2026 NBA Playoffs Cost Index: Most and Least Expensive First-Round Games for a Family of Four
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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
Total cost for a family of four to attend one first-round game — tickets, parking, 2 beers, 2 sodas & 4 hot dogs. Home team = Game 1 price. Away team = first home game (Game 3).
Ticket prices = cheapest single seat on SeatGeek as of April 13, 2026, ×4 for a family of four. Home team = Game 1 price. Away team = first home game (Game 3) price. Concession & parking data from 2024–25 season arena pricing. 4 Play-In teams TBD after Apr 17. Editorial study — not affiliated with any sportsbook.
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: $1,598. 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 $251 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 are the fourth most expensive game in the bracket at $823. 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, rank among the middle of the affordable rankings at $703.
2026 NBA Playoffs Cost Index: How We Did It
Methodology: Ticket prices represent the cheapest available single seat on the secondary market via SeatGeek as of April 13, 2026, multiplied by four for a family of four. Concession pricing is sourced from 2024-25 season arena menu data and 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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