Key takeaway: A Cubs ticket averaged $116.68 in 2026, the highest in baseball, and Chicago adds a 12% amusement tax at large venues, but Lincoln Park Zoo is free and Chicago residents pay $21 at the Field Museum, $20 at the Art Institute and $19.95 at Shedd.
Chicago has world-class museums, five major pro teams and a free lakefront. Here’s what going out costs, including the taxes that show up at checkout, and how to get the resident discounts.
Taxes that raise Chicago entertainment costs
| What you buy | Tax |
|---|---|
| Tickets at large venues | 12%: the city’s 9% amusement tax plus Cook County’s 3% |
| Restaurant meals | About 11%, or 12% in the downtown McCormick Place district |
| Streaming services | 10.25% |
Source: City of Chicago amusement tax; our Chicago consumer taxes guide; restaurant total is our calculation from the 10.5% sales tax, the city restaurant tax of 0.5% and the McCormick Place district tax of 1%.
Sports
- Cubs: average ticket $116.68 in 2026, the highest in Major League Baseball; a family of four’s outing averaged $570.16 (Action Network).
- White Sox: a family of four’s outing averaged $255.01 (Action Network).
- Bears: 2026 season ticket prices rose an average of 13.5% (Shaw Local).
Museums
| Museum | Regular adult | Chicago residents | Free options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Museum | From $30 | $21 | Free for Illinois residents every Wednesday |
| Art Institute of Chicago | $32 | $20 ($27 for Illinois residents) | Children under 14 free; Illinois residents free on Third Thursdays, 5 to 8pm |
| Shedd Aquarium | Varies by date | $19.95 | Free days and nights for Illinois residents on set dates |
| Griffin Museum of Science and Industry | Varies | $9 off adult tickets | Illinois free days announced each year |
| Obama Presidential Center museum | $30 | $26 for Illinois residents | Free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays |
Source: Field Museum; Art Institute; Shedd Aquarium; Griffin MSI; Obama Foundation. Checked October 2026.
Free
- Lincoln Park Zoo: admission is free; parking runs $35 to $45 a day (Lincoln Park Zoo).
- Garfield Park Conservatory: free for Chicago residents with ID; $10 for non-resident adults (Garfield Park Conservatory).
- Beaches: admission to Chicago’s beaches is free (Chicago Park District).
- Getting there: a Divvy day pass is $19.90 (Divvy), or use your $75 CTA pass.
Raising kids here? See our cost of raising a kid in Chicago guide for more free days and programs.
Sources
- City of Chicago: amusement tax
- City of Chicago: restaurant tax
- Illinois Department of Revenue: MPEA tax
- Action Network: MLB family costs 2026
- Shaw Local: Bears ticket prices
- Field Museum: tickets
- Art Institute: visit
- Shedd Aquarium: plan a visit
- Griffin MSI: pricing
- Obama Foundation: tickets
- Lincoln Park Zoo: visit
- Garfield Park Conservatory: visit
- Chicago Park District: beaches
- Divvy pricing