2026 NBA Playoffs Cost Index: Most and Least Expensive First-Round Games for a Family of Four

By Bill Speros

Apr 10th, 2026 4:25 PM EDT

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With the 2026 NBA Playoffs tipping off April 18, we calculated the total cost for a family of four to attend a first-round home game for all 16 playoff teams. Our 2026 NBA Playoffs Cost Index factors in the cheapest available secondary market tickets, parking, beer, soda and hot dogs.

Getting to the playoffs appears to be the easy part - at least when it comes for some fans having to pay for it.

Our data reveals an $850+ gap between the most and least expensive playoff experience in the bracket.

The disparity in talent may not be that wide. Six times, No. 8 seed upset No. 1 seeds since the NBA expanded to its current format. The most recent 8-beats-1 upset occurred in 2023. The Miami Heat made the postseason as a play-in team and toppled the No. 1-seed Milwaukee Bucks.

2026 NBA Playoffs Cost Index: Team-By-Team Breakdown

The team-by-team breakdown of our 2026 NBA Playoffs Cost Index:

2026 NBA Playoffs Cost Index: MSG Trip Most Expensive

The New York Knicks present the priciest trip for four in our 2026 NBA Playoffs Cost Index: $1,306. For that money, you might be able to see Spike Lee or Ben Stiller courtside at Madison Square Garden. But you won't get anywhere near them.

Meanwhile, the biggest bargain rests inside Cleveland's Rocket Arena. The Cavaliers offer the best value at $456 despite finishing the regular season with 60+ wins. Celebrity sightings, however, are less common than they are at 31st and 8th Avenue.

Notably, the Los Angeles Lakers — a road team in the first round — are the second most expensive game in the bracket at $1,127. Those fans following them to Houston are paying a significant premium. Oklahoma City and the defending champion Thunder, considered the title favorite at +120 at DraftKings, ranks among the most affordable gates at $624.

2026 NBA Playoffs Cost Index: How We Did It

Methodology: Ticket prices represent the cheapest available single seat on the secondary market via TickPick and SeatGeek as of April 8, 2026, multiplied by four for a family of four. Concession pricing originates from 2025-26 season arena menu data. It includes two 16oz beers, two 20oz sodas, and four standard hot dogs. Parking reflects standard lot pricing nearest to each arena. Four teams (East 7/8 seeds, West 7/8 seeds) are listed as TBD pending the Play-In Tournament (April 14-17) and will be updated upon confirmation.

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