Band 8+: The table below shows the average monthly expenditure, measured in US dollars, on five categories of goods by people in four income groups in 2021. The pie chart illustrates the proportion of total spending allocated to each category by people's incomes

The table illustrates the average monthly expenditure in US dollars on five categories across three income groups in 2021.

Overall, housing consistently accounted for the largest share of spending in all income groups, whereas health represented the smallest proportion. Additionally, expenditure in every category increased progressively with higher income levels.

Spending on housing rose dramatically from $180 among low-income earners to $410 in the upper-middle-income group, representing more than a twofold increase. A similar upward trend can be observed in food expenditure, which climbed steadily from $140 to $260.

Transport and entertainment also followed this pattern, with transport costs tripling from $60 to $180, while entertainment spending nearly tripled from $45 to $120. Although health remained the least prioritized category, its allocation still increased substantially from $30 to $110 as income rose.

Overall, the data clearly demonstrate that while essential expenses dominate household budgets, higher-income groups allocate significantly greater amounts across all categories.