Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (interactive chart in the link)
| Category | Average Annual Spending | Share of Total Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $26,266 | 33.4% |
| Transportation | $13,318 | 17.0% |
| Food | $10,169 | 12.9% |
| Personal Insurance & Pensions | $9,797 | 12.5% |
| Healthcare | $6,197 | 7.9% |
| Entertainment | $3,609 | 4.6% |
| Cash Contributions | $2,292 | 2.9% |
| Apparel and Services | $2,001 | 2.5% |
| Education | $1,569 | 2.0% |
| Miscellaneous | $1,218 | 1.6% |
| Personal Care Products & Services | $978 | 1.2% |
| Alcoholic Beverages | $643 | 0.8% |
| Tobacco Products & Smoking Supplies | $352 | 0.4% |
| Reading | $125 | 0.2% |
| Total Average Expenditures | $78,535 | 100.0% |
The Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) collected census data that shows 2024 spending on housing and transportation makes up about half of total expenditures across all American households.
According to those statistics, expenditures from U.S. households totalled $78,535 with average spending on housing being $26,266 (33.4% of total outlays). Housing costs include all rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, and maintaining a home in the long run.
Transportation is the second largest amount of annual expense across all U.S. households (17% of total expenditure equals $13,318 annually). Transportation includes any vehicle purchased, fuel, automobile insurance policies, and any and all auto repairs (such as maintenance, etc.), including public transportation.
The total amount spent on housing and transportation constitutes the two largest categories of spending; expenditures for the remaining categories amount to approximately 50% of household expenditures.
Costs for the remaining categories are primarily food (12.9%), personal insurance and pensions (12.5%), healthcare (7.9%) and entertainment (4.6%). Expenditures across the remaining categories are generally smaller percentages of total spending (e.g., apparel, education, personal care, etc.)
This spending pattern is common among developed countries. Generally, housing costs are high due to expensive land and strong demand in urban centres for housing, and transportation costs (owning vehicles, commuting and/or driving for fuel) are generally higher than the other categories of household expenses.
References:
US Bureau of Labour Statistics
Latest Consumer expenditures
