Less than 1% of people worldwide will ever complete a marathon. Yet demand has never been higher – the 2026 London Marathon alone has attracted more than 1.1 million applicants.
For the people who do make it to the start line, the commitment isn’t just physical; the costs begin long before race day does. That’s why getting your current account ready can matter just as much as clocking up the miles.
From entry fees to trainers, we’ve taken a closer look at what runners really spend.
Our research explores:
The average entry cost of the biggest marathons in the UK
The average entry cost of the Abbott World Marathon Majors
We also surveyed 1,000 UK marathon runners to find out:
How much they spend on essentials like shoes, clothes and running gels
The biggest financial barriers to marathon running
The time they spend in training, and the lifestyle sacrifices they make
The real cost of running a marathon
The entry fee is just the start
Our research shows that in the UK, the biggest marathon expense is running gear. On average, runners spend £405 on this alone – from shoes and technical clothing, to smartwatches. Once you add the entry fee and training costs, the total average spend to run a UK marathon rises to £528. And for those aiming for an Abbott World Marathon Major, that figure climbs to £676.
While not the largest expense, the entry fee is the most essential cost of taking part.
The entry costs of UK marathons
Marathon entry prices vary across the UK:
The Manchester Marathon is the best value at £20
This is followed by the Isle of Wight Marathon (£27.80), then the Yorkshire and Richmond Marathons (£30)
The Belfast City Marathon in Northern Ireland is the most expensive overall, with entry costing £82, slightly higher than the London Marathon entry fee of £79.99.
That’s also before factoring in travel and accommodation, which can quickly push the total up. These costs are for UK residents and entry fees may vary for international participants.
The entry costs of marathons around the world
Entry fees for the Abbott World Marathon Majors rise sharply. New York’s the most expensive, while London represents the best value, costing nearly half as much as New York.
Based on entry fees, the least to most expensive are:
TSC London Marathon, UK: £79.99
Tokyo Marathon, Japan: £92.44
TSC Sydney Marathon, Australia: £143.56
BMW Berlin Marathon, Germany: £176.95
Bank of America Chicago Marathon, US: £182.69
Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, US: £182.69
TCS New York City Marathon: £230.19
Runners spend an average of £405 on essentials like clothes and shoes
Running gear costs quickly add up
Once you factor in the gear, costs really add up, with runners spending the following on marathon essentials:
Running shoes: £98
Accessories, physiotherapy and recovery equipment: £83
Clothes: £80
Smartwatches and fitness trackers: £64
Nutrition and energy gels: £47
Accessories like running belts and vests: £33
On average, these necessities add up to £405 annually. That means in the UK, the race entry fee accounts for less than 10% of the overall cost, rising to 25% for an Abbott Major.
Among paid options, running apps are the cheapest way to train
Before race day, the work (and spending) starts with training. We found that over half of runners in the UK (54%) have a gym membership, making this the most popular paid way to train, despite costing around £41 a month on average. For more thrifty runners, paid running apps are the cheapest option at around £11.12 a month. Running clubs cost about the same (£11.36), with the added bonus of company on long runs.
Personal trainers were the most expensive, with runners spending around £73 monthly for one-to-one support.
Runners spend up to 4.5 hours a week marathon training
Across the UK, runners typically spend between 3 and 4.5 hours a week training. Those in the West Midlands spend the least time training on average (3.28 hours per week), while Wales tops the list at 4.33 hours per week.
Social life is the biggest sacrifice when training
Across the UK, almost half of runners (45%) said marathon training had the biggest impact on their social life, with this peaking in Wales (59%). And those in the West Midlands (41%) and Greater London (33%) suffered most with sleep loss.
Looking at the data overall, the most common sacrifices runners make are:
Social life (45%)
Sleep (28%)
Holidays (22%)
Work focus (17%)
Dating and relationship time (15%)
Financial barriers of running a marathon
A third of runners say travel costs are the biggest barrier
Over a third (34%) say travel costs are the most expensive part of running a marathon followed by:
Accommodation (29%)
Entry fee (28%)
Training costs (25%)
Raising the necessary amount for charity (24%)
Equipment costs (23%)
75% of runners budget for marathon training
Although running a marathon can be expensive, 75% of runners plan by budgeting for their training. To help make costs easier to manage, it’s worth having a clear plan from the start. Dedicated marathon Savings Pots can help keep all those race-related expenses in one place, so you can focus on the miles ahead.
The upside: why running still costs less
51% choose running because it’s cheaper (or free!)
Despite the cost of entering a marathon, running is a cost-effective form of exercise. Over half (51%) say they prefer running to other forms of exercise because it’s cheaper, and a further 53% choose to run outside rather than pay for the gym. A third (33%) attend free running events like Parkrun, and 27% rely on free apps rather than paid plans.
And 16% make marathon training feel more affordable by buying second-hand running essentials.
The final mile
Marathon costs can vary depending on where you race and how you train, but smart choices can make a big difference. And with a Monzo current account, it’s easier to track spending, set money aside for race day, and stay on top of costs from your first mile to the finish line.
UK residents only. Individual product Ts&Cs apply.
Research methodology
The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 1,000 UK Respondents (aged 18+) who have run a marathon (incl. half marathons) this year or are signed up to do one in 2026. The data was collected between 15.01.2026 - 20.01.2026. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council. Data can be found linked here.
Prices are taken for 2026 dates from the Marathon organiser websites:
The average entry cost of the 31 biggest marathons in the UK with 1,000+ competitors.
The average entry cost of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series of seven of the world’s most prestigious marathons, held across major global cities.
Prices are the standard entry cost only (not including charity places etc.)
Average costs of running a marathon were calculated as follows:
UK: highest entry fee (82) + sum of average gear (405) + average gym membership price (41)
Abbott World Marathon Majors : highest entry fee (230) + sum of average gear (405) + average gym membership price (41)
Sources and research