SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ – A recent viral video that mocks the cost of coming to the Jersey Shore had us thinking. Is it really as bad as the viral video claims when it comes to cost? The short and to-the-point video says what’s on everyone’s mind when they visit the Jersey Shore.
Why is everything so expensive?
Okay, real talk: the Jersey Shore has taken a beating in the court of public opinion. Thanks to reality TV and a few too many TikToks of seagulls stealing entire slices of pizza, it’s easy to reduce it to a chaotic, overpriced, sunburned mess. But does it really deserve the bad rap?
Let’s break it down—because yes, some of it is true… but there’s way more to the story than just boardwalk pizza and spray tans.
“The food is overpriced!” — Yeah, but also kind of iconic?
Sure, you might pay $18 for a lobster roll that looks suspiciously like it came from a freezer bag. But the Jersey Shore isn’t trying to be Napa Valley cuisine—it’s about fried Oreos at midnight, greasy boardwalk slices bigger than your face, and sausage-and-peppers so good they make you question your life choices. You’re not here for fine dining; you’re here for memories (and indigestion).
“It’s all rowdy teens!” — Okay, but weren’t we all once?
Yes, you will hear “WOOO!” echoing across the beach from packs of teenagers armed with Bluetooth speakers and Red Bull. But those teens? They’re living their best lives. And beyond the chaos, there are plenty of family-friendly spots like Spring Lake, Point Pleasant, and Ocean Grove where the vibe is less MTV and more HGTV.
Nothing’s free!” — This one’s kinda true, and it’s kind of annoying.
Beach tags. Crabbing licenses. Parking meters that only take quarters or your soul. The nickel-and-diming can feel like a scam wrapped in a beach towel. But a lot of that money does go to maintaining the beaches, staffing lifeguards, and making sure that broken boardwalk planks don’t eat your flip-flop. Still—Jersey, throw us a freebie once in a while?
The traffic is a nightmare!” — Yes. No argument.
Trying to get down the Parkway on a Friday at 4 PM? You might as well just live on the shoulder and start a roadside smoothie stand. But that’s summer in the Northeast for you—everyone’s trying to escape the city heat, and everyone’s stuck in the same 12-mile backup outside Toms River.
Parking tickets come faster than seagulls.
You think you’ve found a secret free spot? Think again. There’s already a meter reader there, and they’re writing your fine with the speed of a caffeinated hawk. It’s like a game of Monopoly—except the community chest always says “Pay $50.”
Beach badge checkers are intense.
They’re not just looking at your wrist—they’re scanning your soul. Forget your badge at home and you’ll be hit with a glare so sharp it could slice through SPF 100. But again, they’re just doing their job. And yes, we hate it too when we forget ours in the car and have to do the walk of shame barefoot across the hot sand.
Hotels cost as much as a small yacht.
Want to stay within walking distance of the beach? Be prepared to pay like you’re renting beachfront property on the Amalfi Coast. But with Airbnb creeping in and off-the-beaten-path motels still hanging on, there are more budget-friendly options… if you’re willing to go inland or bunk up with twelve cousins.
Ride tickets cost almost as much as airline tickets
Have you seen the price of some of these rides lately? They’re usually nothing more than pumped up carnival rides, but cost about as much as Hershey Park and other amusement parks when you add up the per-ride price. Of course, you can save some money and look for wristband deals.
So, does the Jersey Shore deserve its bad rep?
Kind of. But also, not really. It’s messy, expensive, loud, and chaotic—but it’s also magical, nostalgic, and deeply, unmistakably Jersey.
And once you’ve eaten a $10 funnel cake while watching the fireworks light up the Atlantic, you might forget that you’ll return home with a lot less money in your bank account than when you left.
But let’s face it, there are some free things to do at the shore. You can simply walk the boardwalk and people watch. There are a few free beaches. There’s always a free concert or free movie on the beach somewhere along the shore. If you search the internet, you’ll find free fishing and crabbing spots that don’t require your to buy badges. There’s plenty of open space and clean air to lose yourself.
So, it’s not all as bad as it seems.
