Everybody claims that triathlons are expensive but rarely anybody talk numbers. After spending so many years in the triathlon industry, we thought it’s high time we review the actual cost of triathlons.
So, if you’re wondering “how much do triathlons cost to enter”, you’ve come to the right place. From triathlon entrance fee to accommodation, here’s everything you need to know about triathlon cost.
How Much Do Triathlon Triathlons Cost to Enter?
Overall, if it’s your first time participating in a triathlon, you can realistically anticipate spending almost seven hundred dollars. This figure covers all the essential triathlon gears and equipment you’d need for the first race. You’d be surprised to know that the second year, rather than being more affordable, is even more expensive with costs totaling up to around SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS! The exorbitant cost is majorly due to some of the one-time purchases such as wetsuit, bike, etc. Once such one-time costs are behind you, you can expect to spend roughly three thousand dollars every year.
Further in this triathlon cost guide, you’ll find the breakdown of the above-stated costs along with some tips that can help you save dollars drastically.
Triathlon Cost for Your 1st Triathlon Race
Even if it’s your first time racing in a triathlon, you don’t necessarily have to break the bank in the first year. Instead, we’d recommend you utilize that time to learn more about the sport. In addition to this, instead of buying the equipment and gear right away, we strongly advise you to rent them out and test whether they work for you. Once you’re done with the first triathlon and are still interested in the sport, you can think about investing more money.
Below we’ve outlined the realistic* as well as budgeted** triathlon costs.
*What the majority of triathletes end up paying for new equipment.
** Includes good quality triathlon equipment from less popular brands or second-hand gears
Tri suit
Realistic: $120
Budgeted: $60
Swim cap
Realistic: $5
Budgeted: –
Swim goggles
Realistic: $25
Budgeted: $25
Wetsuit
Realistic: $25 (rented)
Budgeted: $25 (rented)
Bike
Realistic: $120 (including rent or repairs)
Budgeted: 0 (borrow)
Helmet
Realistic: $60
Budgeted: $25
Race number belt
Realistic: $15
Budgeted: $1-
Bike repair kit
Realistic: $30
Budgeted: $30
Sunglasses + hat + sunscreen
Realistic: $60
Budgeted: $25
Running shoes
Realistic: $140
Budgeted: $70
Nutrition
Realistic: $50
Budgeted: $25
Triathlon entrance fee (sprint)
Realistic: $50
Budgeted: $50
Total triathlon cost:
Realistic: $700
Budgeted: $345
Triathlon Cost for Your 2nd Triathlon Race
As shared earlier, your second triathlon is going to cost you the most. By now, you should have a pretty good idea whether you liked the sport or wish to discontinue. In case you wish to proceed in the second year, now you’ll feel more confident in investing in new equipment and gear. The major expenses are related to one-time purchases that you’ll be able to use in the upcoming years. The four leading investments include a bike, triathlon watch, bike trainer, and a set of aero bars. For those who can’t buy altogether, the purchases can be divided into multiple years.
Here are the major costs of your second-year triathlon:
Aero bars
Realistic: $140
Budgeted: $35
Triathlon watch
Realistic: $450
Budgeted: $250
Transition bag
Realistic: $120
Budgeted: –
Wetsuit
Realistic: $350
Budgeted: $250
Bike
Realistic: $2400
Budgeted: $600
Bike fit
Realistic: $180
Budgeted: –
Running shoes
Realistic: $140
Budgeted: $70
Cycling pedals and shoes
Realistic: $230
Budgeted: $80
Indoor apps
Realistic: $200
Budgeted: $90
Swim lessons
Realistic: $120
Budgeted: –
Nutrition
Realistic: $180
Budgeted: $60
Triathlon entrance fee
Realistic: $250 (2 sprint + 2 olympic)
Budgeted: $180 (4 sprint)
Accommodation + transport
Realistic: $250 (may vary)
Budgeted: –
Bike trainer and accessories
Realistic: $600
Budgeted: $180
Total triathlon cost:
Realistic: $5610
Budgeted: $1795
Triathlon Cost for A Typical Year
Once you’ve invested in a decent bike, the triathlon cost would drastically go down. Nonetheless, you’ll still have to make some expenses in order to maintain the bike or upgrade some core bike parts year after year for optimal performance. The majority of your triathlon cost would be related to entrance fees, accommodation, and transport. In addition to this, the expenses would also be highly dependent on the kind of events you’d be attending and their proximity to your home. If you plan to attend branded races like Ironman, then expect to pay more.
Running shoes
Realistic: $140
Budgeted: $70
Indoor apps
Realistic: $300 (2 apps)
Budgeted: $90 (only in winter season)
Swim lessons
Realistic: $120
Budgeted: –
Nutrition
Realistic: $180
Budgeted: $60
Triathlon license
Realistic: $50
Budgeted: –
Triathlon entrance fee (Olympic x2)
Realistic: $150
Budgeted: $120
Triathlon entrance fee (Half distance)
Realistic: $300
Budgeted: $120
Triathlon entrance fee (Full distance)
Realistic: $600
Budgeted: $250
Accommodation + transport
Realistic: $700 (may vary)
Budgeted: $240
Bike upgrades
Realistic: $350
Budgeted: $120
Total triathlon cost:
Realistic: $2890
Budgeted: $1070
Tips to Reduce Triathlon Costs
To help you save dollars on triathlon cost, here are some simple yet fool-proof tips to follow:
Buy second-hand equipment
Buying triathlon equipment and gear doesn’t necessarily mean you have to buy fresh. You can benefit from some really nice deals in the second-hand market. Just make sure that everything works decently before making sealing the deal.
Register early to save money on the entrance fee
The majority of triathlon races have multiple-tier pricing options. Thus, if you plan to participate in a particular race next year, be sure to register early and save significant dollars on the entrance fee.
Register to local triathlons
If you’re short on budget but wish to complete a full-distance triathlon, we recommend you to give local races a try. Unlike branded events like Ironman, local races are lighter on the pocket.
Our Final Thoughts
There’s no denying that triathlon is an expensive sport. However, with a well-thought budget plan and cost-cutting tips, you can definitely save a good amount of money on triathlon costs. We hope this post helps you to understand the real cost of participating in a triathlon.
