Every February, millions of Americans gather around televisions for the Super Bowl—bringing friends, food, and drinks together for one of the most social nights of the year. But where you live can quietly shape how much that celebration costs.
To understand how Super Bowl hosting expenses vary across the country, we analyzed the average Super Bowl party cost per guest across major U.S. cities. The analysis models realistic food, drink, grocery, and utility expenses associated with a typical at-home watch party, standardized to a per-guest basis for comparability.
Each category reflects common Super Bowl hosting costs:
- Food: Popular game-day items such as wings, pizza, chicken bites, mozzarella sticks, and chips with dip, portioned and averaged on a per-guest basis.
- Drinks: A mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, assuming each guest consumes one beer and one soft drink.
- Other groceries: Supplemental party-related purchases including paper goods, condiments, ice, desserts, cleaning supplies, and other small grocery items not captured in the main food and drink categories.
- Shared utilities: Modest increases in household utility usage, such as electricity for televisions and lighting, sound systems, and small appliance use during the event.
The result is a city-by-city ranking that highlights where Super Bowl parties are most affordable—and where costs add up fastest.
Before we dive in, die-hard NFL fans can find the latest Super Bowl odds for context.
Cheapest Cities for Hosting a Super Bowl Party in 2026
1. Green Bay
Green Bay ranks as the most affordable city for hosting a Super Bowl party. Food costs average just $5.48 per guest, while other grocery expenses remain under $16, helping keep overall hosting costs firmly in check.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $26.24
2. Wichita
Wichita stands out for its low overall hosting expenses. Food costs average $5.50 per guest, and shared utility costs are among the lowest in the study, keeping total party spending well below most major cities.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $29.38
3. Milwaukee
Milwaukee benefits from relatively low grocery and utility expenses. While food costs are slightly higher, drink costs remain moderate, helping maintain affordability for Super Bowl hosts.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $29.69
4. Omaha
Omaha’s affordability is driven by balanced food and drink pricing, along with below-average grocery costs, keeping per-guest expenses manageable for larger gatherings.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $30.54
5. Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach keeps hosting costs low thanks to affordable food prices averaging $5.16 per guest and moderate grocery expenses, especially compared to other coastal cities.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $30.59
6. Detroit
Detroit posts consistently low party costs, supported by reasonable food and drink prices and shared utility expenses that remain minimal even for larger groups.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $30.64
7. Louisville
Louisville’s cost advantage comes from moderate food prices and controlled drink costs, helping prevent hosting expenses from rising as guest counts grow.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $31.11
8. Cleveland
Cleveland maintains affordability through balanced food and drink costs, while other grocery expenses remain below $19 per guest, keeping total party spending competitive.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $31.50
9. Indianapolis
Indianapolis benefits from stable food and grocery pricing, with other grocery costs staying near the lower end of the rankings, helping limit overall hosting expenses.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $31.74
10. Cincinnati
Cincinnati rounds out the top 10 cheapest cities, supported by moderate food costs and manageable drink and grocery expenses compared to similarly sized metros.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $31.77
Most Expensive Cities for Hosting a Super Bowl Party in 2026
Note: Cities are ranked starting with the most expensive to least expensive.
1. Seattle
Seattle ranks as the most expensive city for hosting a Super Bowl party. Food costs average $9.91 per guest, the highest in the study, while other grocery expenses exceed $20, pushing overall hosting costs well above the national city average.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $39.15
2. Sacramento
Sacramento follows closely, driven by elevated grocery costs of $21.44 per guest and food expenses exceeding $9, reflecting broader cost pressures across California markets.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $38.97
3. San Francisco
San Francisco’s high ranking is fueled by expensive food and drink pricing, with drink costs averaging $8.45 per guest alongside some of the highest grocery expenses in the study.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $38.92
4. Los Angeles
Los Angeles combines above-average food costs with consistently high grocery expenses, making Super Bowl hosting notably more expensive than in most large U.S. cities.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $38.81
5. San Jose
San Jose’s costs are driven by high drink expenses nearing $9 per guest and elevated grocery pricing, reflecting the region’s overall cost of living.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $38.80
6. Long Beach
Long Beach remains among the most expensive cities due to high food and grocery costs, with supplemental grocery expenses matching the highest levels observed nationwide.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $38.60
7. San Diego
San Diego’s hosting costs reflect consistently elevated pricing across food, drinks, and groceries, keeping per-guest expenses near the top of the rankings.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $38.29
8. New York City
New York City ranks eighth most expensive, supported by food costs approaching $10 per guest and drink expenses exceeding $8, even as grocery costs remain slightly lower than in California.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $37.65
9. Miami
Miami’s placement is driven by higher drink costs averaging $8.52 per guest and grocery expenses above $20, pushing hosting costs higher than most East Coast cities.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $37.64
10. Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. rounds out the most expensive cities list, anchored by food costs near $9.50 per guest and elevated drink pricing.
Super Bowl party cost per guest: $36.58
What Separates Affordable and Expensive Super Bowl Party Cities
Several consistent factors explain why Super Bowl party costs vary so widely by city:
- Grocery prices are the biggest driver. Cities at the expensive end of the rankings consistently show other grocery costs above $20 per guest, while the cheapest cities remain closer to $16–$18.
- Food costs widen the gap quickly. Food expenses in the most expensive cities approach $10 per guest—nearly double what hosts pay in the lowest-cost markets.
- Drink costs matter, but less than food and groceries. While drink prices are higher in expensive cities, they tend to cluster more tightly than food and grocery costs.
- Utilities play a minimal role. Shared utilities contribute only a few cents per guest and have little impact on overall rankings.
Bottom Line
Where you host a Super Bowl party can meaningfully impact how much the night costs. In the most affordable cities, per-guest expenses stay below $32, while hosts in the most expensive markets can expect costs nearing $40 per person. For larger gatherings, those regional price differences can quickly add up—even when parties look similar on the surface.
The full list of cities and their Super Bowl party cost per guest is available in the complete rankings table below.
Whether you’re hosting at home or watching the Super Bowl with friends, many fans also like to add a little extra excitement to the game. If that’s the case, you can explore current sportsbook offers, including the BetMGM Bonus Code and DraftKings Promo Code.
Methodology
This analysis estimates the average Super Bowl party cost per guest across major U.S. cities by modeling realistic food, drink, grocery, and utility expenses associated with a typical at-home watch party. All costs were standardized on a per-guest basis to ensure comparability across cities.
Food, drink, grocery, and utility costs were calculated using common portion assumptions, publicly available pricing data, and state-level proxies where city-level data were unavailable. Results are intended for comparative and informational purposes only.
Full data and methodology can be found here.
