A museum ticket for a foreign visitor costs $12 at the median. The figure covers 939 paid museums in 80 countries, each price read from the museum's own website on October 10, 2026.
- $12 is the median ticket. Half of all paid museums charge between $8 and $18.
- $1 to $23 is the range of country medians, from India to Iceland.
- 147 of 1,086 museums are free for everyone.
- 89 museums charge foreign visitors more than locals: a median 1.82 times as much where both pay.
- 56 of 107 AI planner estimates came within 20% of the museum's own price.
How much is a museum ticket?
The data · 20 countries
| Country | Paid museums | Cheapest | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Dearest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 16 | $0.26 | $0.90 | $1.03 | $3.50 | $10.31 |
| Japan | 51 | $0.63 | $3.16 | $5.06 | $8.22 | $18.77 |
| Poland | 10 | $4.60 | $5.62 | $6.38 | $8.94 | $15.33 |
| Spain | 48 | $2.24 | $4.48 | $7.84 | $13.44 | $53.77 |
| Hungary | 11 | $4.60 | $9.20 | $10.12 | $12.57 | $16.87 |
| France | 54 | $3.36 | $8.96 | $10.92 | $15.68 | $35.85 |
| Germany | 58 | $2.24 | $7.84 | $11.20 | $15.68 | $23.53 |
| Greece | 22 | $2.24 | $9.52 | $11.20 | $12.88 | $22.41 |
| Portugal | 13 | $2.35 | $5.60 | $11.20 | $14.56 | $16.80 |
| Italy | 60 | $4.48 | $8.96 | $13.44 | $16.80 | $28.01 |
| Canada | 34 | $3.51 | $10.00 | $14.38 | $18.06 | $31.56 |
| Switzerland | 30 | $6.02 | $12.04 | $15.66 | $23.49 | $44.56 |
| Belgium | 11 | $6.72 | $13.44 | $15.68 | $17.36 | $31.37 |
| United States | 212 | $3.00 | $10.00 | $16.00 | $24.00 | $49.00 |
| Sweden | 14 | $6.00 | $14.26 | $16.01 | $18.89 | $60.03 |
| United Kingdom | 33 | $1.32 | $11.91 | $16.68 | $21.84 | $46.32 |
| Austria | 36 | $3.92 | $13.44 | $16.80 | $20.17 | $28.01 |
| Norway | 10 | $10.46 | $16.74 | $18.31 | $18.83 | $83.70 |
| Netherlands | 18 | $11.20 | $16.24 | $19.05 | $21.15 | $30.19 |
| Iceland | 10 | $12.29 | $17.20 | $22.52 | $32.57 | $42.59 |
Of the 20 countries with at least 10 paid museums, 15 have a median ticket between $10 and $20. Four sit below that band, and Iceland sits above it at $23. The blue bar covers the middle half of each country's museums. A short bar means most museums charge about the same; Spain's long bar, from $4 to $13, means prices there vary widely.
Budget your museum days on the country median, then check the museum's own page before you go.
Where are museums free?
147 of the 1,086 museums with a published price, 14%, charge nothing to anyone on any day. A museum that is free only on some days, or only for residents, counts as paid here.
