The cost of cinema tickets in Australia is cripplingly high with consumers paying almost twice as much as movie-goers in the United States, according to a new survey.

Choice has reviewed ticket prices in four countries and found the average cost in Australian dollars of an adult ticket in Australia is $12.89, compared to $7.40 in the US, $8.85 in New Zealand and $8.98 in Britain.

Skip the popcorn ... Australian families are taking their own food to the movies to cut down on costs. Credit:Lee Besford

Multiplex cinemas and 3D films can ramp up prices and the Choice study said that if an Australian family of four visited a multiplex-style cinema they would be $67 poorer after paying $18 each for adult tickets and $15.50 for concessions. A family across the ditch in New Zealand would pay only $33 and a family in the US at a similar cinema would pay $38.40.

Throw in a few nibblies and there is not much change out of $100. The prices at the snack bar for most of the major cinema chains are extravagant compared with the same items at the local supermarket, with a 180 gram packet of jelly snakes costing $5.10 at one of the mainstream (Hoyts, Greater Union, Reading Cinemas) outlets compared to $2.49 in a supermarket.