New York City displays the most extreme comparison. The cheapest ticket to the July 19 final is $7,256, while average monthly mortgage and rent costs stand at $4,096 and $4,872, respectively. This is the equivalent of six weeks of rent costs or nearly two months of mortgage payments. Even a major group-stage match such as Brazil versus Morocco cost $1,465 or about one-third of a month’s housing costs.

Miami also showed one of the most striking examples. The Colombia-Portugal match is priced at $2,700, compared with an average monthly mortgage payment of $2,731 and average rent of $2,696. Even Scotland versus Brazil, a more typical group-stage match, was priced at $1,673 or more than half a month of housing costs.

In Dallas, the Argentina versus Austria match carried a $1,096 entry point, nearly three weeks of rent (at a $1,578 average rent) and close to half a mortgage payment (set against a $465,000 median sale price). The July 14 semi-final rises to $2,391, effectively matching a full month’s mortgage or six weeks of rent.

Atlanta’s group-stage prices are less severe, but its semi-final is not. The most affordable ticket to Spain versus Saudi Arabia cost $653, roughly one-third of a month’s rent or mortgage. Meanwhile, the July 15 semi-final is priced at $2,208, equivalent to around one month of mortgage or roughly five weeks of rent.

In Los Angeles, a USA versus Paraguay ticket started at a $905 minimum, equal to about 10 days of rent or one-fifth of a monthly mortgage. The July 10 quarterfinal rises to $1,564 or roughly one-third of a mortgage payment and more than two weeks of rent.

Kansas City is also a clear case where event pricing has moved into monthly-expense territory. A group-stage ticket to Argentina versus Algeria was significantly cheaper than other matches, priced at $823, but it still represents more than half a month of rent or mortgage. The July 11 quarterfinal is priced at $1,567, higher than the city’s average mortgage payment of $1,477 and its average rent of $1,342.

In Boston, the quarterfinal on July 9 is priced at $1,333 or more than one-quarter of a monthly mortgage and around 10 days of rent. This is prompted by the city’s $850,000 median sale price, which drives a $4,298 monthly mortgage cost and a $3,885 average rent.

Philadelphia remains the most affordable housing market among the host cities, but even there, ticket prices carry real weight. The cheapest seat for Match 89 on July 4 is $1,006, versus an average mortgage payment of $1,416 and monthly rent of $1,984. Brazil vs. Haiti, the city’s most in-demand group-stage match, was priced at a minimum $855, meaning that locals had to spend over 50% of a month’s mortgage or the rough equivalent of two weeks of rent.

Seattle, already an expensive housing market, also shows meaningful ticket-to-housing comparisons. Seattle’s USA versus Australia match cost $1,096 or roughly one-quarter of the average mortgage and half a month’s rent.

Houston is somewhat lower, but still notable. The Portugal versus Uzbekistan match was priced at $802, equal to more than two weeks of average rent and about half a month’s mortgage. The city’s most expensive match overall, Match 90 on July 4, is slightly higher at $854.

San Francisco is the main outlier, since housing costs are already high there and the city got a weaker group stage. Paraguay versus Türkiye was priced at $391 or about three days of rent and 6% of the average monthly mortgage. Meanwhile, the city’s most expensive scheduled match is $682, equal to roughly six days of rent and 10% of a monthly mortgage payment.