The data · 35 countries
| Country | Museums priced | Free | Share free | Median paid ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 12 | 6 | 50% | $18.16 |
| United Kingdom | 62 | 29 | 47% | $16.68 |
| Brazil | 9 | 3 | 33% | $6.50 |
| Mexico | 9 | 2 | 22% | $7.88 |
| Ireland | 11 | 2 | 18% | $10.08 |
| South Africa | 11 | 2 | 18% | $6.06 |
| Poland | 12 | 2 | 17% | $6.38 |
| United States | 253 | 41 | 16% | $16.00 |
| Germany | 67 | 9 | 13% | $11.20 |
| France | 62 | 8 | 13% | $10.92 |
| Finland | 8 | 1 | 12% | $17.92 |
| Italy | 68 | 8 | 12% | $13.44 |
| Turkey | 9 | 1 | 11% | $12.32 |
| Spain | 54 | 6 | 11% | $7.84 |
| Japan | 56 | 5 | 9% | $5.06 |
| India | 17 | 1 | 6% | $1.03 |
| Canada | 36 | 2 | 6% | $14.38 |
| Switzerland | 31 | 1 | 3% | $15.66 |
| Austria | 37 | 1 | 3% | $16.80 |
| Iceland | 10 | 0 | 0% | $22.52 |
| Denmark | 8 | 0 | 0% | $20.98 |
| Netherlands | 18 | 0 | 0% | $19.05 |
| Norway | 10 | 0 | 0% | $18.31 |
| Sweden | 14 | 0 | 0% | $16.01 |
| Belgium | 11 | 0 | 0% | $15.68 |
| Greece | 22 | 0 | 0% | $11.20 |
| Portugal | 13 | 0 | 0% | $11.20 |
| Hungary | 11 | 0 | 0% | $10.12 |
| Singapore | 7 | 0 | 0% | $9.37 |
| Croatia | 7 | 0 | 0% | $8.96 |
| Thailand | 6 | 0 | 0% | $8.21 |
| Morocco | 5 | 0 | 0% | $6.11 |
| Peru | 7 | 0 | 0% | $5.82 |
| Romania | 8 | 0 | 0% | $4.72 |
| Taiwan | 5 | 0 | 0% | $3.75 |
Across the 35 countries with at least five paid museums, a country's ticket prices tell you nothing about how many of its museums are free. 16 of the 35 have no free museum in the study. The United Kingdom leaves 29 of 62 free and charges $17 at the rest.
Can you trust an AI planner's museum prices?
An AI planner's estimate came within 20% of the museum's own price for 56 of 107 paid museums, about half.
The data · 110 museums
| Museum | Country | Museum's site | AI estimate | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MALBA | Argentina | $9.24 | $15.00 | too high |
| Museo Maritimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia | Argentina | $32.98 | $15.00 | too low |
| Albertina | Austria | $23.41 | $20.00 | within 20% |
| Belvedere Palace | Austria | $13.44 | $25.00 | too high |
| Funeral Museum Vienna | Austria | $10.08 | $12.00 | within 20% |
| Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien | Austria | $24.65 | $22.00 | within 20% |
| Leopold Museum | Austria | $21.29 | $80.00 | too high |
| Mozart's Birthplace | Austria | $20.17 | $12.00 | too low |
| Mozarts Wohnhaus | Austria | $20.17 | $12.00 | too low |
| Tunnel of Salvation | Bosnia and Herzegovina | $11.46 | $8.00 | too low |
| Buffalo Nations Museum | Canada | $10.52 | $15.00 | too high |
| Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies | Canada | $10.52 | $20.00 | too high |
| Prince Gong Mansion | China | $5.97 | $10.00 | too high |
| Museum of Cartagena de Indias | Colombia | $7.48 | $6.00 | within 20% |
| Franz Kafka Museum | Czech Republic | $13.78 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Museum of Communism | Czech Republic | $17.91 | $18.00 | within 20% |
| Designmuseum Danmark | Denmark | $20.98 | $20.00 | within 20% |
| Casa del Alabado Pre-Columbian Art Museum | Ecuador | $10.00 | $8.00 | within 20% |
| Coptic Museum | Egypt | $5.33 | $5.00 | within 20% |
| Gayer-Anderson Museum | Egypt | $1.90 | $4.00 | too high |
| Great Pyramid of Giza | Egypt | $19.05 | $20.00 | within 20% |
| Louvre Museum | France | $35.85 | $22.00 | too low |
| Musee Unterlinden | France | $15.68 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Musée Bartholdi | France | $5.60 | $8.00 | too high |
| Musée Grévin | France | $27.45 | $25.00 | within 20% |
| Musée Jacquemart-André | France | $21.29 | $18.00 | within 20% |
