Rented dwellings Spending
How much American households spend on rented dwellings — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Rented dwellings
American households spent an average of $5,660 on rented dwellings in 2024, representing 7.2% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 5.4% increase from 2023 ($5,370), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.
Since 2020, rented dwellings spending has risen by 28.4% (from $4,408 to $5,660), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.
Income is the strongest predictor of rented dwellings spending: the top income quintile spends $3,894/year versus $5,781 for the lowest quintile — a 0.7x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($7,818/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($3,779/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 | $5,660 |
| 2023 | $5,370 |
| 2022 | $4,990 |
| 2021 | $4,684 |
| 2020 | $4,408 |
By Income Level (2024)
How rented dwellings spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $5,781 |
| Second 20% | $6,225 |
| Middle 20% | $6,720 |
| Fourth 20% | $5,697 |
| Highest 20% | $3,894 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in rented dwellings spending
By Age Group (2024)
How rented dwellings spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $6,986 |
| 2 People | $5,090 |
| 3 People | $4,977 |
| 4 People | $5,244 |
| 5 or More | $4,789 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $128 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $127 |
| Renter | $129 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on rented dwellings? ▼
Is rented dwellings spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect rented dwellings spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on rented dwellings? ▼
Which age group spends the most on rented dwellings? ▼
Does household size affect rented dwellings 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.
