By Tanza Loudenback, Business Insider
Americans spend most of their money on three things: housing, food, and transportation.
That's why one of the best strategies to save more money is to cut down spending one of the Big Three. Thankfully, it may be easier to do than you think.
To find out how much Americans spend on everything from housing, food, and transportation to healthcare, entertainment, and shopping, we consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Expenditure Surveys. The data covers the most recent period of 2016 to 2017 and reveals average annual expenditures for consumer units 22 major metros in the Northeast, South, West, and Midwest.
A consumer unit, as defined by BLS, is a household ranging in size from one individual to three or more people.
The total annual expenditure on all goods and services for the average household ranges from $48,654 in Tampa to $83,790 in Seattle. Notably, the amount residents spend on housing in both cities makes up about 30% of their total annual spending.
22. Tampa
Average annual spend: $48,654 ($4,054/month)
Food: $6,289 ($524/month)
Housing: $17,131 ($1,427/month)
Transportation: $8,307 ($692/month)
21. Miami
Average annual spend: $59,947 ($4,995/month)
Food: $7,040 ($586/month)
Housing: $22,350 ($1,862/month)
Transportation: $10,507 ($875/month)
20. Detroit
Average annual spend: $60,183 ($5,015/month)
Food: $7,397 ($616/month)
Housing: $18,794 ($1,566/month)
Transportation: $10,426 ($868/month)
19. Chicago
Average annual spend: $60,582 ($5,048/month)
Food: $8,170 ($680/month)
Housing: $21,254 ($1,771/month)
Transportation: $7,717 ($643/month)
18. Phoenix
Average annual spend: $62,072 ($5,172/month)
Food: $6,856 ($571/month)
Housing: $19,491 ($1,624/month)
Transportation: $9,985 ($832/month)
17. Atlanta
Average annual spend: $62,250 ($5,187/month)
Food: $6,683 ($556/month)
Housing: $20,965 ($1,747/month)
Transportation: $11,747 ($978)
16. St. Louis
Average annual spend: $62,394 ($5,199/month)
Food: $7,300 ($608/month)
Housing: $20,154 ($1,679/month)
Transportation: $9,958 ($829/month)
15. Dallas-Fort Worth
Average annual spend: $63,207 ($5,267/month)
Food: $6,571 ($547/month)
Housing: $22,350 ($1,862/month)
Transportation: $10,507 ($875/month)
14. Honolulu
Average annual spend: $65,099 ($5,425/month)
Food: $10,036 ($836/month)
Housing: $24,355 ($2,029/month)
Transportation: $7,391 ($615/month)
13. Philadelphia
Average annual spend: $65,436 ($5,453/month)
Food: $8,203 ($683/month)
Housing: $20,932 ($1,744/month)
Transportation: $9,505 ($792/month)
12. Los Angeles
Average annual spend: $66,971 ($5,580/month)
Food: $8,727 ($727/month)
Housing: $24,311 ($2,025/month)
Transportation: $9,741 ($811/month)
11. Houston
Average annual spend: $67,304 ($5,608/month)
Food: $9,153 ($762/month)
Housing: $21,818 ($1,818/month)
Transportation: $10,507 ($875/month)
10. New York
Average annual spend: $67,782 ($5,648/month)
Food: $7,689 ($640/month)
Housing: $26,113 ($2,176/month)
Transportation: $7,907 ($658/month)
9. Baltimore
Average annual spend: $69,126 ($5,760/month)
Food: $8,964 ($747/month)
Housing: $23,247 ($1,937/month)
Transportation: $11,049 ($920/month)
8. Minneapolis-St. Paul
Average annual spend: $70,487 ($5,873/month)
Food: $8,571 ($714/month)
Housing: $22,782 ($1,898/month)
Transportation: $9,409 ($784/month)
7. Anchorage
Average annual spend: $71,606 ($5,967/month)
Food: $8,306 ($692/month)
Housing: $23,039 ($1,919/month)
Transportation: $12,446 ($1,037/month)
6. Denver
Average annual spend: $74,088 ($6,174/month)
Food: $8,855 ($737/month)
Housing: $25,059 ($2,088/month)
Transportation: $11,841 ($986/month)
5. Boston
Average annual spend: $74,316 ($6,193/month)
Food: $8,264 ($688/month)
Housing: $29,015 ($2,417/month)
Transportation: $8,463 ($705/month)
4. San Francisco
Average annual spend: $79,291 ($6,607/month)
Food: $8,918 ($743/month)
Housing: $32,656 ($2,721/month)
Transportation: $7,974 ($664/month)
3. San Diego
Average annual spend: $79,585 ($6,632/month)
Food: $9,984 ($832/month)
Housing: $28,595 ($2,382/month)
Transportation: $10,592 ($882/month)
2. Washington, DC
Average annual spend: $79,921 ($6,660/month)
Food: $9,188 ($765/month)
Housing: $29,101 ($2,425/month)
Transportation: $10,748 ($895/month)
1. Seattle
Average annual spend: $83,790 ($6,982/month)
Food: $10,958 ($913/month)
Housing: $26,965 ($2,247/month)
Transportation: $12,810 ($1,067/month)
