Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Rented dwellings spending

U.S. households spent $5,660/yr on rented dwellings in 2024 - 7.2% of the average budget . Up 5.4% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 0.7×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

2024 avg
$5,660
Budget share
7.2%
vs 2023
+5.4%

CES spend plate

Line RENTED-DWELLINGS · Rented dwellings $5,660 · 7.2%

SHARE-SOLID · QUINT-FLAT · YOY-UP · REAL-BURDEN · REGION-WEST · BOOK-UPPER

  • SHARE-SOLID 7.2% of budget
  • QUINT-FLAT 0.7× Q5/Q1
  • YOY-UP +5.4% YoY
  • REAL-BURDEN Above CPI
  • REGION-WEST West leads
  • BOOK-UPPER #10/99 dollars

Nearest dollar peer: Owned dwellings (+$3,650)

Instrument codes from this line’s budget share, income-quintile gap, YoY move, real change vs ~21% CPI-U (2020-2024), regional lead, and corpus book size, not a budgeting recommendation.

Spend neighbourhood around Rented dwellings

Lowest and highest poles plus nearest dollar peers among sibling lines, not a full-board reprint. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Dollar neighbourhood · Rented dwellings

Average annual spending · 2024 · poles + near peers

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

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Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Rented dwellings spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

$4,000$4,500$5,000$5,500$6,000 20202021202220232024 $5,660
Year Annual Amount
2024 $5,660
2023 $5,370
2022 $4,990
2021 $4,684
2020 $4,408

Income stretch on a large rented dwellings line

A large CES line: top-quintile households spend $3,894/yr here vs $5,781 at the bottom (0.7×).

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $5,781
Second 20% $6,225
Middle 20% $6,720
Fourth 20% $5,697
Highest 20% $3,894

See full income breakdown →

West leads rented dwellings geographically

West leads at $7,818/yr among the bigger CES categories.

Region Annual Amount
Midwest $3,779
Northeast $6,331
South $5,161
West $7,818

See full regional breakdown →

Lifecycle peak · Under 25

Under 25 heads spend the most on this line at $10,119/yr - a lifecycle peak on a large budget share.

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $9,927
35–44 $7,036
45–54 $5,001
55–64 $3,619
65–74 $2,681
75 and older $4,435
Under 25 $10,119

See full age breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on rented dwellings?
The average American household spent $5,660 on rented dwellings in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 7.2% of total household spending.
Is rented dwellings spending increasing?
Rented dwellings spending increased by 5.4% from 2023 to 2024 ($5,370 to $5,660). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +28.4%.
How does income affect rented dwellings spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $5,781/year on rented dwellings, while the highest quintile spends $3,894/year, a 0.7x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on rented dwellings?
The West region spends the most at $7,818/year, while the Midwest region spends the least at $3,779/year on rented dwellings.
Which age group spends the most on rented dwellings?
Households headed by someone in the Under 25 age group spend the most on rented dwellings at $10,119/year.
Does household size affect rented dwellings spending?
Yes. 4 People households spend $4,789/year on rented dwellings, while 1 Person households spend $6,986/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Other large CES lines near rented dwellings

Dollar-amount and budget-share neighbours from BLS CE 2024 (this category excluded).

Similar dollar amount

Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($5,660 here).

Category 2024 avg
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) $5,337
Healthcare $6,197
Food at home $6,224
Utilities, fuels, and public services $4,736
Other vehicle expenses $4,206
Health insurance $4,055
Food away from home $3,945
Mortgage interest and charges $3,646

Similar budget share

Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (7.2% here).

Category Budget share
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) 6.8%
Food at home 7.9%
Healthcare 7.9%
Utilities, fuels, and public services 6.0%
Other vehicle expenses 5.4%
Health insurance 5.2%
Food away from home 5.0%
Entertainment 4.6%

Average household budget · Methodology · BLS CEX source

Informational only - not advice. See disclaimer.

Every figure on PlainHousehold is rendered directly from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.