| Musée Rodin | France | $15.68 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Musée de l'Orangerie | France | $14.00 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild | France | $20.17 | $18.00 | within 20% |
| Deutsches Museum | Germany | $17.92 | $25.00 | too high |
| Neues Museum | Germany | $15.68 | $0.00 | AI called it free |
| Pergamon Museum | Germany | $15.68 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Pinakothek der Moderne | Germany | $11.20 | $18.00 | too high |
| The Alte Pinakothek | Germany | $10.08 | $13.00 | too high |
| Ancient Agora of Athens | Greece | $22.41 | $12.00 | too low |
| Museum of Prehistoric Thera | Greece | $11.20 | $15.00 | too high |
| National Archaeological Museum | Greece | $22.41 | $22.00 | within 20% |
| Roman Agora of Athens | Greece | $11.20 | $11.00 | within 20% |
| Hungarian National Museum | Hungary | $10.73 | $10.00 | within 20% |
| Akureyri Museum | Iceland | $16.38 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| National Museum of Iceland | Iceland | $20.48 | $15.00 | too low |
| The Icelandic Phallological Museum | Iceland | $31.95 | $25.00 | too low |
| Whales of Iceland | Iceland | $32.77 | $25.00 | too low |
| Dublinia | Ireland | $17.92 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum | Ireland | $24.65 | $22.00 | within 20% |
| Kilmainham Gaol | Ireland | $7.84 | $8.00 | within 20% |
| Muckross House | Ireland | $10.08 | $15.00 | too high |
| Bagatti Valsecchi Museum | Italy | $15.68 | $12.00 | too low |
| Capitoline Museums | Italy | $16.80 | $20.00 | within 20% |
| Catacombe dei Cappuccini | Italy | $5.60 | $10.00 | too high |
| Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica - Palazzo Barberini | Italy | $16.80 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Gallerie dell'Accademia | Italy | $22.41 | $18.00 | within 20% |
| MAXXI | Italy | $15.68 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Museo e Cripta dei Cappuccini | Italy | $11.20 | $10.00 | within 20% |
| Nuraghe Palmavera | Italy | $7.84 | $10.00 | too high |
| Palazzo Pitti | Italy | $17.92 | $16.00 | within 20% |
| Peggy Guggenheim Collection | Italy | $19.04 | $16.00 | within 20% |
| Strozzi Palace | Italy | $16.80 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Uffizi Gallery | Italy | $28.01 | $25.00 | within 20% |
| Villa Carlotta | Italy | $19.61 | $15.00 | too low |
| Osaka Museum of Housing and Living | Japan | $3.79 | $6.00 | too high |
| Pinang Peranakan Mansion | Malaysia | $4.41 | $5.00 | within 20% |
| Kotor Cats Museum | Montenegro | $1.12 | $3.00 | too high |
| Dar Si Said Museum | Morocco | $3.06 | $5.00 | too high |
| House of Photography | Morocco | $8.15 | $5.00 | too low |
| Eye Film Museum | Netherlands | $18.48 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| National Maritime Museum | Netherlands | $22.41 | $35.00 | too high |
| Rijksmuseum | Netherlands | $28.01 | $23.00 | within 20% |
| The Maritime Museum Rotterdam | Netherlands | $21.29 | $20.00 | within 20% |
| Alesund Museum | Norway | $10.46 | $25.00 | too high |
| Bergen Maritime Museum | Norway | $16.74 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Jugendstilsenteret | Norway | $12.55 | $25.00 | too high |
| The Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene Assembly Rooms | Norway | $16.74 | $20.00 | within 20% |
| Inka Museum | Peru | $5.82 | $15.00 | too high |
| Museo de Arte Precolombino Larco | Peru | $5.82 | $8.00 | too high |
| Soares dos Reis National Museum | Portugal | $11.20 | $5.00 | too low |
| Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico | $8.00 | $10.00 | too high |
| Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico | $20.00 | $12.00 | too low |
| Anna Akhmatova Museum at the Fountain House | Russia | $6.47 | $5.00 | too low |
| Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve | Russia | $10.58 | $10.00 | within 20% |
