🇺🇸 USD · official spending data

The United States household budget

Based on median net household income ~$5,500/month (BLS 2023) Adjust any category below, then export to PDF or Excel — free, no sign-up.

Monthly net income ($)

Enter your household's total monthly take-home pay after taxes and deductions.

Allocated: $ 5 500Unallocated: $ 0

Amounts are auto-calculated from recommended percentages. You can edit any value manually.

Category	Guideline %	Amount ($)
🏠 Housing Includes rent/mortgage, property tax and home insurance	32%		32.0% of income
💡 Utilities	6%		6.0% of income
🛒 Food & Groceries	12%		12.0% of income
🚗 Transport Car ownership near-universal; includes payments, insurance and fuel	15%		15.0% of income
🏥 Healthcare & Insurance Highest healthcare share among developed nations; includes premiums and out-of-pocket costs	8%		8.0% of income
👗 Clothing & Apparel	2%		2.0% of income
🍽️ Dining Out & Entertainment	4%		4.0% of income
✈️ Travel & Vacation	4%		4.0% of income
📚 Education & Development	2%		2.0% of income
🪥 Personal Care	1%		1.0% of income
💳 Debt Repayments	5%		5.0% of income
💰 Savings & Investments Includes retirement contributions (401k/IRA); CFPB recommends minimum 10–15%	7%		7.0% of income
📦 Miscellaneous	2%		2.0% of income
Total	100%	$ 5 500

Data source: Based on the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey and CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) household budget guidelines. The BLS CE Survey provides both descriptive expenditure data and forms the basis for normative budget recommendations. Figures are indicative averages and should be adapted to your personal situation. This is not financial advice.

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United States household budget breakdown

The average United States household takes home approximately 5,500 USD per month after taxes. Housing is typically the largest expense, accounting for around 32% of net income. The top spending categories are housing (32%), transport (15%) and food & groceries (12%). Financial guidelines recommend saving at least 7% of monthly income to build an emergency fund and long-term financial security. Use this free budget template to enter your own income, adjust each category to match your lifestyle, and export your personalised plan to PDF or Excel.

Based on the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey and CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) household budget guidelines. The BLS CE Survey provides both descriptive expenditure data and forms the basis for normative budget recommendations.

Frequently asked questions

What is a typical monthly household budget in United States?▾

Based on official spending data, a typical household in United States spends around $ 5,500/month. The largest expenses are housing, transport, food & groceries. Use the budget tool above to personalise these figures to your income.

How much of my income should I spend on housing in United States?▾

The guideline for United States is to spend around 32% of your monthly net income on housing costs (rent or mortgage, property taxes, and home insurance). On an income of $ 5,500/month, that works out to about $ 1,760/month.

What is a realistic grocery budget in United States?▾

A typical household in United States spends around 12% of monthly income on food and groceries — roughly $ 660/month based on average incomes. This covers supermarket shopping but not dining out, which is tracked separately.

How much does transport cost per month in United States?▾

Transport typically accounts for 15% of a household budget in United States, or about $ 825/month. This includes car costs, public transport, and fuel.

How much should I save each month in United States?▾

Financial guidelines for United States recommend saving 7% of your net monthly income — about $ 385/month at the average income level. This covers emergency funds, retirement contributions, and investments.

Is United States expensive to live in?▾

United States has an average net household income of $ 5,500/month. The biggest cost drivers are housing and transport. Use the budget builder above to see a full breakdown and compare it with other countries.