According to a November 2025 report on entertainment spending across the US, Denver residents spend the highest share of their income on leisure. The study by the digital entertainment platform JB.com examined major metropolitan areas by comparing entertainment expenses to local incomes.
- Denver locals spend about 14% of their income on leisure, the highest share among major American cities.
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Alcohol purchases cost Phoenix residents roughly $1,110 annually, more than in any other city.
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People in Seattle spend the highest amount on recreational activities, putting nearly $10,000 every year toward entertainment.
The research looked at consumer spending in more than 20 US cities. It measured what share of people’s income goes toward entertainment and leisure, including movies, concerts, hobbies, sports events, and recreation gear. Instead of comparing total dollars spent, the study ranked cities by the percentage of income residents put toward these activities, highlighting which places prioritize entertainment based on what people actually earn.
Here’s a look at the top 10 cities where Americans spend the most on entertainment:
| City | Annual Spending on Entertainment and Leisure | Average Annual Net Salary | Share of Income Spent on Leisure & Entertainment Annualy |
| Denver | $8,311 | $59,552 | 13.96% |
| Detroit | $5,039 | $36,915 | 13.65% |
| Baltimore | $6,641 | $49,703 | 13.36% |
| Phoenix | $6,766 | $52,569 | 12.87% |
| Seattle | $9,905 | $77,777 | 12.74% |
| Anchorage | $6,539 | $53,503 | 12.22% |
| Philadelphia | $6,142 | $52,205 | 11.77% |
| Tampa | $6,105 | $51,981 | 11.74% |
| St. Louis | $5,921 | $54,135 | 10.94% |
| Chicago | $6,856 | $62,844 | 10.91% |
You can access the complete research findings here.
1. Denver
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Annual entertainment spending: $8,311
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Average net salary: $59,552
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Share of income spent on entertainment: 13.96%
Denver residents spend the largest share of their income on entertainment among major cities. People here pay more than $8,000 for recreational activities each year, nearly 14% of the average local annual salary ($60K). This is the highest spending rate in America, indicating that locals in Denver prioritize leisure more than anyone else in the country.
2. Detroit
Detroit comes second with residents spending about $5,000 on entertainment each year. It’s a smaller budget than what Denver residents spend, but it still represents 13.65% of income, with lower average salaries at $37K annually. One of the major expenses here is tobacco products, for which locals pay around $650 each year, $200 more than typical Americans.
3. Baltimore
Baltimore ranks third, as people here put $6,641 toward leisure activities. This spending accounts for 13.36% of the average $50K annual salary. The city sits between Detroit and Phoenix in terms of both expenses and salary levels, but Baltimore residents still dedicate a larger share to entertainment than those in higher-income cities like Boston or Washington.
4. Phoenix
Phoenix is also among the big spenders when it comes to entertainment. Each year, residents end up paying $6,766 for their hobbies and outdoor activities. With annual salaries around $53K, that amounts to 12.87% of their total pay. A large portion of these expenses actually goes to alcoholic beverages, with locals spending $1,100 per year, the most in the country.
5. Seattle
Seattle rounds out the top five with the highest entertainment expenses at almost $10,000 a year. This leisure budget is only 12.8% of average income, as Seattle residents earn $78K annually on average, far more than other cities in the ranking. Like those in Phoenix, locals here spend more than $1,000 on alcohol, but they also go big on personal care products, budgeting over $1,200 for them every year.
The CEO of JB.com commented on the study:
“Things like streaming services, Internet for gaming, and gym memberships have become part of the baseline budget. They don’t seem like luxury anymore. Even in lower-income cities like Detroit, people still dedicate a significant chunk of their paycheck to these costs. You need Netflix and similar services just to participate in normal conversations at work these days.”