Guides for café owners

How to price gaming café sessions

Updated 8 October 2026

Price too low and you work for nothing; too high and the stations sit empty. There is no single right number, but there is a sensible way to find yours. This guide gives the method, not a price, because your rent, equipment and city are your own.

Start from your costs

List what each setup costs you per month: rent share, power, internet, staff, repairs, and the cost of the equipment spread over its life. Divide by the hours you realistically expect it to be used, not the hours you are open.

Price each setup separately

A PS5, an Xbox, a high-end gaming PC and a racing simulator cost different amounts to run and attract different players. Set one hourly price per system.

Think about groups

If you price per player, decide how the rate changes with group size and session length. Groups fill stations on busy evenings; a small discount for longer sessions can lift how many hours you sell.

Use quiet hours

If afternoons are empty, a lower price then costs you little and may bring students and shift workers. Keep evenings and weekends at your normal rate if they already fill.

Check the neighbours

See what nearby cafés charge for a comparable setup. Compare like for like: the machine, the screen, the comfort. Players compare the “from” price first.

Review every month

Look at which hours and setups fill and which do not, then adjust one thing at a time. In Nitro Console Business you can change your prices whenever you need to.