FIFA World Cup frenzy has hit Miami, bringing together fans of the game from around the world to cheer for their favorite teams. With demand driving ticket prices skyward, researchers at PropertyShark decided to compare ticket costs to another expensive commodity in Miami — housing.
The property data company contrasted first-sale and resale ticket prices on sites like the FIFA World Cup 2026 portal, GameTime, SeatGeek, StubHub, TicketData and Vivid, comparing those costs to typical mortgage costs and rents in U.S. host cities. Researchers sourced housing data from Yardi and local MLS databases.
To live in Miami, buyers must fork over $2,731 for a monthly mortgage. Renters pay an average of $2,696 to call the city home.
In comparison, a ticket to the June 27 Colombia versus Portugal match was going for at least $2,700 as of June 4. That means locals would have to spend a full month’s mortgage or rent to attend. Ticket prices for other matches, such as Scotland versus Brazil, weren’t much more affordable. The cheapest seats started at $1,673, more than half a month’s mortgage or rent in Miami.
While tickets to Miami matches fetched exorbitant rates, the gap between housing costs and ticket prices widened in other host cities, specifically those with less affordable housing and cheaper games.
In Boston, for example, a ticket to the July 9 World Cup quarter-final game ran a minimum of $1,333. That’s 10 days of rent for a typical Boston resident.
With everything from housing to gas to event tickets costing more, it may be impossible for fans to put a price tag on the joy of attending a once-in-a-lifetime World Cup match hosted in their hometown.
