How Canadian households spent their money in 2023
Description: How Canadian households spent their money in 2023
In 2023, average spending by Canadian households totalled $76,750, up 14.3% from 2021 and 11.3% from 2019. This increase was mainly because of higher spending on transportation (+19.7%) and on shelter and food (+17% each).
| Average spending on goods and services, by spending category | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter | $20,200 | $21,106 | $24,671 |
| Food | $10,311 | $10,305 | $12,046 |
| Transportation | $12,737 | $10,099 | $12,090 |
| Household operations, furnishings and equipment | $7,934 | $9,158 | $9,404 |
| Recreation | $4,624 | $4,223 | $5,231 |
| Health care and personal care | $4,164 | $4,205 | $4,947 |
| Other | $9,009 | $8,029 | $8,361 |
On average, Canadian households spent more on travel and on food and alcohol at restaurants in 2023 than they did before the pandemic, while spending on recreational services was similar to 2019.
| Spending category | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air travel | $871 | $230 | $1,158 |
| Package trips | $923 | $161 | $1,102 |
| Alcoholic beverages served on licensed premises and in restaurants | $320 | $265 | $441 |
| Food purchased from restaurants | $2,775 | $2,189 | $3,351 |
| Recreational services | $2,593 | $1,168 | $2,578 |
In 2023, households in all income groups spent more on gasoline and other fuels than in 2021. Spending in this category grew the fastest for those in the second quintile (+45.8%) and slowest for those in the highest group (+16.4%).
From 2021 to 2023, average household spending on hotels and motels more than tripled in Whitehorse and almost quadrupled in YellowknifeNote 1.
Notes: National-level statistics include the provinces only. Estimates represent average spending by Canadian households.
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Household Spending, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
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