she is finally gracing Canada with her presence — with six Toronto concert dates in November and two Vancouver concerts in December.

The Eras Tour started in March 2023 and tickets were snatched up immediately, with many ending up on resale sites like Stubhub. This was disheartening for die-hard Taylor Swift fans, who were left without tickets and either unable or hesitant to purchase them at their astronomical resale prices.

That being said, the tour is set to do wonders for the local economy in each city Swift stops in, so there were certainly some people willing to pay a pretty penny to dance the night away with the singer and fellow adoring fans.

But how much, exactly, are people shelling out to attend this tour? Enough to fund an elaborate vacation or pay multiple months worth of rent on a Toronto apartment.

So, how are Taylor Swift fans justifying the expense? Here’s what this fan has to say.

I paid $1,000 for Eras Tour tickets, but some people have paid more

I am a longtime fan of Taylor Swift. I first saw her in 2011 when I was in middle school, decked out in a glow-in-the-dark t-shirt I painted myself just for the occasion. When I heard she would be back in my city, I was thrilled.

I missed out on getting tickets through the TicketMaster Verified Fan Presale despite having received a code to do so. I remember logging in and watching the available seats quickly disappear before my eyes. Still, I was dedicated to going, and within a month had purchased a resale ticket for one of the Toronto shows — for $1,000.

At the time, these were the cheapest tickets available, with the rest ranging between $1,200 to $4,000 based on the seating section in the stadium.

Unfortunately, as time has passed, the resale prices surged with the lowest priced ticket now costing a fan closer to $2,200, while the highest priced resale tickets can fetch between $7,000 or more (and this is all the Canadian shows, in both Toronto and Vancouver).

Travel and lodging contribute to the cost too

Many people are travelling just to see the concert, which adds to their total cost for seeing Taylor Swift live.

For instance, most hotel rooms in Toronto are already booked for the two weeks Swift is playing shows at Rogers Centre with prices ranging from $500 to $1,500 per night, depending on the hotel's location and star status.

There are still some rooms available at hotels just outside the city, but their prices aren’t cheap, with nightly room rates as high as $400 per night.

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Ways you can cut costs on Eras Tour expenses

Despite the hefty price tag on resale tickets, there are some potential ways you can cut costs if you want to go to the Eras Tour.

• Make a budget. By sticking to a budget for things outside of the upfront ticket costs you can save some money. Consider skipping the expensive merch and $15 stadium drinks and pack food to eat beforehand.
• Rent a single room. Some Airbnb hosts are offering single rooms in Toronto around the time of the concerts. If this option works for you, it’s cheaper than booking a hotel room.
• Watch for ticket drops closer to the time. If you haven’t bought tickets yet but are still hopeful, you may not need to drop thousands on Stubhub. Keep an eye out for last minute ticket drops on Ticketmaster the night of the show to see if anything becomes available.

While it might be too late now, having a FUNd for special trips and adventures like concerts can help you when something comes up that you want to spend money on guilt-free. Consider opening a high-interest savings account, like a TFSA, that is ideal for short term savings goals. That way, you have cash to rely on in the future when dream opportunities arise.

What’s hard on Swifties’ wallets is good for local economy

While it may be costing Swiftie fans thousands in hard-earned income, this expenditure is certainly helping the Canadian economy. Destination Toronto recently reported that the six Taylor Swift Toronto concerts are expected to inject over $282 million into the city.

For this Swiftie fan, despite the massive hit to go and see Taylor during her Eras Tour in Canada — and absorb the three-hour snapshot of her musical career that's spanned a decade — this upcoming concert is a pretty special experience. I’d bet that other major fans also chose to forego an annual vacation to step inside Taylor Swift’s world, instead.

Sources

1. Destination Toronto: Six Swift shows in the 6ix to bring $282M in economic impact (Oct 15, 2024)