Australian household spending statistics

Bills, groceries, rent and more bills – sometimes household spending can make it difficult to save. That's why it pays to keep your savings in a high-interest savings account, so your money keeps working harder while the cost of living stays high.

Finder crunched the numbers on Australia's household spending statistics to find out what Aussies are really spending their money on.

How much do Australian households spend in 2025?

According to ABS data, Australian households spent a total of $1.48 trillion on general living costs in 2025. That is almost $75 billion more than 2024.

How much does the average household spend per week?

The average household spent $148,493 in 2025, equivalent to $2,856 per week. This is an increase of 5.3% compared to the previous year.

Rent and dwelling costs are the largest expense by far, costing the average household $634 per week. Recreation and culture comes in second place ($292), followed by spending on food ($272) and spending on hotels, cafes and restaurants ($244).

Spending on rent has increased the most since 2023, rising by 18% to a total spend of $329 billion in 2025. Spending on insurance has risen by 16% over the same time period, followed by hotels, cafes and restaurants which have seen a 10% lift.

How does household spending differ by state?

Households in the Northern Territory spend the most across the country – an average of $3,705 per week on living costs. Followed by WA with an average weekly spend of $3,055. Tasmanian households spend the least on average at $2,295 per week.

Northern Territorians spend the most on rent and dwelling services ($962),food ($331), and hotels, cafes and restaurants ($553), while those from VIC spend the most on electricity, gas and other fuel ($97).

Tasmanians spend the most on cigarettes and tobacco ($45), but Northern Territory residents are the largest spenders when it comes to alcohol ($65). Western Australians, on the other hand, are forking out the most on their health ($240).

What are Australians' most stressful bills?

Grocery costs can be the largest burden for households, especially for families. As of December 2025, Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker shows 39% of Australians rank grocery costs in their top 3 most stressful expenses. Housing costs such as paying rent or a mortgage (37%) and energy bills (24%) trail in second and third place, followed by council rates (18%). Just 10% of Australians don't feel bill stress at all.

In the context of long term trends, groceries are now side by side with rent/mortgage as the most stressful bill. Previously as many households found grocery bills stressful as energy bills. Petrol has also jumped up from the pre-pandemic trend where now, as many households find the weekly servo bill stressful as their energy bills.

Who manages household bills, and how confusing are they?

More than half of Australians (55%) manage and pay their household bills entirely on their own, according to Finder's 2026 household report. That rises to 72% of Baby Boomers but falls to 33% of Gen Z, who are more likely to share the load with a partner or housemates.

Half of Australians (50%) say all their bills are clear. For the other half, electricity and gas bills are the most confusing (19%), followed by council rates (12%), home insurance (8%), mobile phone bills (5%) and internet bills (4%).

Older Australians find their bills easier to follow. 62% of Baby Boomers say all their bills are clear, compared with 54% of Gen X, 42% of Gen Y and 43% of Gen Z.

How much do households spend on subscriptions?

The typical Australian household pays for a median of 2 subscriptions, such as streaming, music, gaming, news apps, gyms and meal kits. 41% pay for 3 or more and 11% pay for 6 or more.

One in 3 Australians (34%) pay for at least one subscription they rarely or never use. It's mostly a younger-household problem: 51% of Gen Z and 42% of Gen Y have an unused subscription, compared with 25% of Gen X and 11% of Baby Boomers.

Among people with unused subscriptions, the median amount wasted is $26 to $50 a month, and 24% waste $51 or more a month (over $600 a year). This figure comes from a smaller sample of 328 Australians with at least one unused subscription, so treat it as a guide.

How are households cutting back?

Two in 3 Australians (67%) are cutting household costs in some way. 23% are cutting back across the board and 44% are cutting back on some things but not others, while 19% aren't cutting back at all.

These are the most common changes Australians made in the past year to cope with rising bills:

• Cut back on heating or cooling: 33%
• Cancelled or downgraded a streaming service: 23%
• Switched to a cheaper mobile or internet plan: 19%
• Showered less often or for shorter periods: 16%
• Skipped or delayed paying a bill: 15%
• Switched energy providers: 13%
• Went into debt or used buy now pay later to cover a bill: 11%

How has inflation changed over time?

Inflation has reduced significantly since the high of December 2022. The rise over much of 2022 and 2023 marks the most inflationary period in over 20 years. This increase has largely been behind the increase in bill stress. The last few quarters have seen inflation resurge again. In the 12 months to August 2026, the Consumer Price Index increased by 4.0%, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

How to reduce your household expenses

Get savvy at the supermarket. There are so many ways to lower the cost of your weekly shop. Try looking online before you head to the supermarket to find out what produce is in season and what products are on special, then plan your meals accordingly. Signing up to a supermarket rewards program is also a great way to accumulate points that you can use to get cashback off groceries or convert to frequent flyer points.

Take a closer look at your utility bills. Electricity and gas are the bills Australians find most confusing, yet only 13% switched energy providers in the past year to cope with rising costs, according to Finder's 2026 household research. To make sure you're getting the best bang for your buck, compare energy providers. When you're ready to make the switch, contact your new provider – they will usually take care of the switch for you.

Refinance your home loan. If you don't think you're getting a competitive rate on your mortgage, it could be time to refinance. Compare home loans online to see how yours stacks up.

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