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Here's How Much the Average American Over 75 Spends on Entertainment Each Month

Entertainment spending can look very different after age 75.

By Josh Koebert , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Nov. 12, 2026

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Entertainment budgets tend to look different later in life, and the shift can be easy to miss. So what does it actually add up to in dollars each month once someone is past 75? Here's a look at the monthly figure, how it's changed, and how it stacks up against other age groups.

Editor's note: Figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2024 data. Monthly amounts are annual figures divided by 12.

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How much does the average household over 75 spend on entertainment each month?

Average monthly entertainment spending, households 75 and up: $241

That works out to an average of $2,888 a year in 2024. This group's total spending averaged $4,653 a month, or $55,834 a year, so entertainment is a small part of the overall budget.

That $241 a month covers things like fees and admissions, audio and visual equipment and services, pets, toys, and playground equipment, and other entertainment supplies and equipment.

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Is entertainment spending rising for the 75-and-up crowd?

It went up. Households 75 and up spent an average of $178 a month on entertainment in 2023, and that rose to $241 a month in 2024. On an annual basis, that's a move from an average of $2,131 to $2,888.

How spending shifts from 65 to 74 to the 75-and-up years

Households headed by someone 65 to 74 spent more on entertainment than their 75-and-up counterparts. That group averaged $260 a month, or $3,122 a year, in 2024, compared with $241 a month, or $2,888 a year, for households 75 and up.

The difference shows up in overall spending too. Households 65 to 74 spent an average of $5,446 a month in total in 2024, versus $4,653 a month for households 75 and up.

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How the 75-and-up figure stacks up against all households and the 55-to-64 group

Zooming out, all U.S. households averaged $301 a month on entertainment in 2024, or $3,609 a year, more than households 75 and up spent. Households 55 to 64 spent even more, averaging $309 a month, or $3,706 a year.

Total spending runs higher for those groups as well. All households spent an average of $6,545 a month in 2024, and households 55 to 64 spent $7,079 a month, both above the $4,653 a month average for households 75 and up.

Ways to spend less on entertainment

Audit your streaming subscriptions and cancel any you haven't used in the past month.
Ask about senior discounts at movie theaters, museums, and local attractions before you buy tickets.
Check your local library for free movies, audiobooks, and passes to community venues.
Bundle streaming services or switch to a shared family plan to cut the monthly bill.
Set a monthly amount for fun spending so it's easier to see where the money goes.

Bottom line

Households 75 and up spent an average of $241 a month on entertainment in 2024, up from $178 a month in 2023. That's less than the averages for households 65 to 74, households 55 to 64, and all U.S. households in the same year.

Entertainment is a small piece of the overall budget for households 75 and up, whose total spending averaged $4,653 a month in 2024.

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