10 Most Expensive Sports in the World

Want to know which are the most expensive sports in the world? Explore these 10 types of sports. You’ll be surprised!

Organized athletics has been integral to human society for thousands of years. It promotes physical fitness, self-confidence, teamwork, sportsmanship, and many other positive qualities.

However, due to financial constraints, most people can’t afford to play the most expensive sports.

Are there any inexpensive sports for adults that can reasonably fit an average budget? What are the cheapest and most costly activities overall?

Many factors may influence the answers to these questions, including the required practice, equipment, injury risk, and local popularity.

Let’s go through them.

10 Most Expensive Sports in the World

1. Golf

At its peak, golf is arguably the most expensive sport for adults. The main reason is the abundance of equipment.

So it’s not a surprise that golf is considered one of the most expensive sports in the world.

Here’s the average price range for all the basic items golfers need:

• Driver: $300-$600
• Woods: $250 each
• Hybrids: $200 each
• Iron club set: $500-$600
• Wedges: $150 each
• Putter: $100-$150
• Golf bag: $175-$200
• Golf balls: about $25 per dozen
• Tees: $10-$15
• Glove: $15-$20
• Golf shoes: $100-$150

These costs make up just the tip of the iceberg. Most people also pay for lessons when first starting the sport. A vast majority of courses also charge green fees for a round of golf.

If you want to join a country club, expect to pay an upfront fee and periodic dues.

You also need to worry about losing and breaking equipment. Golf balls get lost all the time, even at the professional level. The clubs are sturdy enough but can break if you mishandle them.

All in all, people with bad tempers tend to break their clubs when things aren’t going their way. Golf tests your mental strength every time you step on the course.

Golf’s player demographics also demonstrate how expensive the sport is. Most come from middle- to upper-class families who can afford the equipment, lessons, and other fees.

Today, many people also take up golf in their 40s and 50s after they’ve saved enough money for a new hobby. This sport can be lots of fun, but you’d better be 100% committed to the investment.

2. Tennis

Tennis has almost the same player demographics as golf — middle- to upper-class people with money to spare.

However, it doesn’t require nearly as much equipment:

• Tennis racket: $30-$250
• Tennis balls: about $10 per dozen
• Tennis shoes: $50-$100
• Athletic clothing: $150-$200

Tennis is expensive because of the constant equipment maintenance and amount of practice required. Tennis racket strings need frequent adjustments to meet the player’s preferences, and balls must be replaced often due to wear and tear.

If you don’t get a club membership, court fees can also cost upward of $50 per hour. These expenses add up quickly.

You should also be aware of tennis’s injury risk. Due to the hitting motion and constant changes of direction, the joints endure a lot of stress during tennis. Elbow and foot irritation are so common that players simply call them “tennis elbow” or “tennis toe.”

3. Ice Hockey

Surely ice hockey is one of the most expensive sports in the world.

Ice hockey is extremely popular in colder regions because rinks are everywhere, but the equipment is still too expensive for most people. The average player needs all this stuff:

• Helmet: $200
• Colored mouthguard: $10
• Shoulder pads: $90-$120
• Elbow pads: $50-$60
• Hockey gloves: $120-$150
• Protective jock or pelvic protector: $30-$40
• Hockey pants: $100-$150
• Shin/knee guards: $70-$80
• Skates: $200-$400
• Stick: $150-$400

On top of these expenses, goalies have to pay extra for things like blocker gloves and leg pads. The additional fees for equipment maintenance, recreation leagues, and tournaments can also break your budget.

Expect to do a fair amount of traveling if you live in a moderate climate and want to play in a competitive league.

Ice hockey is also a violent sport. Players move at high speeds on sharp skates, hitting each other and passing around a hard rubber puck. Many things can go wrong.
If you’re worried about high medical bills, hockey might not be the sport for you.

4. Field Hockey

Field hockey is a tamer version of ice hockey, but it’s still one of the most expensive sports because of the equipment required:

• Sports goggles: $50-$80
• Protective masks: $80-$100
• Mouthguard: $10
• Neck guard: $20-$40
• Shin guards: $30-$50
• Gloves: $25-$75
• Cleats: $50-$150
• Stick: $100-$300

Travel and tournament fees are also expensive because of field hockey’s scarcity in the United States. It’s not quite as popular as the other sports on this list, so teams and roster spots are in short supply.

you may also like: 10 Amazing & Cheapest Sports in the World

5. Lacrosse

People consider lacrosse a niche upper-class sport, similar to others on this list.

