Transportation Spending
How much American households spend on transportation — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Transportation
American households spent an average of $13,318 on transportation in 2024, representing 17.0% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was +1.1% (from $13,174 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, transportation spending has risen by 35.5% (from $9,826 to $13,318), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden. The category breaks into 4 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic — drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.
Income is the strongest predictor of transportation spending: the top income quintile spends $25,378/year versus $5,105 for the lowest quintile — a 5.0x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($15,463/year) while the Northeast spends the least ($12,341/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 | $13,318 |
| 2023 | $13,174 |
| 2022 | $12,295 |
| 2021 | $10,961 |
| 2020 | $9,826 |
Subcategories
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Vehicle purchases (net outlay) | $5,337 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $2,645 |
| Other vehicle expenses | $4,206 |
| Public and other transportation | $1,131 |
By Income Level (2024)
How transportation spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $5,105 |
| Second 20% | $8,430 |
| Middle 20% | $11,657 |
| Fourth 20% | $15,952 |
| Highest 20% | $25,378 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in transportation spending
By Age Group (2024)
How transportation spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $6,953 |
| 2 People | $16,056 |
| 3 People | $14,012 |
| 4 People | $15,692 |
| 5 or More | $19,527 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $15,625 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $17,723 |
| Renter | $12,856 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on transportation? ▼
Is transportation spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect transportation spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on transportation? ▼
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Does household size affect transportation spending? ▼
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.