| The Peranakan Museum | Singapore | $9.37 | $11.00 | within 20% |
| National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, South Korea | South Korea | $2.24 | $4.00 | too high |
| Barcelona Maritime Museum | Spain | $11.20 | $10.00 | within 20% |
| Casa de Pilatos | Spain | $13.44 | $12.00 | within 20% |
| El Call | Spain | $2.35 | $0.00 | AI called it free |
| Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía | Spain | $13.44 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Sorolla Museum | Spain | $0.00 | $3.00 | AI priced a free museum |
| Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum | Spain | $15.68 | $13.00 | within 20% |
| Glacier Garden of Lucerne | Switzerland | $28.90 | $20.00 | too low |
| Kunsthaus Zürich | Switzerland | $37.33 | $25.00 | too low |
| Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis | Switzerland | $14.45 | $15.00 | within 20% |
| Museum Luzern | Switzerland | $14.45 | $18.00 | too high |
| Rosengart Collection | Switzerland | $24.09 | $28.00 | within 20% |
| Swiss Museum of Transport | Switzerland | $44.56 | $35.00 | too low |
| Swiss National Museum | Switzerland | $15.66 | $20.00 | too high |
| Chiang Mai City Art & Cultural Center | Thailand | $2.68 | $4.00 | too high |
| Jim Thompson House Museum | Thailand | $7.46 | $6.00 | within 20% |
| Skye Museum of Island Life | United Kingdom | $10.59 | $8.00 | too low |
| Surgeons' Hall Museum | United Kingdom | $13.23 | $10.00 | too low |
| 9/11 Memorial & Museum | United States | $24.00 | $33.00 | too high |
| Chihuly Garden and Glass | United States | $40.00 | $32.00 | within 20% |
| Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum | United States | $19.00 | $18.00 | within 20% |
| Harry S. Truman Little White House | United States | $24.00 | $22.00 | within 20% |
| Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum | United States | $25.00 | $20.00 | within 20% |
| Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center | United States | $25.00 | $10.00 | too low |
| Petersen Automotive Museum | United States | $12.00 | $20.00 | too high |
| Tenement Museum | United States | $30.00 | $30.00 | within 20% |
| The Museum of Flight | United States | $29.00 | $25.00 | within 20% |
| The Paul Revere House | United States | $6.00 | $6.00 | within 20% |
| Tillamook Air Museum | United States | $15.00 | $15.00 | within 20% |
The planner is MonkeyEatingMango's own; its estimates are the entry prices on 82 published itineraries. Dots above the diagonal are guesses that were too high, and dots below it too low. The planner guessed high on cheap museums and low on expensive ones: too high for 6 of the 7 under $5, too low for 13 of the 34 over $20.
Use a planner's figure to budget the week, then check each museum's own page. The AI itinerary errors study found the same pattern with opening hours.
Do locals pay less than tourists?
89 of the 1,086 museums charge residents or nationals a different price from foreign visitors. 18 of them let residents in free. At the other 71, a foreign visitor pays a median 1.82 times the local price.
The data · 10 countries
| Country | Split-priced museums | Average resident | Average foreign visitor | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 6 | $4.48 | $14.66 | $10.18 |
| Singapore | 5 | $2.34 | $11.87 | $9.53 |
| France | 4 | $12.61 | $21.57 | $8.96 |
| United States | 21 | $12.00 | $19.00 | $7.00 |
| Egypt | 4 | $0.71 | $7.62 | $6.91 |
| Mexico | 4 | $6.11 | $12.02 | $5.91 |
| South Africa | 5 | $5.93 | $9.93 | $4.00 |
| Morocco | 4 | $3.56 | $7.39 | $3.82 |
| India | 7 | $1.40 | $3.70 | $2.30 |
| Peru | 3 | $6.79 | $8.73 | $1.94 |
In all 10 countries with at least three such museums, foreign visitors pay more on average. The gap runs from about $10 in Italy to $2 in Peru.
