Other household expenses Spending
How much American households spend on other household expenses — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Other household expenses
American households spent an average of $1,374 on other household expenses in 2024, representing 1.7% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 4.3% from 2023 ($1,435), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.
Since 2020, other household expenses spending has risen by 22.9% (from $1,118 to $1,374), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.
Income is the strongest predictor of other household expenses spending: the top income quintile spends $2,529/year versus $666 for the lowest quintile — a 3.8x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($1,546/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($1,213/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 | $1,374 |
| 2023 | $1,435 |
| 2022 | $1,361 |
| 2021 | $1,261 |
| 2020 | $1,118 |
By Income Level (2024)
How other household expenses spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $666 |
| Second 20% | $1,009 |
| Middle 20% | $1,191 |
| Fourth 20% | $1,467 |
| Highest 20% | $2,529 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in other household expenses spending
By Age Group (2024)
How other household expenses spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $1,015 |
| 2 People | $1,528 |
| 3 People | $1,474 |
| 4 People | $1,405 |
| 5 or More | $1,827 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $1,710 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $1,775 |
| Renter | $1,624 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on other household expenses? ▼
Is other household expenses spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect other household expenses spending? ▼
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Spending Guides
Related Spending Categories
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.
