Other food at home Spending
How much American households spend on other food at home — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Other food at home
American households spent an average of $2,447 on other food at home in 2024, representing 3.1% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was -0.9% (from $2,469 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, other food at home spending has risen by 37.8% (from $1,776 to $2,447), 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 other food at home spending: the top income quintile spends $3,700/year versus $1,489 for the lowest quintile — a 2.5x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($2,804/year) while the South spends the least ($2,166/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 | $2,447 |
| 2023 | $2,469 |
| 2022 | $2,144 |
| 2021 | $1,947 |
| 2020 | $1,776 |
Subcategories
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Sugar and other sweets | $230 |
| Fats and oils | $125 |
| Miscellaneous foods | $1,284 |
| Nonalcoholic beverages | $714 |
| Food prepared by consumer unit on out of town trips | $94 |
By Income Level (2024)
How other food at home spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $1,489 |
| Second 20% | $1,941 |
| Middle 20% | $2,265 |
| Fourth 20% | $2,838 |
| Highest 20% | $3,700 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in other food at home spending
By Age Group (2024)
How other food at home spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $1,391 |
| 2 People | $2,901 |
| 3 People | $2,388 |
| 4 People | $2,981 |
| 5 or More | $3,389 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $2,733 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $2,976 |
| Renter | $2,347 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on other food at home? ▼
Is other food at home spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect other food at home spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on other food at home? ▼
Which age group spends the most on other food at home? ▼
Does household size affect other food at home spending? ▼
Spending Guides
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Related Economic Data
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.
