Washington D.C. (AHN) -- The chance to personally witness the inauguration rites for America's 44th and first black president carries with it a large price tag.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Presidential Inaugural Committee is selling four-ticket packages at $50,000 which includes tickets to the swearing-in ceremonies, the inaugural parade, one of the 10 official inaugural balls and invitations to other events.

For Americans who could not afford the packages or prefer to go on their own, expenses to consider include $700 for a round-trip airfare and accommodations which could start at $800 a night for a hotel room up to $2,000 a night for two-bedroom apartments near Howard University.

There are 240,000 tickets distributed through the Presidential Inaugural Committee and congressional offices. While the tickets are supposed to be free, the tickets definitely are not beyond commerce. The committee is selling 8,700 bleacher seats to the inaugural parade.

Unofficial inaugural balls have prices ranging from $75 for the People's Inaugural Ball to $500 for the Green Inaugural Ball.

The inauguration of the presidency of Barack Obama on Jan. 20 is also expected to invite businessmen to profit for the ceremony. Included in the list are coin makers who advertise the issuance of commemorative coins which sells for up to $9.95 for a $1 coin. In an advisory last month, the U.S. Mint reminded Americans it is the only official issuer of commemorative coins, although alternating existing issues with stickers, plating or color is not illegal if the issuing firm does not pass it off as currency or use it in advertising, said Mint spokesman Michael White.

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