But at the same time, this sport is considered one of the most expensive sports in the world. It’s popular in wealthy pockets of the country like the DMV area and Long Island, but it’s still a work in progress everywhere else.

As you might expect, it has a laundry list of expensive equipment:

• Helmet: $100-$300
• Mouthguard: $10
• Shoulder pads: $70-$200
• Elbow pads: $50-$100
• Gloves: $100-$150
• Cleats: $50-$150
• Stick (shaft, head, and mesh included): $150-$300

Two other notable expenses are the absurd amounts of athletic tape and lost lacrosse balls. Players use a lot of tape on their sticks for practical and decorative reasons. A team can lose a handful of balls in one practice, and they cost about $5 apiece.

If you sign up for a lacrosse league, you should consider buying your balls in bulk to save money.

6. Football

American football is the country’s most popular sport, but it’s also one of the most expensive. Here’s every piece of equipment a player needs:

Helmet: $120-$150
Shoulder pads: $150-$180
Pants: $30-$40
Padded girdle: $40-$50
Thigh pads: $20-$30
Knee pads: $10-$20
Cleats: $50-$150

On top of these basic expenses, many football players add even more protective gear.

Ribcage protectors, backplates, and helmets with extra padding are common examples. It’s no secret that football is an injury-heavy sport. It’s a young man’s game, so adults looking to start a new hobby should probably try something else.

7. Baseball

Baseball is a great sport for adults because of the slow pace of play, but it still leans on the expensive side. You need lots of equipment to be prepared for a game:

• Baseball cap: $20-$30
• Baseball mitt: $150-$250
• Helmet: $70-$100
• Bat: $250-$400
• Batting gloves: $30-$90
• Baseball pants: $30-$60
• Protective cup: $15-$20
• Cleats: $50-$150

A catcher’s gear can also cost upwards of $300 for full-body protection. Baseball also has the same problem as golf and lacrosse: tons of lost balls.

Baseballs can cost up to $10 each, which is a ridiculous price considering how many balls are used in one game. This sport is cheap enough to play in the backyard, but the expenses quickly accumulate in an organized setting.

8. Skiing and Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding are extremely popular winter sports, but this factor sometimes works against them. Equipment prices fluctuate throughout the year, so it’s difficult to know if you’re getting the best deal.

That’s why some of the price ranges are so wide:

• Snowboard: $300-$800
• Skis: $300-$500
• Ski poles: $20-$120
• Helmet: $50-$150
• Goggles: $20-$150
• Gloves: $20-$40
• Winter Coat: $40-$200
• Snow Pants: $20-$150
• Boots: $70-$700

That last price isn’t a typo. Some ski boots cost more than the skis themselves. If these expenses seem like too much, you could pay for equipment rentals at a ski resort to save some money.

9. Hunting

Hunting is always an expensive endeavor, no matter the target or weapon of choice.

So you need to get a hunting license, buy tags from the local game commission, and have the resources to store the meat if you get a kill.

So the equipment itself is also highly expensive:

• Hunting rifle: $350-$1,000
• Compound bow: $250-$1,000
• Tactical knife: $20-$40
• Camouflage clothes: $100-$200
• Hiking boots: $50-$150

An overnight hunting trip also requires lots of miscellaneous camping gear, including food, water, sleeping arrangements, and extra clothes.

So if you put all of this, you’ll get the idea why hunting os considered one of the most expensive sports in the world. It’s a timeless self-sustaining hobby, but it will always be one of the most expensive sports.

10. Combat Sports

Along with hunting, combat sports are perhaps the most functional activities in the world. They teach self-defense skills and strengthen your resolve in the face of adversity. Most require a mouthguard and gloves, but some don’t have any equipment at all. You just need a regulation-sized boxing ring or wrestling mat.

Combat sports are so expensive because of the unmatched violence. Football and hockey don’t even come close. Fighting is a full-time job because you’re always practicing, recovering, and rehabbing from injuries.

Physical trauma and medical bills are the main reasons people avoid combat sports, and no one can blame them. These sports aren’t for the faint of heart.

Hopefully, the provided information will help you enlarge your horizon.

So never stop learning!!