Food away from home Spending

How much American households spend on food away from home — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$3,945
Share of total spending
5.0%
Change vs 2023
+0.3%
Change vs 2020
+66.1%

Spending Insight: Food away from home

American households spent an average of $3,945 on food away from home in 2024, representing 5.0% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was +0.3% (from $3,933 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.

Since 2020, food away from home spending has risen by 66.1% (from $2,375 to $3,945), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.

Income is the strongest predictor of food away from home spending: the top income quintile spends $7,652/year versus $1,655 for the lowest quintile — a 4.6x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($4,634/year) while the South spends the least ($3,501/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 $3,945
2023 $3,933
2022 $3,639
2021 $3,030
2020 $2,375

By Income Level (2024)

How food away from home spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $1,655
Second 20% $2,448
Middle 20% $3,277
Fourth 20% $4,682
Highest 20% $7,652

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in food away from home spending

Midwest
$3,831
5.1%
Northeast
$4,207
5.0%
South
$3,501
5.0%
West
$4,634
5.0%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How food away from home spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $3,918
35–44 $5,049
45–54 $5,069
55–64 $4,040
65–74 $2,841
75 and older $2,472
Under 25 $3,025

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $2,249
2 People $4,674
3 People $4,070
4 People $4,609
5 or More $5,847

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $4,466
Homeowner (no mortgage) $5,012
Renter $3,618

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on food away from home? ▼
The average American household spent $3,945 on food away from home in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 5.0% of total household spending.
Is food away from home spending increasing? ▼
Food away from home spending increased by 0.3% from 2023 to 2024 ($3,933 to $3,945). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +66.1%.
How does income affect food away from home spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $1,655/year on food away from home, while the highest quintile spends $7,652/year — a 4.6x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on food away from home? ▼
The West region spends the most at $4,634/year, while the South region spends the least at $3,501/year on food away from home.
Which age group spends the most on food away from home? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on food away from home at $5,069/year.
Does household size affect food away from home spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $2,249/year on food away from home, while 5 or More households spend $5,847/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.