Cosplay has experienced a boom in the past few decades, becoming a huge part of pop culture fandom. Starting in Japan, the subculture can be seen at events and conventions across the globe. People who cosplay know how expensive it can get! Our Guest Geek contributor has rounded up some of the most expensive cosplays created.

*This guest post was written in 2018, so there are probably more expensive cosplays by now, but the list still has some impressive builds!

Cosplay conventions have them all, from low-cost costumes to expensive and intricately designed suits. The price doesn’t necessarily reflect a build’s quality, because it all boils down to the talent of the artist who’s making the costume.

However, there are some cosplays out there with a hefty price tag that truly capture some of the most popular characters in fiction.

By the way, if you’re thinking about attending a convention with the kids, check out this book on Amazon:

Here are Some of the Most Expensive Cosplays Ever Created:

Steampunk Iron Man

Cost to make: $4,000

Image credit: Geeky Tyrant

This Steampunk version of Iron Man first graced the halls of comic cons in 2010. It’s easy to see why it won the Marvel Costume Contest at New York Comic Con. The fusion of steampunk and Iron Man is nothing short of inspiring, and truly a thing of beauty. The costume was built by Matt Silva of Penny Dreadful Productions.

Trivia: What’s fascinating about this suit is that it was recycled from a costume used in Heartless: The Story of the Tin Man – a short film that featured the non-canon back story of the Wizard of Oz’s Tin Man. The suit underwent a lot of modifications that cost around $4,000 to become a highly detailed steampunk version of Iron Man.

Metal Gear REX

Cost to make: $7,000

Image Credit: DeviantArt

Metal Gear REX is one of the mechas (robots with a pilot) used by villains to defeat Solid Snake — the protagonist of the critically acclaimed Konami game Metal Gear Solid. The outfit is quite possibly the most accurate cosplay ever built in honor of the mecha. According to the suit’s creator, Ruby Taki, it took her several trucks, 3 people, and at least 8 months to move and assemble the parts.

It isn’t easy to move around in the costume either. In order to maneuver it, the wearer needs to stand on two-foot stilts and bear the weight of the heavy metal.

The creator speaks: Taki states that one of the best compliments she received for her Metal Gear REX was an online comment that said, “It’s CGI; it’s not real.” She also finds it fun when people don’t realize that there’s actually a person inside the costume.

Reinhardt

Cost to make: $30,000

Image credit: Insider

This is quite possibly the most expensive costume ever constructed in the history of cosplays. At Comic Con 2018, a Reinhardt cosplay, which stands at 9 1/2 feet tall and weighs around 100 pounds, graced the event and wowed the fans of the videogame Overwatch.

The costume was made by Thomas DePetrillo, a veteran costume maker who made impressive Hulk Buster and Bumblebee cosplays for previous Comic Cons.

Reinhardt Wilhelm is a prominent character in the popular video game “Overwatch,” developed by Blizzard Entertainment. He is a former soldier from Germany and one of the original members of Overwatch, a peacekeeping task force created to combat the Omnic Crisis and protect humanity from various global threats.

The Cost of Cosplay

The world of cosplay continues to amaze and inspire with its incredible creations, as demonstrated by the most expensive cosplays ever made.

These works of art showcase the immense dedication and craftsmanship of the artists behind them. While the price tags may be substantial, it is the passion and creativity of the cosplay community that truly makes each costume remarkable.

Whether low-cost or high-end, cosplays reflect the love and devotion fans have for their favorite characters, contributing to the vibrancy of pop culture and the joy of fandom. As cosplay enthusiasts around the world continue to push the boundaries of creativity, the future holds even more extraordinary and awe-inspiring costumes, further solidifying the enduring impact of this captivating subculture.

PS – If you are looking to create a cosplay and not break the bank, check out Candy’s Amazon Finds page, where she posts shoppable cosplay pics, showing everything that went into creating the look.