The 9 Most Expensive Sports in the World (And Why Youth Sports Are Getting So Pricey)

If it feels like youth sports are getting more expensive every year, that’s because they are.

Over the past few decades, the cost of youth athletics has steadily climbed—but in the last five years, the spike has been especially dramatic. On average, youth sports costs have increased 46% in just five years. In fact, 2024 was the first year the average American family spent more than $1,000 per child on sports, and that number keeps rising.

Why the surge? Several factors are driving the price explosion: year-round competition, early specialization, expensive travel teams, and reduced public funding for youth sports programs. While some sports have always had massive barriers to entry (think boats, race cars, or horses), others have simply become more competitive—and more costly—over time.

Here are nine of the most expensive sports in the world, where the price tag can easily climb from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

1. Auto Racing

At the top levels, auto racing is practically reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

Elite racing circuits like Formula 1 operate on staggering budgets. Teams now work under a spending cap that has grown into the hundreds of millions of dollars annually—and that’s just the team’s operating budget.

Even at a smaller scale, the sport is extremely expensive. Competitive kart racing, often the entry point for young drivers, can cost $50,000 or more per year. Between specialized karts, constant repairs, replacement parts, training, travel, and racing simulators, the expenses add up fast. And as drivers progress, the equipment becomes even more costly.

2. Elite Sailing

Anything involving boats tends to come with a hefty price tag—and competitive sailing is no exception.

Entry-level sailing programs can cost around $5,000 per year, but the expenses skyrocket at the elite level. Competitive sailing boats frequently exceed $100,000, and major competitions can run into the millions.

For example, a winning America’s Cup campaign in 2013 was estimated to cost around $300 million when factoring in the boat, crew, research, and logistics.

And that doesn’t even include docking fees, trailers, travel, maintenance, and the constant battle against saltwater corrosion.

3. Polo

No surprise here—polo has long been associated with wealth.

Before even stepping onto the field, players must learn to ride horses, with lessons sometimes costing $200 per hour. Then comes the biggest expense: the horse itself.

Top polo horses can cost over $1 million, and even getting started in the sport often requires $40,000 to $100,000. Add in boarding, feed, veterinary care, and equipment, and polo quickly becomes one of the most expensive sports on the planet.

In short: if your kid shows interest in polo, be prepared for a serious financial commitment.

4. Alpine Skiing

Alpine skiing is expensive from the moment you step on the mountain.

Lift tickets, lessons, and gear can easily total thousands of dollars each season. But competitive skiers often go much further, traveling across continents to chase year-round snow conditions.

Elite ski academies—which train the next generation of competitive racers—can cost up to $100,000 per year, and that often doesn’t include travel expenses.

5. Equestrian

Equestrian sports—including show jumping, dressage, and competitive riding—are among the most expensive in the world.

The first major investment is the horse itself. Competitive horses can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they require constant care. Boarding, training, feed, veterinary bills, and stable staff all add to the yearly costs.

Then there’s transportation—horse trailers, specialized trucks, and travel to competitions around the country.

For serious riders, spending $100,000 per year or more is not unusual.

6. Ice Hockey

Compared to horse sports and racing, hockey might sound reasonable—but it’s still one of the most expensive youth sports around.

The biggest factor? Ice time.

Maintaining ice rinks is costly, and those expenses are passed on to players. Then there’s the equipment—pads, helmets, skates, sticks, and protective gear—all of which need regular replacement.

Competitive youth travel teams can easily cost up to $20,000 per year, especially once travel, tournaments, and hotels are included.

7. Triathlon and Cycling

Triathlons combine three sports—swimming, cycling, and running—which means athletes often need gear for all three.

The cycling portion alone can break the bank. High-end time-trial or triathlon bikes can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Add in aerodynamic helmets, specialized shoes, wetsuits, race suits, and travel to competitions, and the expenses quickly multiply.

Even youth triathletes are now competing at elite levels and traveling across the country to race—making the sport increasingly costly for families.

8. Golf

Golf may look relaxing, but it’s far from cheap.

Getting started usually means lessons plus a decent set of clubs, which can cost $1,000–$2,000 or more. Equipment upgrades are frequent as new technology hits the market.

Then there are greens fees, practice range costs, and endless supplies of golf balls and gloves.

And once golfers catch the travel bug—visiting famous courses around the country—the costs only grow.

9. Lacrosse

Lacrosse has exploded in popularity in recent years, especially in the United States.

But the sport comes with its own set of expensive requirements: helmets, pads, sticks, gloves, and cleats. Competitive travel teams and tournaments also drive up the cost.

At the youth level alone, lacrosse can run around $4,000 per year, and that doesn’t include travel, hotels, or tournament fees.

The Bottom Line

Youth sports can offer incredible benefits—teamwork, discipline, fitness, and lifelong friendships. But the rising costs are making participation increasingly difficult for many families.

Whether it’s ice time, race cars, or million-dollar horses, some sports have always come with big price tags. But as travel leagues and year-round competition become the norm, even traditionally affordable sports are becoming expensive.

For many parents today, supporting their child’s athletic dreams often means making a serious financial investment.