Australian household spending statistics

Bills, groceries, rent and more bills – sometimes household spending can make it difficult to save. That's why switching to a high-interest savings account should be front of mind, particularly over the next few years as interest rates begin to rise.

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.

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. As of December 2025, the Consumer Price Index increased by 3.8%.

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. Nearly half of Australians (44%) are paying the lazy tax on their electricity bills, meaning they don't think they are getting good value for money but haven't switched providers within the past 6 months. 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.

Written by

Joshua Godfrey

Senior Insights Analyst

Joshua Godfrey is a Senior Insights Analyst at Finder, specialising in data analysis and identifying emerging trends through the Consumer Sentiment Tracker, a monthly survey on Australians' financial attitudes. He has authored Finder’s 2024 Wealth Building Report and 2025 First Home Buyer Report which have been widely quoted in top media outlets like the AFR and news.com.au. With a Bachelor of Business in Finance and Marketing and a Diploma of Creative Intelligence from UTS, Josh is passionate about uncovering patterns in consumer sentiment and exploring how they influence the future of finance. See full bio

Joshua's expertise

Joshua has written 41 Finder guides across topics including:

• Data and analytics
• Money trends
• Data journalism

Co-written by

Sophie Wallis

Analyst

Sophie Wallis is a senior insights analyst with a passion for data storytelling. She spends her time turning complex data into digestible stories and uncovering new consumer trends. When she isn't working, you'll find her planning her next overseas holiday or bingeing on a big novel. Sophie has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Melbourne. See full bio