Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone cards Spending
How much American households spend on residential phone service, voip, and phone cards — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone cards
American households spent an average of $100 on residential phone service, voip, and phone cards in 2024, representing 0.1% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 24.8% from 2023 ($133), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.
Since 2020, residential phone service, voip, and phone cards spending has fallen by 46.8% (from $188 to $100), suggesting efficiency gains or shifting consumer preferences.
Income is the strongest predictor of residential phone service, voip, and phone cards spending: the top income quintile spends $88/year versus $113 for the lowest quintile — a 0.8x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($153/year) while the South spends the least ($80/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 | $100 |
| 2023 | $133 |
| 2022 | $147 |
| 2021 | $165 |
| 2020 | $188 |
By Income Level (2024)
How residential phone service, voip, and phone cards spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $113 |
| Second 20% | $119 |
| Middle 20% | $89 |
| Fourth 20% | $92 |
| Highest 20% | $88 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in residential phone service, voip, and phone cards spending
By Age Group (2024)
How residential phone service, voip, and phone cards spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $116 |
| 2 People | $93 |
| 3 People | $116 |
| 4 People | $89 |
| 5 or More | $66 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $131 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $87 |
| Renter | $189 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on residential phone service, voip, and phone cards? ▼
Is residential phone service, voip, and phone cards spending increasing? ▼
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Does household size affect residential phone service, voip, and phone cards spending? ▼
Spending Guides
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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.
