The 10 Most Expensive Sports in The World

The 10 Most Expensive Sports in The World - 2025 Rankings

From motorsport’s nine-figure spend to horse care that runs like a mortgage, these 10 sports demand deep pockets!

Top-tier yacht racing campaigns can cost more than €75 million

For our rankings, we take a look at the real, recurring money it takes to participate at a serious amateur or pro-adjacent level in each of these sports.

That includes hard costs like equipment, animals or vehicles, training and coaching, facility access, travel and entries, and the hidden bills people always forget — maintenance, insurance and replacements.

We also consider team or campaign budgets where they directly create a barrier to entry. Prices may vary by country.

So, what are the 10 most expensive sports in the world? Let’s take a closer look.

1. Formula 1 and Elite Auto Racing

Even with a cost cap, F1 is the summit for spend. The sport’s financial regulations limit team performance spending to a base $135 million for 2023, with inflation adjustments putting the 2025 figure around $140.4 million. This excludes items like driver salaries and marketing.

Why it ranks here: No other sport demands such persistent nine-figure team budgets, lucrative prize money and bespoke technology for marginal gains. This scale of spend explains why competing at the pinnacle of F1 is so exclusive!

2. America’s Cup Sailing

Taking part in the America’s Cup requires an entire design office and a flying 75-foot monohull. Reuters reports a campaign typically needs €75 million or more to be competitive. This is roughly $80 million. A proposed future cap has even been discussed at €75 million per team.

Why it ranks here: Boat development, shore crew, test platforms and months of training make top-tier yacht racing a multi-year, multi-tens-of-millions commitment.

3. Polo

It’s known as the sport of kings for a reason! A single high-goal match often uses 8 to 10 ponies per player, and Forbes reported an average of about $45,000 per horse, before training, transport, board and veterinary care. Owning and rotating strings of horses multiplies total costs across a season. 

Why it ranks here: Animal costs scale fast with handicap level. Logistics for multiple ponies push overall spending into the high six or seven figures for serious patrons.

4. Equestrian (Show Jumping and Dressage)

Even outside polo, competitive horse sport is expensive. A recent survey summarised by The Horse found annual basic expenses for a competition horse averages about $26,000 per year for feed, board, farrier and vet care. Elite horses themselves can sell for millions.

Read more about equestrian sports on our horse racing blog

Why it ranks here: Recurring annual costs per horse plus travel, training and show fees create a steep ongoing financial commitment.

5. Mountaineering on 8,000-metre Peaks (such as Everest)

Veteran analyst Alan Arnette’s 2025 breakdown shows typical guided mountaineering expeditions cost around $54,000 to $55,000, with some packages coming in at much higher than that.

Nepal has also announced the Everest permit fee will rise from $11,000 to $15,000, increasing the base cost of entry. There’s no wonder it’s one of the most expensive sports in the world!

Why it ranks here: Spending weeks on a mountain, plus guides, oxygen, Sherpa support and permits make a single attempt at climbing Everest cost what many might spend on a car.

6. Bobsleigh

The sled and the season both add up. Reuters reported a two-person bobsleigh can cost upward of €75,000, and the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Foundation lists about $34,450 per athlete per year in development costs for living, travel, transport and gear. Top four-man sleds can exceed six figures.

Why it ranks here: Premium equipment plus access to rare ice tracks and lots of travel makes sliding sports an expensive pursuit.

7. Iron-Distance Triathlon

For elite competitions, the race entry fee alone is significant. Current IRONMAN registrations list full-distance entries near $960 to $990 in the US, before travel and lodging.

However, bikes are the big ticket. Mainstream tri sources note “beginner” tri bikes often run $3,000 to $6,000, and even value road-to-tri setups push total gear spend into the thousands.

Why it ranks here: The combination of pricey bike equipment, wetsuits and accessories, coaching, race travel and recurring entries brings big multi-year costs.

8. Ice Hockey

Ice time, travel and kit drive up bills fast. The Associated Press highlighted survey data showing Canadian youth hockey seasons can range from about $4,500 to $7,400 per child, depending on age and level, with affordability cited as a growing barrier to participation. Adult leagues and higher levels usually cost even more.

Why it ranks here: Specialised gear, frequent equipment replacement and substantial travel for games make hockey one of the priciest mainstream sports for families.

Looking for more? Check out our article for the top 5 most expensive NHL arenas in the world.

9. Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding

Day tickets at major resorts now rival short vacations. Last season’s holiday window pricing reached $329 for a single-day adult lift ticket at Vail, and large multi-mountain passes hover near $1,000 for the season.

New ski setups often run from $400 to $1,500 for skis and bindings alone, before boots, helmets and tune-ups.

Why it ranks here: High daily access fees combined with expensive hardware and destination travel keep annual costs high for regular skiers and riders.

10. Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is quickly becoming one of the most expensive sports in the world. Certification plus gear sets the baseline.

PADI’s own pricing shows eLearning for Open Water starts at around $243, but the total training cost with local dive shops commonly runs from $500 to $1,000.

New recreational gear packages are typically $1,000 to $5,000, with ongoing servicing and occasional rental or travel on top. 

Why it ranks here: Compared with other sports on our list, scuba diving isn’t quite as expensive. However, the initial certification and kit investment still makes diving a more expensive sport than most.

The Most Expensive Sports in 2025

Cost isn’t everything, but it can often stop even the best athletes from competing. The sports at the top of this list combine multiple expenses - from cutting-edge technology to expensive animals to huge entry fees.

If you’re drawn to them anyway, there are ways in. Join clubs, rent or lease gear, buy used equipment, share travel, focus on coaching over constant upgrades, and plan your calendar carefully.

Talent, resilience and good planning stretch budgets further, yet the price tags explain why access still remains unequal.