Subscription spending has quietly become a major household expense. Here's what the data says — and how to see where you stand.
The Averages
Surveys from C+R Research and West Monroe Partners consistently find:
- Average monthly subscription spend: $219/person
- Average annual spend: $2,628/person
- Average number of paid subscriptions: 12 per person
- Most people underestimate their spend by 2.5x when asked
Where the Money Goes
The biggest categories by spend:
- Streaming video (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max): $30–60/month
- Music (Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora): $10–15/month
- Cloud storage (iCloud, Google One, Dropbox): $3–10/month
- Productivity (Microsoft 365, Adobe, Notion): $10–30/month
- News and magazines: $5–20/month
- Fitness and wellness apps: $10–40/month
Why We Underestimate
Subscriptions are designed to be invisible. Small monthly charges blend into your statement, and free trials quietly convert. The result: most people think they spend $80/month when they actually spend $200+.
Do a subscription audit every 6 months. Cancel anything you haven't used in the last 30 days — you can always resubscribe if you miss it.
How to Know If You're Overpaying
If your monthly subscription total exceeds 5% of your take-home pay, you're spending more than most. On a $4,000/month income, that's $200 — right at the average. Consider it a ceiling, not a target.
Add up your subscriptions to see how you compare to the average with the Subscription Cost Calculator.