Oktoberfest - Wiesnmaß cracks the 15-euro mark for the first time
The Mass beer at Oktoberfest costs between 13.60 and 15.30 Euro this year. On average, the price for the festival beer has increased by 3.9%, surpassing the 15 Euro mark for the first time, as Munich announced on a Wednesday.
In the previous year, the price range for a liter of festival beer was between 12.60 and 14.90 Euro. As organizer of the Oktoberfest, the city checks if the prices calculated by the tavern keepers are reasonable. They compare these prices with those of the large catering businesses in Munich, which currently charge between 7.70 and 12.80 Euro per liter of export.
Beer prices at Oktoberfest have doubled since 2004
However, there are additional costs for Wiesn Bier Extra. It is brewed specifically for the festival and has an alcohol content of approximately 6%. The tavern keepers also have significant expenses for setting up and dismantling the tents for the two weeks, and there is live music. Since 2004, beer prices at the Wiesn have approximately doubled. Before that, a Mass still cost between 6.70 Euro and 7.10 Euro.
Non-alcoholic beverages at Oktoberfest will also be more expensive this year: A liter of table water costs an average of 10.48 Euro (2023: 10.04 Euro), Spezi 12.23 Euro (11.65 Euro), and Limonade 11.67 Euro (11.17 Euro).
Free water from the fountain
The good news: Those who want to save money and quench their thirst for free can use the drinking water fountains. Ten of them are available on the Theresienwiese this year, twice as many as last year.
The setup of the large festival tents began on a Monday. On September 21st, it will once again be "Ozapft is!" until October 6th. Six million visitors are expected. In the South part of the festival grounds, the Oide Wiesn with historical amusement rides and young folk music is taking place this year.
In the previous year, 7.2 million guests came, the most since decades. They consumed 6.5 million liters of beer. The number of chickens and oxen consumed was not disclosed. They too could cost significantly more this year: The federal government raised the value-added tax on food in the catering industry from 7 to 19% in January, as it was before the Corona pandemic.
At Oktoberfest, visitors can enjoy tapping their steins filled with Munich's famed beer, now costing between 13.60 and 15.30 Euro for a Mass. Interestingly, the price increase of festival beer has surpassed 15 Euro for the first time this year, following a 3.9% rise. (Drinks, Tapping, Munich, Oktoberfest, Beer)
With beer prices at Oktoberfest approximately doubling since 2004, thrifty visitors can opt for free water from the Ten available drinking water fountains aboard the Theresienwiese. (Drinks, Oktoberfest, Beer)
