US Census region · BLS CE 2024 · #3 of 4 regions

Midwest household spending

West leads total regional spending at $92,625 - Midwest ranks #3 of 4 at $74,707 (4.9% below the U.S. average) , where Housing is the largest category at $23,065. Use the category table below for the full breakdown.

Avg spend
$74,707
Region rank
#3/4
Categories
14

Midwest household spend stack

Midwest region · top 8 categories · 2024

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

Housing$23065Transportation$12901Food$9677Personal insurance and pensi…$9665Healthcare$6246Entertainment$3913Cash contributions$2195Apparel and services$1962

How this region compares

Total annual household spending across all four Census regions · Midwest ranks #3 of 4 · 2024

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

West$92625Northeast$83692Midwest (this region)$74707South$70376
Category Annual Amount
Food $9,677
Alcoholic beverages $660
Housing $23,065
Apparel and services $1,962
Transportation $12,901
Healthcare $6,246
Entertainment $3,913
Personal care products and services $971
Reading $98
Education $1,818
Tobacco products and smoking supplies $392
Miscellaneous $1,142
Cash contributions $2,195
Personal insurance and pensions $9,665

How we calculate this: % of Budget is each category's published regional spend divided by that region's total household spend. The above/below national-average comparison is this region's total divided by the U.S. total, minus 100%. Both are computed from the raw BLS figures, not re-estimated.

What to do with Midwest data

Midwest households spend $74,707 a year on average, here's how to see where your own budget fits.

Regional figures are BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey averages; households within a region vary widely.

Nationwide regions with similar spending scale

Two peer sets for Midwest, each excluding this Census region, total spending and housing budget share are different lenses on the same BLS data.

Similar total spending

Nearest other regions by average annual household spend ($74,707 here).

Similar housing share

Nearest other regions by housing as a share of the regional budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Midwest households spend per year?
Households in the Midwest spent an average of $74,707 per year in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
What are the biggest expenses for Midwest households?
The top three spending categories in the Midwest are Housing ($23,065), Transportation ($12,901), and Food ($9,677).
How much do Midwest households spend on housing?
Housing costs average $23,065/year in the Midwest, representing 30.9% of total household spending. Housing costs vary significantly by region due to differences in real estate prices and rental markets.
What do Midwest households spend on food?
Midwest households spend $9,677/year on food (13.0% of total), including groceries and dining out. Regional food costs reflect local price levels and cultural dining patterns.
Is the Midwest above or below the national spending average?
Midwest households spend $74,707/year, which is 4.9% below the national average of $78,535. Regional differences reflect variations in cost of living, income levels, and consumption patterns.
How does Midwest spending compare to other regions?
The BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey divides the U.S. into four Census regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Each region has distinct spending patterns driven by cost of living, climate, urbanization, and local economic conditions. Compare all regions on our regional breakdown page.

Spending Guides

Compare household spending across other U.S. Census Bureau regions from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. U.S. Census Bureau regional definitions used. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

Every figure on PlainHousehold is rendered directly from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.