Spending by US Region
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Consumer Expenditure data for the four U.S. Census regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, West), covering the roughly 130,000,000 American households. According to the 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey, regional totals differ by more than 15% in headline categories such as housing, transportation, and healthcare; see our methodology for how the BLS draws and weights each region. Spending patterns differ substantially due to cost of living, climate, demographics, and economic conditions.
Northeast
CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT — highest cost of living, highest housing costs
Midwest
IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI — moderate costs, strong manufacturing
South
AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV — lowest overall costs
West
AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY — high coastal costs, varied inland
About Regional Data
The BLS uses the four US Census Bureau regions — Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Regional data reflects both differences in the cost of goods and services AND differences in what households choose to consume. For example, the West has higher housing costs partly because of California and Hawaii, while the South has lower costs partly due to Texas's large, diverse population.