Fees and admissions Spending
How much American households spend on fees and admissions — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Fees and admissions
American households spent an average of $935 on fees and admissions in 2024, representing 1.2% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was -1.7% (from $951 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, fees and admissions spending has risen by 120% (from $425 to $935), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.
Income is the strongest predictor of fees and admissions spending: the top income quintile spends $2,546/year versus $197 for the lowest quintile — a 12.9x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($1,304/year) while the South spends the least ($709/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 | $935 |
| 2023 | $951 |
| 2022 | $833 |
| 2021 | $654 |
| 2020 | $425 |
By Income Level (2024)
How fees and admissions spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $197 |
| Second 20% | $324 |
| Middle 20% | $545 |
| Fourth 20% | $1,054 |
| Highest 20% | $2,546 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in fees and admissions spending
By Age Group (2024)
How fees and admissions spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $434 |
| 2 People | $1,150 |
| 3 People | $933 |
| 4 People | $982 |
| 5 or More | $1,801 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $1,189 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $1,400 |
| Renter | $908 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Spending Guides
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Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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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.
