Housing and transportation accounted for 50 percent of household spending in 2024

Total annual household expenditures in the United States averaged $78,535 in 2024, equivalent to an average of $6,545 per month. The two largest expenditures, for housing and transportation, accounted for over 50 percent of this total. Spending for housing averaged $26,266 per year ($2,189 per month), or 33.4 percent of total spending. Households spent an average of $13,318 ($1,110 per month), or 17.0 percent, on transportation.

Spending on food accounted for 12.9 percent of total household spending. Food expenditures averaged $10,169 per year ($847 per month). Within the food category, spending on food at home averaged $6,224, while spending on food away from home, which includes restaurant as well as delivery and takeout meals, was $3,945 per year.

Households allocated 12.5 percent of household expenditures for personal insurance and pensions, 7.9 percent for entertainment, and 2.0 percent for cash contributions (donated to religious organizations, charities, etc.).

Apparel and services (which includes clothing, footwear, and dry cleaning) accounted for 2.5 percent of household spending, while personal care products and services (such as cosmetics, skincare, hair care, oral hygiene, haircuts, and manicures) was 1.2 percent.

Among the major components of total expenditures, the only statistically significant increase from 2023 to 2024 was in housing. Average annual expenditures on housing increased 3.3 percent in 2024.

These data are from the Consumer Expenditure Surveys. To learn more, see “Consumer Expenditures — 2024.” Households are defined as consumer units, which consist of families, single persons living alone or sharing a household with others but who are financially independent, or two or more persons living together who share major expenses.