How Much Does Team Building Cost?
And is it worth it?
Two common questions we come across: “How much does team building cost?” and “is it actually worth it?”
Fair questions. And ones that deserve a straight answer — not a vague “it depends” and a brochure link.
So let’s get into it.
First, the numbers
Team building is most commonly priced one of two ways: per person, or as a flat fee (sometimes a blend of both). Every provider has their own model, but they all operate in the same ballpark.
Here’s a rough guide to what you can expect to spend:
- $30–$50 per person — entry-level experiences; short, self-facilitated, or virtual formats
- $50–$80 per person — mid-range; facilitated half-day experiences, app-based adventures
- $80–$150+ per person — premium; full-day events, city-wide experiences, immersive formats for large groups
For context, a standard escape room will run you $40–$50 per person for roughly an hour. When you compare that to a facilitated team building experience that runs two to three hours and is designed around your team’s culture goals — the value equation starts to shift.
Our recommendation: always break the budget down to a per-person figure. It focuses the decision on the right thing — how much of an experience do you want each person to have?
But cost is the wrong starting question
Here’s where we’d push back a little on the way this conversation usually goes.
Most people approach team building as a line item — something to spend as little on as possible while still ticking the “we did something for the team” box. We get it. Budgets are tight, and there’s real pressure to justify discretionary spend.
But the more useful question isn’t “how much does it cost?” — it’s “what does it cost us not to do it?”
The 2026 Gallup State of the Global Workplace report puts a number on that. Globally, only 20% of employees are actively engaged at work. In Australia and New Zealand, that figure sits at just 21%. The estimated cost of low engagement worldwide? $10 trillion USD annually in lost productivity.
That’s not a team building problem. That’s a culture problem. And team building — done with intention — is one of the most accessible tools for addressing it.
But this leads us to another question.
So, is it worth it?
Here’s the honest answer: it depends entirely on what you believe about culture.
As Neil Patel puts it: “Culture tells us what to do when the CEO isn’t in the room — which is, of course, most of the time.”
If you believe that a positive culture drives better business outcomes — more engagement, lower turnover, stronger collaboration — then investing in your people is a no-brainer.
If you don’t believe that, then no, team building probably isn’t worth it for you. And that’s okay. We’d rather you make that decision clearly than spend money on something you’re not bought in on.
But for those who do believe it, the Harvard Business Review defines company culture as something that “encompasses a variety of elements, including work environment, company mission, leadership style, values, ethics, expectations, and goals.”
Culture isn’t one thing. It’s the sum of every interaction, every decision, every moment where your people either feel seen — or don’t.
Team building, at its best, is a deliberate investment in those moments.
Culture and connection: the real ROI
We’ve spent over 14 years running team building experiences across Australia, and here’s what we’ve observed consistently: the teams that get the most out of it aren’t the ones who book the flashiest event. They’re the ones who treat it as part of a broader commitment to their people.
Employees who feel trusted, valued, and genuinely connected to the people they work with are more productive, more loyal, and more likely to go above and beyond. That’s not a soft claim — it’s backed by every major workplace study of the last decade.
The Gallup data also shows that manager disengagement has dropped 9 points since 2022 — a signal that leadership teams are starting to wake up to the connection between culture investment and performance. But there’s still a long way to go, particularly in ANZ where workplace stress sits at 49%.
Source: Gallup State of the Global Workplace 2026 Report. gallup.com
So when you’re weighing up whether to spend $60 per person on a half-day experience, try reframing it this way:
How much would you pay to make each employee 10% more engaged, more collaborative, and more likely to stay?
If the answer is more than $60, you already have your answer.
What we offer
At Banana Life, we work across a wide range of budgets — from 60-minute virtual experiences starting at $30 per person, through to full-day city-wide adventures and premium facilitated programs at $100+ per person.
We’re not just activity providers.
We’re culture and connection partners — and we’ll help you figure out what the right experience looks like for your team, your goals, and your budget.
Email us today to ask about helping you create a positive company culture. If you’re planning a team building event in Brisbane, we can help you map out the right experience and budget for your group size.
