As the iconic Coachella Festival unfolds in Indio, California, fans are expressing their outrage over the sky-high prices of food and drinks, labeling them 'diabolical.' With more than 100,000 music lovers—and a slew of A-list celebrities like Taylor Swift and Jeff Bezos—in attendance, attendees are finding that enjoying the festival comes at a steep cost.

The 2025 lineup includes major acts like Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, Green Day, Post Malone, and Megan Thee Stallion, but revelers are questioning if the glitz and glam are worth the price tag. From car park chaos to sweltering temperatures, festival-goers are already stressed before learning about the exorbitant costs of food and drink.

On TikTok, Ruth Viveros, a festival attendee, voiced her frustrations during what she called 'day zero,' showcasing her pricey snack purchases. 'I’m starving, so let’s go get tacos,' she said, before revealing a $17 lemonade that was mostly ice. Once she received her tacos and nachos, she expressed her disbelief: '$102 worth of food, and let me tell you, it’s not good. The tortillas were freezing cold,' giving her meal a mere five out of ten.

Social media erupted with comments, with one user lamenting, 'Coachella seems like a miserable money trap that everyone falls for,' while another commented on the shocking cost of general admission tickets, stating, 'The fact that GENERAL ADMISSION is $600 and you still have to pay that much for average food is making me irrationally angry.'

In a dedicated Reddit thread, festival-goers shared their experiences of outrageous food prices, with items starting at $15 and meals costing between $20 and $30. One disgruntled attendee complained about paying $16 for a warm Heineken, stating, 'You pay $16 for a beer, only to find out it’s basically room temperature. The worst!'

Despite the high costs, the official Coachella website boasts a diverse food program featuring exciting restaurants and popular staples designed to please any palate. Yet, as many attendees are discovering, that promise comes with a hefty price.

With the festival still ongoing, it remains to be seen if these food prices will lead to larger conversations about festival costs and overall attendee experience.