Drugs Spending

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

Annual average (2024)
$658
Share of total spending
0.8%
Change vs 2023
+11.3%
Change vs 2020
+38.2%

Spending Insight: Drugs

American households spent an average of $658 on drugs in 2024, representing 0.8% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 11.3% increase from 2023 ($591), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.

Since 2020, drugs spending has risen by 38.2% (from $476 to $658), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.

Income is the strongest predictor of drugs spending: the top income quintile spends $957/year versus $416 for the lowest quintile — a 2.3x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($703/year) while the South spends the least ($629/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 $658
2023 $591
2022 $615
2021 $498
2020 $476

By Income Level (2024)

How drugs spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $416
Second 20% $644
Middle 20% $572
Fourth 20% $700
Highest 20% $957

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in drugs spending

Midwest
$662
0.9%
Northeast
$661
0.8%
South
$629
0.9%
West
$703
0.8%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How drugs spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $284
35–44 $559
45–54 $698
55–64 $794
65–74 $855
75 and older $959
Under 25 $169

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $457
2 People $744
3 People $810
4 People $681
5 or More $634

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $804
Homeowner (no mortgage) $762
Renter $865

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on drugs? ▼
The average American household spent $658 on drugs in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.8% of total household spending.
Is drugs spending increasing? ▼
Drugs spending increased by 11.3% from 2023 to 2024 ($591 to $658). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +38.2%.
How does income affect drugs spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $416/year on drugs, while the highest quintile spends $957/year — a 2.3x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on drugs? ▼
The West region spends the most at $703/year, while the South region spends the least at $629/year on drugs.
Which age group spends the most on drugs? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 75 and older age group spend the most on drugs at $959/year.
Does household size affect drugs spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $457/year on drugs, while 3 People households spend $810/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.