The Rising Cost of Tradition: Día de Muertos & Halloween Spending Surge in 2026

Día de Muertos is almost here, and as families put together their ofrendas, a troubling trend has emerged: celebrating the holiday is getting more expensive every year. 

A recent market survey from Mexico’s Alianza Nacional de Pequeños Comerciantes estimates that assembling a traditional ofrenda in Mexico will cost approximately 2,480 Mexican pesos this year. The estimate includes flowers, candles, food, beverages, and decorations. That is up 16.15% from 2025. Meanwhile, buying pan de muerto alone will cost about 19% more than last year.

Things don’t get better if you want to throw a Halloween party. One for ten people will probably cost you around 6,750 Mexican pesos, also up 16% from last year. And in the US, Halloween spending is expected to reach $13.5 billion. However, a study from the National Retail Federation shows that people are still thinking about where to get the best value for their money: 31% of people say they will compare shop, 26% will look for coupons or sales, and another 34% will focus on items they can reuse in future years or repurpose for other occasions.

Affordability matters as families balance Día de Muertos and Halloween, including preparing an ofrenda and buying costumes and food, while also keeping up with school activities that often intensify around the holidays. How do we preserve traditions while managing real budgets? Many families will turn to cooking, homemade decorations, and old pictures for ofrendas instead of more expensive alternatives.

In the end, Día de Muertos honors the memories of the loved ones we celebrate, and Halloween can be just as fun with a handmade costume you make with your kids. As the real cost of celebrating different holidays rises, remember what they’re about: the real meaning of all these days has nothing to do with how much money we spend.