The data · 10 museums
| Museum | Country | Resident | Foreign visitor | Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Partition Museum | India | $0.10 | $2.58 | 25.8× |
| Coptic Museum | Egypt | $0.38 | $5.33 | 14.0× |
| National Museum of Art | Bolivia | $0.42 | $2.95 | 7.0× |
| Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts | Jordan | $1.41 | $9.87 | 7.0× |
| Blue Penny Museum | Mauritius | $1.05 | $6.85 | 6.5× |
| Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art | Chile | $3.06 | $12.26 | 4.0× |
| Hammam Dar el Bacha | Morocco | $2.04 | $6.11 | 3.0× |
| Bait Al Zubair Museum | Oman | $2.86 | $8.32 | 2.9× |
| Cambodian Landmine Museum | Cambodia | $2.50 | $7.00 | 2.8× |
| Kyu Asakura House | Japan | $1.26 | $3.16 | 2.5× |
Each bar is one hand-checked museum from a different country. The largest multiples come where the local ticket is cheapest: the Partition Museum in Amritsar charges foreign visitors 25 times the local price.
The data · 89 museums
| Museum | Country | Resident | Foreign visitor | Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Partition Museum | India | $0.10 | $2.58 | 25.8× |
| National Gallery of Modern Art (Bengaluru) | India | $0.21 | $5.16 | 24.6× |
| Coptic Museum | Egypt | $0.38 | $5.33 | 14.0× |
| Mummification Museum | Egypt | $0.38 | $4.19 | 11.0× |
| Great Pyramid of Giza | Egypt | $1.90 | $19.05 | 10.0× |
| Gayer-Anderson Museum | Egypt | $0.19 | $1.90 | 10.0× |
| National Museum of Art | Bolivia | $0.42 | $2.95 | 7.0× |
| Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts | Jordan | $1.41 | $9.87 | 7.0× |
| Blue Penny Museum | Mauritius | $1.05 | $6.85 | 6.5× |
| Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art | Chile | $3.06 | $12.26 | 4.0× |
| Cellular Jail Port Blair Andaman and Nicobar Islands | India | $0.31 | $1.03 | 3.3× |
| Siriraj Museums | Thailand | $2.98 | $8.95 | 3.0× |
| Dar Si Said Museum | Morocco | $1.02 | $3.06 | 3.0× |
| Museo del Canal Interoceanico de Panama | Panama | $5.00 | $15.00 | 3.0× |
| Hammam Dar el Bacha | Morocco | $2.04 | $6.11 | 3.0× |
| Bait Al Zubair Museum | Oman | $2.86 | $8.32 | 2.9× |
| Cambodian Landmine Museum | Cambodia | $2.50 | $7.00 | 2.8× |
| Kyu Asakura House | Japan | $1.26 | $3.16 | 2.5× |
| Chateau de Labourdonnais | Mauritius | $3.16 | $7.37 | 2.3× |
| Torre de la Calahorra | Spain | $2.24 | $5.04 | 2.2× |
| National Museum of Costa Rica | Costa Rica | $5.49 | $11.00 | 2.0× |
| Museo Maya de Cancún y Zona Arqueológica de San Miguelito | Mexico | $5.70 | $11.41 | 2.0× |
| Templo Mayor Museum | Mexico | $5.70 | $11.41 | 2.0× |
| South African Jewish Museum | South Africa | $9.08 | $18.17 | 2.0× |
| Hida Takayama Museum of History and Art | Japan | $6.32 | $12.64 | 2.0× |
| Museo Frida Kahlo | Mexico | $8.69 | $17.38 | 2.0× |
| MACAAL | Morocco | $6.11 | $12.22 | 2.0× |
| Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC Panama) | Panama | $5.00 | $10.00 | 2.0× |
| Inka Museum | Peru | $2.91 | $5.82 | 2.0× |
| Museo de Arte Precolombino Larco | Peru | $2.91 | $5.82 | 2.0× |
| Museum of Neon Art | United States | $5.00 | $10.00 | 2.0× |
| Hungarian National Museum | Hungary | $5.37 | $10.73 | 2.0× |
| Fiji Museum | Fiji | $4.45 | $8.89 | 2.0× |
| Jaswant Thada | India | $0.52 | $1.03 | 2.0× |
| Victoria Memorial | India | $0.52 | $1.03 | 2.0× |
| Bengaluru Palace | India | $2.48 | $4.74 | 1.9× |
| Jai Vilas Palace | India | $5.67 | $10.31 | 1.8× |
| Convento de San Agustin de Hipona | Mexico | $4.35 | $7.88 | 1.8× |
| Palazzo Vecchio | Italy | $11.20 | $20.17 | 1.8× |
| Palace of the Governors at New Mexico History Museum | United States | $7.00 | $12.00 | 1.7× |
