Beef Spending

How much American households spend on beef — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$408
Share of total spending
0.5%
Change vs 2023
+32.0%
Change vs 2020
+37.8%

Spending Insight: Beef

American households spent an average of $408 on beef in 2024, representing 0.5% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 32.0% increase from 2023 ($309), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.

Since 2020, beef spending has risen by 37.8% (from $296 to $408), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.

Income is the strongest predictor of beef spending: the top income quintile spends $593/year versus $237 for the lowest quintile — a 2.5x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($490/year) while the South spends the least ($358/year). Use the cross-cuts below — by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure — to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.

Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Year Annual Amount
2024 $408
2023 $309
2022 $317
2021 $293
2020 $296

By Income Level (2024)

How beef spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $237
Second 20% $336
Middle 20% $382
Fourth 20% $492
Highest 20% $593

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in beef spending

Midwest
$399
0.5%
Northeast
$490
0.6%
South
$358
0.5%
West
$441
0.5%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How beef spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $405
35–44 $487
45–54 $504
55–64 $415
65–74 $377
75 and older $257
Under 25 $234

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $194
2 People $500
3 People $391
4 People $567
5 or More $551

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $451
Homeowner (no mortgage) $505
Renter $364

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on beef? ▼
The average American household spent $408 on beef in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.5% of total household spending.
Is beef spending increasing? ▼
Beef spending increased by 32% from 2023 to 2024 ($309 to $408). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +37.8%.
How does income affect beef spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $237/year on beef, while the highest quintile spends $593/year — a 2.5x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on beef? ▼
The Northeast region spends the most at $490/year, while the South region spends the least at $358/year on beef.
Which age group spends the most on beef? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on beef at $504/year.
Does household size affect beef spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $194/year on beef, while 4 People households spend $567/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Spending Guides

Average Household Budget
How the typical American household allocates spending
Housing Costs by Income
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
Food Spending Breakdown
Groceries vs dining out and who spends what
Healthcare Spending by Age
How medical costs rise across the lifecycle
Transportation Costs
Vehicle ownership, fuel, and transit spending

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Category
Food
$10,169/yr avg
Category
Alcoholic beverages
$643/yr avg
Category
Housing
$26,266/yr avg
Category
Apparel and services
$2,001/yr avg
Category
Transportation
$13,318/yr avg

Related Economic Data

Cost of Living by Metro → Fair Market Rents → Salary Data by Occupation → ZIP Code Demographics →
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.