Why American fans are saving $1,400 by attending a Taylor Swift concert in Canada

Exchange rate advantage: Stretching the US dollar

A significant factor that makes Canadian concerts more affordable for American fans is the favourable exchange rate between the greenback and the loonie. As of November 2024, $1 US dollar (USD) is equivalent to approximately $1.41 Canadian dollars (CDN). In short, American visitors can stretch their dollars far more when spending in Canada.

For instance:

• Average Ticket Price: Buy a resale concert ticket priced at CDN$2,500, which equates to approximately USD$1,733
• Hotel Stay: Spend CDN$200 on a hotel room, which equates to USD$142
  
  

This exchange rate effectively reduces the cost of tickets, accommodations, and other expenses for American attendees.

But currency exchange alone doesn’t warrant a trip north to see Swift. To get a better idea, American concert-goers should consider what it would cost to take the trip — even if their dollar is stronger.

Empower your investments with Qtrade

Discover Qtrade's award-winning platform and take control of your financial future. With user-friendly tools, expert insights, and low fees, investing has never been easier.

Start Trading Today

Ticket price comparisons: US vs. Canada

Ticket prices for Taylor Swift's concerts vary significantly between the US and Canada, influenced by factors such as demand, venue capacity, and local market conditions.

Still, even when accounting for these variabilities, it appears that purchasing an Eras ticket for a Canadian concert date is financially more cost-effective for American fans.

For instance:

Average ticket prices for Taylor Swift concert

United States

• Face Value: Tickets typically range from USD$300 to USD$500 USD (approximately CDN$423 to CDN$705)
• Resale Market: Due to high demand, resale prices often escalate to between USD$1,200 and USD$2,000 USD (approximately CDN$1,690 to CDN$3,807)

Canada

• Face Value: Tickets are generally priced between CDN$300 and CDN$500 (about USD$213 to USD$355)
• Resale Market: While resale prices do increase, they tend to be lower than in the US, ranging from CDN$1,000 to CDN$1,500 (about USD$709 to USD$1064)
  
  

Even cheaper with the release of new tickets to Toronto concerts

For Americans and Canadians still hoping to catch Taylor Swift live and in person, there’s good news: Ticket prices for Taylor Swift's Toronto concerts dropped after the Swift crew released blocks of tickets for sale at face value. The result was a sudden drop in resale ticket costs. Prior to the release, resale tickets were selling for CDN$2,500 or more; after the release, resale tickets could be bought for CDN$1,785 (about USD$1,320).

Travel costs: Comparing expenses to major cities

When considering attending a concert in another city, travel expenses are a crucial factor. Here's a comparison of travel costs for American fans travelling to Toronto or Vancouver versus attending concerts in major US cities.

Flight costs (round trip, economy class)

To Toronto:

• From New York City: Approximately CDN$475 to CDN$865 (USD$337 to USD$613)
• From Chicago: Approximately CDN$550 to CDN$865 (USD$390 to USD$613)

To Vancouver

• From Los Angeles: Approximately CDN$500 to CDN$1,000 (USD$355 to USD$709)
• From Seattle: Approximately CDN$385 to CDN$640 (USD$273 to USD$454)

If that same Taylor Swift fan were to fly from an American city to either New York City or Los Angeles in order to attend an Eras concert date, then average seat prices from Expedia show they’d have to budget approximately USD$154 to USD$302 for a roundtrip flight (CDN$217 to CDN$426).

Hotel costs (per night for double occupancy)

• Toronto: Approximately CDN$175 to $CDN600 (USD$124 to USD$425)
• Vancouver: Approximately CDN$250 to CDN$800 (USD$177 to USD$567)

Major US cities

• New York City: Approximately USD$300 to USD$500 (CDN$423 to CDN$705)
• Los Angeles: Approximately USD$250 to USD$400 USD (CDN$353 to CDN$564)

Additional expenses

Transportation: Both Toronto and Vancouver offer efficient public transit systems, with daily passes costing around CDN$10 to CDN$15 (USD$7 to USD$11) Food and Entertainment: Dining and entertainment costs are comparable between major US and Canadian cities, though the favourable exchange rate benefits American visitors in Canada.

Unexpected vet bills don’t have to break the bank

Life with pets is unpredictable, but there are ways to prepare for the unexpected.

Fetch Insurance offers coverage for treatment of accidents, illnesses, prescriptions drugs, emergency care and more.

Plus, their optional wellness plan covers things like routine vet trips, grooming and training costs, if you want to give your pet the all-star treatment while you protect your bank account.

Get A Quote

Cost comparison: A sample scenario

Let's compare the total estimated costs for an American fan attending a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto versus New York City.

Scenario: Attending a Concert in Toronto vs. New York City

Concert Ticket (Resale):

• Toronto: CDN$2,000 (USD$1,418)
• New York City: USD$1,800 (CDN$2,538)

Flight:

• To Toronto: CDN$500 (USD$355)
• To New York City: USD$500 (CDN$705)

Hotel (2 Nights):

• Toronto: CDN$600 (USD$425)
• New York City: USD$800 (CDN$1,128)

Food and Transportation (2 Days):

• Toronto: CDN$200 (USD$142)
• New York City: USD$250 (CDN$353)
  
  

Total estimated costs: Canada vs US

Toronto: CDN$3,300 (USD$2,340)
New York City: USD$3,350 (CDN$4,724)

Potential Savings: Approximately $1,424 (in Canadian currency or $1,010 in US dollars)

Even with travel expenses and the hassle of crossing a border, attending a Taylor Swift concert in Canada can be more economical for American fans than attending one in a major US city like New York.

Additional considerations

Of course, a dollar-for-dollar comparison doesn’t take into consideration all variables. What if you can’t cross the border? Or you can’t find a hotel room? To make the best assessment, consider how unknown factors could prompt extra costs.

Still, for American fans — and Canadian fans that need to travel to a large urban area in order to attend a Swift concert — there are non-financial benefits to travelling to Toronto or Vancouver for Taylor Swift’s concert:

• Availability: Tickets for Canadian concerts may be more readily available due to slightly lower demand compared to US cities.
• Experience: Attending a concert in a different country offers a unique cultural experience and the opportunity to explore a new city.

Bottom line

For American fans of Taylor Swift, attending her concerts in Canadian cities like Toronto or Vancouver presents a cost-effective alternative to US venues. The favourable exchange rate, comparatively lower ticket prices, and manageable travel expenses contribute to overall savings.