| Iziko Slave Lodge | South Africa | $3.63 | $6.06 | 1.7× |
| Iziko South African Museum | South Africa | $3.63 | $6.06 | 1.7× |
| National Gallery of South Africa | South Africa | $3.63 | $6.06 | 1.7× |
| Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico | $12.00 | $20.00 | 1.7× |
| House of Photography | Morocco | $5.09 | $8.15 | 1.6× |
| El Zanjon de Granados | Argentina | $15.83 | $23.75 | 1.5× |
| Bin Matar House | Bahrain | $5.32 | $7.98 | 1.5× |
| Louvre Museum | France | $24.65 | $35.85 | 1.5× |
| Stam Stadsmuseum Gent | Belgium | $10.08 | $14.56 | 1.4× |
| Field Museum | United States | $21.00 | $30.00 | 1.4× |
| The Apartheid Museum | South Africa | $9.69 | $13.32 | 1.4× |
| Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum | United States | $18.99 | $25.99 | 1.4× |
| Imiloa Astronomy Center | United States | $14.00 | $19.00 | 1.4× |
| Battle Box | Singapore | $11.71 | $15.62 | 1.3× |
| Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico | $6.00 | $8.00 | 1.3× |
| Cape Ann Museum | United States | $15.00 | $20.00 | 1.3× |
| Conciergerie | France | $25.77 | $33.61 | 1.3× |
| National Museum of the Cayman Islands | Cayman Islands | $12.00 | $15.00 | 1.2× |
| Accademia Carrara | Italy | $8.96 | $11.20 | 1.2× |
| Glazer Children's Museum | United States | $22.95 | $27.95 | 1.2× |
| Alaska Aviation Museum | United States | $19.00 | $23.00 | 1.2× |
| National Atomic Testing Museum | United States | $24.00 | $29.00 | 1.2× |
| Museum of Contemporary Art Denver | United States | $15.00 | $18.00 | 1.2× |
| Museo di Zoologia | Italy | $6.72 | $7.84 | 1.2× |
| Museum of Contemporary Art | United States | $19.00 | $22.00 | 1.2× |
| Pratt Museum | United States | $13.00 | $15.00 | 1.2× |
| Santa Fe Children's Museum | United States | $13.00 | $15.00 | 1.2× |
| Museo Maritimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia | Argentina | $29.03 | $32.98 | 1.1× |
| Seattle Children's Museum | United States | $16.00 | $18.00 | 1.1× |
| The Dali Museum | United States | $29.00 | $32.00 | 1.1× |
| Monasterio de Santa Catalina | Peru | $14.56 | $14.56 | 1.0× |
| Peabody Essex Museum | United States | $0.00 | $25.00 | free for residents |
| Detroit Institute of Arts | United States | $0.00 | $20.00 | free for residents |
| Villa Carlotta | Italy | $0.00 | $19.61 | free for residents |
| Asian Civilisations Museum | Singapore | $0.00 | $19.52 | free for residents |
| Capitoline Museums | Italy | $0.00 | $16.80 | free for residents |
| The Bass | United States | $0.00 | $15.00 | free for residents |
| Centrale Montemartini | Italy | $0.00 | $12.32 | free for residents |
| Wolfsonian-FIU | United States | $0.00 | $12.00 | free for residents |
| Whitby Museum | United Kingdom | $0.00 | $11.91 | free for residents |
| Matisse Museum | France | $0.00 | $11.20 | free for residents |
| Soares dos Reis National Museum | Portugal | $0.00 | $11.20 | free for residents |
| Woodcarving in Brienz | Switzerland | $0.00 | $9.63 | free for residents |
| The Peranakan Museum | Singapore | $0.00 | $9.37 | free for residents |
| Indian Heritage Centre | Singapore | $0.00 | $7.81 | free for residents |
| Changi Chapel and Museum | Singapore | $0.00 | $7.03 | free for residents |
| Totem Heritage Center | United States | $0.00 | $7.00 | free for residents |
| Musée d'Archéologie de Nice / Cimiez | France | $0.00 | $5.60 | free for residents |
| Alexandria Black History Museum | United States | $0.00 | $3.00 | free for residents |
47 of the 71 museums charge foreign visitors no more than double. All six that charge 10 times or more are in Egypt and India.
