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Cuba -

Back in the ‘50s, the island nation used to have more movie theaters than New York City. The number is lower nowadays, but there are still quite a few around. Communist censorship means that there are no advertisements in the screenings. Prices per ticket are pretty low, at $1. However, it’s still costly for those earning Cuban wages.

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Indonesia -

Indonesian moviegoers pay $3.02 per session. The country has a preference for local movies and those from Asian countries over Hollywood.

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India -

India has a massive movie industry, known as Bollywood, and of course, the audience to match. Ticket prices vary, depending on which movie theater you go to, but prices are around $3.43 on average.

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Colombia -

Going to the movies is relatively cheap if you earn above the average monthly salary of $383.32. With ticket prices at around $4.35, that’s over 1% of the monthly wage.

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Mexico -

Mexicans love cinema. The nation has the most screens per capita in Latin America and they consume mostly American cinema, though domestic productions also have a prominent spot in theaters. The average ticket price is $4.38.

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Malaysia -

Back in 2003, the country held the Guinness World Record for the lowest annual cinema attendance per capita. Today, numbers haven’t increased much. Going to the movies in Malaysia costs an average of $4.53.

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Chile -

The country also struggles with low attendance rates. While Chile has a thriving domestic movie industry, American movies remain more popular. Chileans pay $5.20 for a movie screening.

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Turkey -

Turkey is yet another country struggling with low attendance rates. In fact, it’s currently at a 20-year low. The rising popularity of streaming is one of the contributing factors. Going to the movies in Turkey costs $5.77.

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Brazil -

Unlike other countries in the Americas, Brazil has experienced a growth in attendance. In 2024, over 121 million Brazilians bought a ticket. While the top-grossing movies are Hollywood blockbusters, domestic productions such as the Oscar-winning ‘I'm Still Here’ rank in the top five. Brazilians pay around $5.95 to go to the movies.

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Argentina -

Going to the movies in Argentina is not cheap, at $6.00 per ticket. This is more than 1% of the average monthly wage. Going to the cinema is a rather luxurious treat, and that’s reflected in the low attendance rates.

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Philippines -

Cinema attendance is in decline across the country. The popularity of streaming, coupled with high ticket prices contribute to this. At $6.04 per ticket, it may be affordable to international visitors, but it certainly isn't for locals.

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South Africa -

Like many countries around the world, the African nation is also struggling with low attendance rates. Cinema ticket prices are around $6.42.

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Peru -

Both Peru’s domestic films and Hollywood blockbusters attract moviegoers across the nation. Peruvians pay around $6.71 for movie tickets.

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Spain -

Attendance levels dropped slightly last year, but going to the movies in Spain is still relatively cheap compared to other European countries, at $8.30.

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Italy -

Italians go to the movies less than they used to, but the decline hasn’t been as accentuated as in other countries. Both Italian and American movies are popular. As for ticket prices, they cost around $9.34.

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South Korea -

Despite discount promotions implemented by several movie theater chains, attendance numbers continue to decrease in South Korea. South Korean films are more popular than Hollywood productions. Prices per ticket average $10.26.

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Canada -

Canadians pay less to go to the movies than their neighbors in the US, at $10.37 per ticket. Prices have however increased over the last few years.

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Singapore -

Going to the movies in Singapore means spending just 0.3% of the mean monthly salary. Singaporeans pay around $11.10 per ticket.

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New Zealand -

Moviegoers pay an average of $11.19 per ticket in New Zealand. Unlike the majority of countries around the world, New Zealand is actually experiencing a resurgence of cinema attendance.

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France -

France is a nation of filmgoers. In 2024 alone, over 180 million people went to the movies. French productions are also preferred to Hollywood ones. As for the ticket prices, the French pay around $12.45 to go watch a movie.

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Austria -

Austrians also pay an average of $12.45 per ticket. The European nation has higher wages, meaning it’s cheaper to go to the movies in Austria. Still, more people are favoring streaming services so attendance numbers are declining.

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Ireland -

The number of filmgoers have declined steadily ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in popularity of at-home entertainment contributed to this decline. Expect to pay around $12.45 to watch a movie in Ireland.

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Germany -

In 2024, admissions dropped by over 5% in Germany. Ticket prices have however increased over the last few years, now standing at an average $12.45.

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United Kingdom -

Going to the movies is still popular in the UK, and despite the increase in ticket prices, attendance numbers have slightly increased over the last few years. Brits pay around $12.57 to watch a movie.

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Japan -

Both box office revenue and admissions fell in Japan in 2024. Japanese audiences consume a mix of both domestic productions and Hollywood movies. The price of a ticket in Japan averages $12.61.

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Belgium -

Like other nations around the world, Belgium has also seen a decline in movie theater attendance. Going to the movies in Belgium costs around $13.44.

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United Arab Emirates -

More people are going to the movies in the UAE ever since the government ended censorship of foreign movies in 2021. Ticket prices are around $13.61.

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Australia -

Going to the movies Down Under doesn’t come cheap, but movie theaters have seen an increase in attendance. Aussies pay around $13.65 to watch a movie.

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United States -

Home to the biggest film industry in the world (Hollywood), the US has also taken a hit in attendance numbers. This is largely due to the popularity of streaming services. Also, it doesn’t help that ticket prices are pretty high, at $14.

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Netherlands -

Attendance dropped from 31.7 million to 29.4 million in 2024, but Dutch movies had the best box office numbers in nearly a decade. Ticket prices come in at $14.01.

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Norway -

The northern European nation never recovered the number of pre-pandemic attendances. Still, Norway has a high number of movie theatres per capita. As for the tickets, they cost around $14.21.

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Sweden -

Neighboring Swedes are also not going to the movies as much as they used to. While Hollywood movies continue to top the box office earnings, a number of Swedish productions have also been successful. Tickets cost around $14.78.

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Denmark -

The Danes go to the movies than their Nordic neighbors, though attendance numbers are still decreasing. Tickets cost $17.39, which may seem high, but are relatively cheap considering the national average monthly salary, which is above $3,500.

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Switzerland -

The European nation tops the list with the most expensive movie ticket prices, at $22.14. The number seems pretty high, but the Swiss earn one of the highest average salaries in the world.

Sources: (Love Money)

See also: Here's how much a McDonald's meal costs around the world

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