Money

The Cost of Leisure in the U.S.

Data & Guides Money The Cost of Leisure in the U.S.

The average person spends 5.27 hours per day on “leisure and sports” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1] Bureau of Labor Statistics - Time Use Survey https://www.bls.gov/tus/a1-2021.pdf. The majority of this time (2.86 hours per day) comprises spending time watching TV at home, while the remainder is split among hobbies and other interests.

But how much money are people spending during their leisure time? Analyzing recent BLS expenditure and time use data, our latest study reveals just how much people are spending in their free time on leisure and cultural activities.

Key Findings:

• The average person across all states spends a median of $487 on leisure activities per year.
• Americans spend a median of $125 attending sporting events each year.
• The average person spends $69 visiting museums and other attractions, as well as $125 per year on concerts and other event tickets.
• Americans spend a median of $74 per year participating in sports, and $39 on fitness and health club fees.
• The average person spends 116.8 hours annually participating in sports, exercise, and recreation.
• Americans spend 7.3 hours each year attending sporting or recreational events.

The cost of leisure

According to microdata from the BLS’ Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) [2] Bureau of Labor Statistics - Consumer Expenditure Survey https://www.bls.gov/cex/pumd/data/sas/intrvw21.zip, the average person spends $487 on leisure activities per year.

However, analyzing regional and state micro data reveals that these expenditures vary quite significantly depending on where in the country you live. Using the map below you can see how much people spend on various leisure activities in your region (and state).

Median spending across the six categories found that at a national level people spend:

Who spends the most?

According to expenditure data from the BLS, those living in the Mountain South region - comprising of Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico - spend the most on their leisure, totaling a median of $1,398 per year.

Figures reveal that the majority of this annual spending goes towards attending sporting events ($558), followed by attending concerts and other events ($382) and participating in sports ($309).

The second-highest spenders on leisure activities are those living in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas (the West South Central region), where median leisure spending adds up to $954 per year. 

Like those in the Mountain South region, those living in the West South Central states spend the majority of their leisure spending attending sporting events ($549).

At the other end of the scale, those in the West North Central region of the U.S. (in the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota), spend the least on leisure activities and pursuits, spending a median of $328 per year.

The second lowest spenders are those in New England (the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), who spend $421 per year on leisure activities.

Spending the most by median income

Analyzing state median income [3] Census Bureau - Median Household income https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=income&g=0100000US_0400000US01,02,04,05,06,08,09,10,11,12,13,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,53,54,55,56&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1903&moe=false&tp=false against median leisure spending, it was revealed that those in New Mexico spend the most (as a percentage) of their median incomes. Results showed that people in New Mexico spend 2.73% of the median $51,243 (pre-tax) income on leisure pursuits. 

The second and third highest spending states against median income also come from the Mountain South region of the U.S., with those in Arizona spending 2.27% of their median $61,529 income on leisure pursuits, while those in Nevada spend 2.25% of their income of $62,043.

At the other end of the table, those in Minnesota spend the least on leisure. 0.45% of their median income ($73,382) is spent on leisure pursuits and activities.

Those in Massachusetts and North Dakota are the second and third lowest spenders when accounting for local median incomes, spending 0.50% of their $84,385 and $65,315 incomes respectively.

Spending per category

Parks and museums spending

Those living in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont spend the most attending parks and museums, totaling a median of $101 annually.

In comparison, those living in Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia spend the least, totaling  $30 per year.

Play, theater, opera & concert spending

Residents of Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico spend the most attending theaters and concerts, spending a median of $382 annually. 

In comparison, those living in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota spend the least, totaling $82 per year attending the theater and/or concerts.

Sports participation spending

People living in the states of Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico spend the most participating in sports, with the average person spending a median of $309 per year.

Meanwhile, those living in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota spend the least, $45 annually.

Sporting event spending

Attending sporting events also appears to be important to those living in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, with the average person spending a median of $558 per year attending some kind of sporting event.

Similar to sports participation spending, those living in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota spend the least attending sports events, totalling $81 annually.

Movie ticket spending

Spending on movie tickets is highest in the states of Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, where residents of the Mountain South region spend $65 annually.

In comparison, those living in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont spend the least, spending $21 per year on movie tickets.

Social, recreation and health club spending

Residents of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas (West South Central region), as well as those in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania (Middle Atlantic region) spend the most on social, recreation and health clubs each year, spending a median of $50 annually. 

While those in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee spend the least on social, recreation and health clubs, spending $30 annually.

Methodology

The analysis of consumer spending on leisure activities was conducted using Consumer Expenditure Survey [2] Bureau of Labor Statistics - Consumer Expenditure Survey https://www.bls.gov/cex/pumd/data/sas/intrvw21.zip microdata, analyzing the spending categories for Parks and Museums, Play, Theater, Opera & Concert, Participant Sports, Sporting Events, Movie Tickets, and Social, Recreation and Health Clubs.

Analysis looked at spending per state to provide enough data and sampling for regional medians to be produced. Median spending was chosen ahead of averages to reduce the variance between states and for any instances of low sample numbers within the Consumer Expenditure Survey microdata.

Data was last reviewed January 2023 relating to the 2021 Consumer Expenditure Survey, the latest available at the time. 

Sources

• ^[1] Bureau of Labor Statistics - Time Use Survey https://www.bls.gov/tus/a1-2021.pdf
• ^[2] Bureau of Labor Statistics - Consumer Expenditure Survey https://www.bls.gov/cex/pumd/data/sas/intrvw21.zip
• ^[3] Census Bureau - Median Household income https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=income&g=0100000US_0400000US01,02,04,05,06,08,09,10,11,12,13,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,53,54,55,56&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1903&moe=false&tp=false