Badge
Badge type
Additional attendees (same badge type)
Children's wristbands (age 10 & under — free)
Badges: $164
Hotel
Nightly rate (split if sharing)
Nights
Hotel: $800
Travel
Travel mode
Airfare / bus / train total ($)
Gas estimate ($)
Parking (days × rate)
Travel: $60
Food & Drink
Avg daily food budget per person ($)
Convention days attending
Food: $200
Events & Tickets
Pre-registered event tickets ($)
Generic tickets (each $4, how many?)
Events: $64
Shopping Budget
Exhibit Hall / Artist Alley budget ($)
Emergency / miscellaneous buffer ($)
Shopping: $200
Estimated Total
$1,228
Tip: Split hotel costs — 4 people in one room at $200/night = $50/night each.
Understanding the Numbers
The biggest variable is always hotel. A skywalk-connected downtown Indianapolis hotel for 4 nights runs $800–1,000 before tax. Share the room — most Gen Con hotels allow 4 guests — and that drops to $200–250 per person, dramatically changing the math. See the convention hotel strategy guide for the full approach.
The second biggest trap is the Exhibit Hall budget. Set it before you walk in. Carry that amount in cash and leave your card in the hotel. The floor is optimized to exceed whatever you planned to spend. The full convention budget guide covers all the strategies.