Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Cellular phone service Spending
How much American households spend on cellular phone service - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- Annual average (2024)
- $1,359
- Share of spending
- 1.7%
- Change vs 2023
- +7.0%
- Change vs 2020
- +8.5%
Spending Insight: Cellular phone service
American households spent an average of $1,359 on cellular phone service in 2024, representing 1.7% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 7.0% increase from 2023 ($1,270), outpacing the roughly 3% general inflation in 2024 and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.
Since 2020, cellular phone service spending has risen by 8.5% (from $1,253 to $1,359), rising slower than the roughly 21% cumulative inflation over the same period, a decline in real, inflation-adjusted terms.
Income is strongly associated with cellular phone service spending: the top income quintile spends $1,935/year versus $720 for the lowest quintile, a 2.7x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($1,468/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($1,262/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)
Cellular phone service spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,359 |
| 2023 | $1,270 |
| 2022 | $1,284 |
| 2021 | $1,244 |
| 2020 | $1,253 |
How we calculate this: % of Total is this category's published spend divided by that year's total household spend. YoY Change is the percentage difference between a year's amount and the prior year's amount. Both are computed from the raw BLS figures, not re-estimated.
By Income Level (2024)
How cellular phone service spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $720 |
| Second 20% | $1,084 |
| Middle 20% | $1,376 |
| Fourth 20% | $1,678 |
| Highest 20% | $1,935 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in cellular phone service spending
By Age Group (2024)
How cellular phone service spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $733 |
| 2 People | $1,629 |
| 3 People | $1,335 |
| 4 People | $1,669 |
| 5 or More | $1,965 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $1,502 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $1,685 |
| Renter | $1,260 |
What to do with this data
The average U.S. household spends $1,359 a year on cellular phone service - here's how to put that in context.
- Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
- See how cellular phone service spending shifts across income levels, ages, and regions. By income
- Track this category in your private watchlist to revisit as the data updates. Save categories
Figures are national averages from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey; your own household may differ from these means.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on cellular phone service? ▼
Is cellular phone service spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect cellular phone service spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on cellular phone service? ▼
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Does household size affect cellular phone service spending? ▼
Spending Guides (show related guides)
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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.
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