Coachella Attendees Shocked by ‘Outrageous’ Prices for Food and Drinks

Coachella kicked off this weekend in Indio, California, cementing its status as one of the most popular, iconic, and—let’s be honest—profitable music festivals in the U.S. and around the world. This year’s headliners included Lady Gaga, Green Day, Travis Scott, Post Malone… and of course, Julia Fox.

But today, we’re not talking about the music, nor Julia Fox’s outfit—our focus is on something far more shocking: the prices for food and drinks at the festival. Many attendees, along with random netizens, were left completely speechless by the outrageous costs. And that’s on top of the $599 minimum ticket price!

Coachella kicked off last weekend and thousands of netizens are exchanging their emotions and experiences

For example, many people claim that the food and drinks are extremely expensive at the festival

Of course, attending Coachella isn’t exactly cheap—the days of Woodstock’s low-cost, laid-back vibe are long gone and likely never returning. But when you see the prices for food and drinks, it really drives home how expensive the festival has become. For instance, user @MYFriendGavin on X shared this year’s Coachella alcohol price list, and many netizens pointed out just how inflated the prices seem.

TikToker Ruth Viveros shared her experience on the first day of the festival, revealing she spent a staggering $102 on a plate of loaded nachos, three tacos, and two lemonades ($17 each). “It’s mostly ice, but it’s so good!” she sarcastically commented. Ruth also complained about the quality, mentioning that the tortillas in the tacos were “freezing cold.” Overall, she rated the food a 5/10.

There’s an entire thread on Reddit where people have been sharing the prices of food and drinks at Coachella this year, and the general consensus is that everything is extremely overpriced. Sure, everything’s been getting more expensive lately, but some commenters have dubbed these prices “diabolical.”

For example, Nate’s Nashville hot chicken slider and fries go for $30, a slice of pepperoni pizza costs $11, and chicken tenders & fries are priced at $20. Most items at the festival seem to start around $15-20, with the average food price falling somewhere between $20-30. Of course, you’re paying for the privilege of seeing top-tier musical acts, but it certainly comes at a hefty price.

The official Coachella website proudly boasts that “our food program features new and exciting restaurants from coast to coast, as well as your favorite staples, offering a wide variety of cuisine that pleases any festival-goer. Vegan & gluten-free options available.” However, when it comes to the prices for all this culinary variety, the website isn’t quite as eloquent. There’s no mention of the hefty price tags attached to the food and drinks, leaving attendees to discover those eye-watering costs for themselves.

In fact, last year, the general admission weekend pass was $560, and it’s $599 now

How much more expensive is Coachella today compared to previous years? The answer is clear: the prices have certainly gone up. For example, last year, the BBC reported that a general admission weekend pass cost $560, and food and drinks for the entire weekend set one attendee back around $350.

If we look at the price history of the Coachella general admission weekend pass, the increase is even more striking. In 2015, the pass cost $375, and in 2012, it was only $315. So, in just thirteen years, the price of a ticket has nearly doubled. This sharp increase in ticket prices, coupled with rising food and drink costs, underscores just how much more expensive attending the festival has become.

The prices have been growing continously from year to year at Coachella

The prices at Coachella have been steadily increasing year after year. While ticket prices continue to rise, food costs have also become a major topic of discussion. If you look through Reddit threads from previous years, you’ll find that people are consistently outraged about two things: the high prices for food and the questionable quality. Interestingly, the prices for similar foods from last year are about the same, suggesting that it’s not just inflation but perhaps our growing expectations that are also playing a role.

Some commenters, quite reasonably, pointed out that it’s California—where prices are notoriously high—and that it’s unrealistic to expect cheap food at such a massive event. After all, Coachella is a commercial enterprise first and foremost, designed to turn a profit. With over 125,000 attendees entering the gates during the first weekend, it’s clear that people are willing to pay for food and drinks, no matter the cost.

Others who attended Coachella this year were more than indignant about the prices. For example, some reported paying $7-8 for a small taco or $10-12 for a regular-sized hot dog. And no, this isn’t a joke—commenters assured it’s the absolute truth. One person even added that the extremely long lines and wait times only made the experience more frustrating.

But, as the saying goes, people have been craving just two things since Roman times: “bread and circuses.” And Coachella certainly provides both in abundance. So, as long as thousands of people from around the world continue flocking to California every spring, it seems they’re willing to pay for the full experience. What do you think, dear readers? Are the high prices worth it for the Coachella experience?