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As the first weekend of the Coachella Festival concluded, attendees and onlookers alike have been buzzing-not just about the music, but about the steep prices faced inside the famed California desert event. With the second weekend scheduled for April 17-19, conversations about the cost of festival essentials have taken center stage.
Ticket prices for Coachella range from approximately $800 to over $2,000 per person, depending on the package and extras. This hefty price tag doesn’t even include travel, lodging, or food and beverages. Since bringing outside food and drinks is prohibited, festival-goers often find themselves paying premium prices for what’s available inside.
One attendee, Angelina, recently shared a revealing look at the cost of something as simple as bottled water at Coachella. Her TikTok video quickly gained attention online as she documented the bustling scene and shared the shock of paying $8.70 for a single bottle-tax included. Adding a tip brought her total to $9.
Angelina then visited a refill station on site to top off her bottle, sampling the tap water and humorously rating it a perfect ten out of ten.
Many viewers chimed in on the price, with some questioning why attendees don’t just bring their own bottles. Coachella’s official policy allows guests to bring empty plastic or hydration pack-style containers, while metal or glass bottles are prohibited. These can be refilled free of charge at stations throughout the grounds.
This led to varied reactions: some festival-goers felt $8 for a refillable bottle was reasonable given the unlimited refills, while others called the price “outrageous” for water that wasn’t even chilled.
As Coachella continues, the discussion about the cost of essentials like water remains a hot topic among festival fans navigating the balance between convenience and expense.