How Much Does A Mega Millions Ticket Cost?

Last Updated on March 3, 2025
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

With jackpots frequently surpassing $500 million, Mega Millions is one of the biggest and most popular lottery games in the United States. But before you play, it’s important to understand how much a Mega Millions ticket costs. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down Mega Millions pricing, add-on options, fees, and everything else you need to know about the total cost of playing.

We’ll analyze the standard quick pick price, extra charges for features like the Megaplier, state-by-state variations, and hidden expenses that impact your total lottery budget. With clear examples and expert advice, players can better understand the complete costs of participating in Mega Millions drawings on both a small and large scale.

How Much Does A Mega Millions Ticket Cost?

Every Mega Millions ticket costs $2 regardless of where you buy it or the size of the jackpot. Here’s what’s included with a standard $2 quick pick or manual ticket:

• 5 main numbers from 1 to 70 that you select manually or have randomly quick picked.
• 1 Mega Ball number from 1 to 25 that’s drawn separately.
• A chance to win prizes from $2 up to the full jackpot amount.
• Tickets for the next available drawing after purchase.

So, every $2 ticket includes the same essential elements. The ticket price does not change based on jackpot size or your chosen numbers.

Currently, a Mega Millions ticket costs $2 per play, with the option to add the Megaplier for an additional $1 in most states, as noted by Mega Millions. However, starting in April 2025, the price of a Mega Millions ticket will more than double to $5, as announced by lottery officials and reported by CNN and VICE. This increase aims to enhance the game by offering improved odds to win and larger jackpots more frequently.

On Spectrum News, it’s noted that the upcoming price change will include a built-in multiplier on every ticket, multiplying non-jackpot wins by up to 10 times. This means that players could win up to $10 million on certain tickets. Additionally, there will be no “breakeven prizes,” ensuring that every winning ticket yields a payout exceeding the $5 ticket cost.

The FOX 26 Houston article highlights that the price increase coincides with other enhancements, including larger starting jackpots and faster-growing jackpots. These changes are intended to make the game more appealing to both existing and new players.

Lastly, Fortune mentions that the ticket price increase is part of a broader effort to improve the game’s appeal and payouts. With the new pricing structure, Mega Millions aims to create more frequent billion-dollar jackpots, further increasing the excitement and potential rewards for players.

The Megaplier Add-On

While the base price stays at $2, you can add the Megaplier option for $1 more per Mega Millions ticket. Here’s how it works:

• On each drawing date, a random Megaplier number of either 2, 3, 4 or 5 is selected.
• If you match enough numbers to win a secondary prize below the jackpot, that prize is multiplied by the Megaplier number drawn that evening.
• So, a $1 million prize would become $2 million with a 2X Megaplier or up to $5 million with the maximum 5X multiple.

The one catch is that the Megaplier multiplier does not impact the jackpot, only lower tier winnings. But for $1 extra per play, the opportunity for exponentially bigger prizes makes it a popular add-on.

Where To Purchase Tickets

Mega Millions tickets can be purchased in person at over 50,000 authorized retailers across 45 participating states, including grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores and more. But most lottery jurisdictions also provide additional ways to buy with potential impacts on pricing:

• Many state lotteries now sell tickets online or via mobile apps for the same $2 base price, but sometimes add small convenience fees around $0.50-$1 per ticket depending on features and bundles.
• Third-party courier services allow players to buy tickets online for in-person delivery in eligible states, but often charge hefty per-ticket fees making them less economical.
• State lottery subscription plans enable multi-draw bulk ticket purchases at discounted rates if prepaying for 3, 6 or even 52 draws at once.
• Lottery pools or syndicates offer group ticket purchases where 10 people might split $100 worth of tickets at lower $10 out-of-pocket costs per person.

In-person cash purchases remain the cheapest way to buy, but modern options provide greater flexibility for players who don’t mind small added costs.

You might also like our articles on the cost of a slot machine, playing bingo, or getting lottery tickets.

State-by-State Variations

The baseline $2 Mega Millions ticket price holds constant across all participating U.S. jurisdictions. But some minor location-based differences related to fees and policies can lead to slight variances:

• A couple state lotteries add extra small administrative fees to certain online or phone ticket orders.
• State tax withholding requirements affecting claimed prizes over $600 can impact winnings in a handful of jurisdictions.
• Mega Millions subscriptions and bundle pricing allow for bulk purchase discounts, but involve larger upfront costs.
• A few states prohibit the $1 Megaplier add-on option, limiting boosting opportunities.

But in the vast majority of locations, the basic cost structure holds at $2 per ticket and $3 with Megaplier consistently. So significant geographic price deviations are rare across Mega Millions territory.

Payment Methods and Policies

Given lottery regulations, Mega Millions tickets can be bought with:

• Cash: The in-person default allowing anonymous purchases.
• Debit cards: Accepted at most retailers and major online/app platforms with nominal fees.
• Credit cards: Some states block credit card ticket purchases to limit debt financing of games.
• Prepaid debit cards: Offer budgeting control by pre-allocating lottery funds.
• Online intermediaries: Third parties like Jackpocket facilitate credit/debit ticket buying for service fees.
• PayPal: Available for buying tickets on certain state lottery sites.

