Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Public and other transportation Spending
How much American households spend on public and other transportation - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- Annual average (2024)
- $1,131
- Share of spending
- 1.4%
- Change vs 2023
- +3.2%
- Change vs 2020
- +330.0%
Spending Insight: Public and other transportation
American households spent an average of $1,131 on public and other transportation in 2024, representing 1.4% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 3.2% increase from 2023 ($1,096), outpacing the roughly 3% general inflation in 2024 and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.
Since 2020, public and other transportation spending has risen by 330% (from $263 to $1,131), outpacing the roughly 21% cumulative inflation over 2020–2024 (BLS CPI-U) - a real-terms increase in household burden.
Income is strongly associated with public and other transportation spending: the top income quintile spends $2,593/year versus $472 for the lowest quintile, a 5.5x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($1,750/year) while the South spends the least ($729/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)
Public and other transportation spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,131 |
| 2023 | $1,096 |
| 2022 | $845 |
| 2021 | $452 |
| 2020 | $263 |
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.
By Income Level (2024)
How public and other transportation spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $472 |
| Second 20% | $456 |
| Middle 20% | $875 |
| Fourth 20% | $1,250 |
| Highest 20% | $2,593 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in public and other transportation spending
By Age Group (2024)
How public and other transportation spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $734 |
| 2 People | $1,301 |
| 3 People | $1,326 |
| 4 People | $1,234 |
| 5 or More | $1,550 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $1,305 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $1,395 |
| Renter | $1,186 |
What to do with this data
The average U.S. household spends $1,131 a year on public and other transportation - here's how to put that in context.
- Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
- See how public and other transportation 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
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Spending Guides (show related guides)
Related Spending Categories
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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