If a price you find online looks low, check whether it is the resident rate.
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Plan a trip →Why is China missing?
Only 6 of China's 78 museums in the study have a price. 49% of Chinese museums have no website on file, against 21% elsewhere. Of the Chinese sites that loaded, 32% returned an almost empty page, against 5% elsewhere, because those sites build the page in the browser and the study reads the page as the server sends it.
What the price leaves out
Each price is the standard adult ticket a museum listed on October 10, 2026, at the foreign visitor's rate. Special exhibitions, combination passes, online discounts and evening rates are not included. A generated itinerary lists an entry price and opening hours for each stop.
How the prices were gathered
The study started from 3,262 museums. On October 10, 2026, a crawler fetched each museum's own website programmatically. AI inference then picked out the standard adult price, taking the foreign visitor's rate where locals and visitors pay differently. A price was kept only when the page line holding it was recorded and the amount appeared on that line. Child, group, concession, offer and "from" prices, gift-shop items, and free entry limited to one day or one group were refused.
That gave prices for 1,086 museums in 84 countries: 939 paid and 147 free. Every local price was converted to US dollars at the rates ExchangeRate-API published on October 12, 2026 (00:02 UTC), one snapshot for all 54 currencies. Figures are medians, except the country chart of locals and visitors, which shows averages.
Every page was archived as the text the crawler fetched, with the cited line. No price is an estimate, and prices from open databases were left out because they carry no date.
A hand check of 58 random museums against their archived pages found 55 prices right, 95%. Known misreads stay in the data rather than being edited by hand. The Victoria Memorial carries the rate for nationals of neighboring South Asian countries instead of the foreign rate. The Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle reads as free from a line about caregivers, so the planner chart leaves it out.
The planner chart covers the 107 paid museums that have both a published itinerary estimate and a price here. The other 2,176 museums have no price, and the study estimated none of them:
| Why there is no price | Museums |
|---|---|
| No website on file | 678 |
| The site gave no clear standard adult price | 666 |
| An answer failed a check against the page | 346 |
| The site blocks automated reading | 208 |
| The site could not be confirmed as the museum's own | 115 |
| Free per an open map tag only, with no page to cite | 84 |
| The site could not be reached | 79 |
| Total without a price | 2,176 |
Download the data
The full dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0, with credit to MonkeyEatingMango and a link to this page.
- Museum prices, CSV: 1,086 museums, each with its price, the page it came from and the line it was read from
- Museums without a price, CSV: 2,176 museums and the reason each has no price
- Column guide
Related reading
- Trip Cost Index 2026: AI-modeled cost per day by country, from generated itineraries
- 43% of AI-planned days carry a fault: where closed museums show up in generated plans
- How to plan the perfect trip: the planning sequence, with the budget step this data feeds
Last updated October 2026.
How to cite
“The median adult museum ticket for a foreign visitor is $12 across 939 paid museums in 80 countries, read from each museum's own website in October 2026.” with a link to monkeyeatingmango.com/research/museum-ticket-prices-by-country/. Data and charts are licensed CC BY 4.0: free to republish with attribution.
Written by Shobhit Shrivastava · Founder
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