Household spending rankings · BLS CE 2024
Top Spending for High-Income Households ($200K+)
Where the highest-income households spend the most, every category ranked by average annual expenditure for the top income quintile. BLS 2024 data.
- Categories ranked
- 14
- #1: Housing
- $44,033
- Survey year
- 2024
Spending Insight: Top Spending for High-Income Households ($200K+)
The top-ranked category in this list is Housing at $44,033, followed by Personal insurance and pensions ($27,279) and Transportation ($25,378). In total, this ranking covers 14 spending categories drawn from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
High-income households ($200K+) spend about 2.5x the national average in absolute terms, but the composition differs. They allocate a much larger share to personal insurance and pensions (retirement savings), entertainment, and education. Housing takes a smaller percentage even though the absolute amount is much higher. Understanding high-income spending patterns reveals how discretionary income is deployed when basic needs are comfortably met.
The spread between the top-ranked Housing ($44,033) and the bottom-ranked Tobacco products and smoking supplies ($267) illustrates how uneven household spending is across categories. Rankings like this are most useful when paired with the per-category detail pages, which break spending down by income quintile, age group, region, household size, and housing tenure. Click any category name in the table below to drill into that demographic breakdown and see where your own household might fit within the broader distribution.
Top Spending for High-Income Households ($200K+) - top 8
Top 8 of 14 categories
The top 8 of 14 categories account for 94% of all household spending; the smallest on this list is $4,492.
| # | Category | Annual Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Housing | $44,033 |
| 2 | Personal insurance and pensions | $27,279 |
| 3 | Transportation | $25,378 |
| 4 | Food | $16,989 |
| 5 | Healthcare | $9,771 |
| 6 | Entertainment | $7,660 |
| 7 | Cash contributions | $5,031 |
| 8 | Education | $4,492 |
| 9 | Apparel and services | $3,872 |
| 10 | Miscellaneous | $2,072 |
| 11 | Personal care products and services | $1,802 |
| 12 | Alcoholic beverages | $1,395 |
| 13 | Reading | $300 |
| 14 | Tobacco products and smoking supplies | $267 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Surveys - Verify with BLS →. See methodology.
What to do with this ranking
Housing tops this list, ahead of Personal insurance and pensions - here's how to put your own household in context.
- Check where your household lands against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
- See how these categories break down by income, age, and region. All categories
- Save the categories you want to track to your private watchlist. Save categories
Rankings reflect national-average BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey figures; individual households vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do high-income households spend?
Households earning $200,000+ spend approximately $150,000-$170,000 annually, about 2.5x the national average. Their biggest categories are housing ($40K+), transportation ($20K+), and personal insurance/pensions ($25K+). They spend proportionally more on savings and discretionary categories.
Explore Related Rankings
Browse other rankings compiled from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey demographic dimensions.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.