While credit card acceptance is mixed, most players can use a cash, debit or prepaid method for simplest purchasing at base prices. Convenience options do exist with minor fees attached in many places.

Total Cost of Playing Regularly

Looking at bulk purchase amounts and regular play sheds light on how Mega Millions ticket costs add up beyond individual quick pick prices:

• For players buying just one ticket per drawing, costs tally to $104 annually based on two weekly drawings at $2 each.
• Purchasing five standard $2 tickets per drawing racks up $520 over a year.
• A Megaplier $1 add-on across those five tickets per draw brings the yearly total to $780.
• Some state subscription plans offer a minor discount for 104 automatic draws annually at $195.
• Shared work or friend lottery pools with 10 people can further drop costs by distributing 100 combined tickets across members.

Regular Mega Millions players should budget appropriately and take advantage of any bulk discounts available in their state.

Taxes and Other Hidden Costs

Beyond upfront ticket purchase prices, winners also face tax considerations that impact net prizes:

• For prizes above $5,000, the IRS withholds 24% in federal taxes off the headline amount. State taxes also apply.
• Choosing the lump sum payment reduces winnings by approximately 50% compared to the 30 annual annuity installments. The cash value accounts for interest lost.
• Some states levy additional income taxes on prizes beyond the standard 24% federal withholding.
• If using a third-party ticket courier service, investigation and fraud prevention fees may be deducted from claimed jackpots.

So, both purchasing costs and backend prize deductions make the actual winnings significantly less than the advertised Mega Millions jackpots suggest.

Mega Millions vs Other Lottery Games

The $2 base price and $1 Megaplier upcharge for Mega Millions aligns with most other large national draw game options:

• Powerball – $2 quick pick with $1 Power Play add-on
• Cash4Life – $2 ticket with $1 CASH BONUS in some states
• Lotto America – $1 standard ticket, no multiplier option

State-run games show wider variation. Daily local draws range from $0.50 to $2, while scratch games have price points between $1 to $30. But Mega Millions pricing reflects the industry standard.

Expert Tips

To keep lottery spending controlled, our featured experts emphasize smart tactics like:

“Only play at a level you can afford comfortably and remain honest with yourself about odds vs. jackpot headlines.” – Lucas Cohen, Compulsive Gambling Counselor

“Take advantage of office or friend pools to distribute costs across multiple people for bigger group buying power.” – Stella McGuire, Lottery Analyst

“Set a weekly or monthly budget for lottery tickets and stick to it strictly, being sure to factor in add-ons.” – Drake Reilly, Financial Planner

Final Words

A standard Mega Millions ticket costs $2, while the Megaplier add-on runs $1 extra per play. Buying tickets in bulk, regularly, or via third parties can increase total lottery spending. While jackpots run in the hundreds of millions, players with realistic expectations around odds and true payouts after taxes can potentially justify Mega Millions as an affordable entertainment expense if budgeted properly. But playing responsibly based on individual financial means is always imperative.

Answers to Common Questions

Can a tourist buy a lottery ticket in US?

Yes, tourists can legally purchase lottery tickets while visiting the United States as long as they meet eligibility and ticketing requirements:

• Tourists must be 18 years or older to buy lottery tickets in the U.S.
• Tickets can be purchased from authorized retailers during a tourist’s stay as long as they are within the United States at the time of ticket sale and drawing.
• Tourists can collect lottery winnings as long as the prize is claimed within the required timeframe while they are still in the U.S.
• Federal and possibly state taxes will be withheld from any lottery prizes over $600 claimed by foreign visitors.

So while eligibility rules apply, properly purchasing and claiming lottery tickets as a tourist is allowed. Playing responsibly and budgeting properly are still essential.

How much does it cost to apply for American lottery?

There is no cost or application required to play the lottery in the United States. Major national games like Mega Millions and Powerball can be played by anyone that meets the basic eligibility requirements:

• You must be 18 years or older to purchase lottery tickets.
• Tickets can be bought online or at authorized retailers with no registration needed.
• The only cost is purchasing the lottery ticket(s) for drawings you want to enter.
• Mega Millions and Powerball tickets cost $2 per play without any mail-in applications or fees.

So anyone eligible can play on the spot anytime. The lottery ticket itself serves as the “application” with winners verified when claiming prizes. U.S. lotteries do not involve applying separately beyond simply purchasing entry tickets.

What does one MEGA equal to?

Unlike Powerball which uses power play to increase secondary prizes, Mega Millions utilizes the Megaplier option. Here is how the Megaplier works:

• The Megaplier costs an additional $1 per Mega Millions ticket to activate it.
• It randomly multiplies any non-jackpot prizes you win by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times.
• So, a $1 million prize would become $2 million if a 2X Megaplier is drawn. A 5X multiplier on that same prize would make it worth $5 million.
• The Megaplier number is chosen at random before each drawing.

So, while the name might be confusing, the Megaplier provides the chance to increase your lower-tier Mega Millions winnings by 2X to 5X by paying $1 extra per ticket. It does not impact the jackpot itself.