Food at home Spending
How much American households spend on food at home — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
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), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden. 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 the strongest predictor of 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)
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,224 |
| 2023 | $6,053 |
| 2022 | $5,703 |
| 2021 | $5,259 |
| 2020 | $4,942 |
Subcategories
| 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 |
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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Does household size affect food at home spending? ▼
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.
