Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Food at home Spending
How much American households spend on food at home - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- Annual average (2024)
- $6,224
- Share of spending
- 7.9%
- Change vs 2023
- +2.8%
- Change vs 2020
- +25.9%
Spending Insight: Food at home
American households spent an average of $6,224 on food at home in 2024, representing 7.9% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was +2.8% (from $6,053 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, food at home spending has risen by 25.9% (from $4,942 to $6,224), broadly in line with the roughly 21% cumulative inflation over 2020–2024, so the real-terms change was modest. The category breaks into 5 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic, drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.
Income is strongly associated with food at home spending: the top income quintile spends $9,336/year versus $3,843 for the lowest quintile, a 2.4x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($7,165/year) while the South spends the least ($5,502/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)
Food at home spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,224 |
| 2023 | $6,053 |
| 2022 | $5,703 |
| 2021 | $5,259 |
| 2020 | $4,942 |
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.
Subcategories
How the $6,224 food at home total divides across subcategories (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024).
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Cereals and bakery products | $779 |
| Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs | $1,414 |
| Dairy products | $631 |
| Fruits and vegetables | $953 |
| Other food at home | $2,447 |
By Income Level (2024)
How food at home spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $3,843 |
| Second 20% | $4,952 |
| Middle 20% | $5,820 |
| Fourth 20% | $7,162 |
| Highest 20% | $9,336 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in food at home spending
By Age Group (2024)
How food at home spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $3,395 |
| 2 People | $7,439 |
| 3 People | $6,088 |
| 4 People | $7,597 |
| 5 or More | $8,697 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $6,910 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $7,534 |
| Renter | $5,910 |
What to do with this data
The average U.S. household spends $6,224 a year on food at home - here's how to put that in context.
- Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
- See how food at home 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 food at home? ▼
Is food at home spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect food at home spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on food at home? ▼
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Spending Guides (show related guides)
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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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Free to reuse, including commercially, under CC0 (the underlying BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey data is public domain). A link back is appreciated.
