“Life’s persistent and most urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’”

— Martin Luther King Jr.

High Discretionary Spending

Due to high spending on discretionary items in Chicago, notably among younger adults, there is potential to profoundly impact the homeless community through minor adjustments in spending behavior and the redirection of resources to those in need

Chicago residents, especially young adults, spend disproportionately more on discretionary expenses like dining out, entertainment, alcohol, and luxury items compared to other major US cities.

Key Statistics on High Discretionary Spending in Chicago

  • Nationally, average monthly spending on dining out is $239, while entertainment expenses are around $208. Chicagoans' discretionary expenses surpass the national average by 25% for dining out and 15% for entertainment.

  • Food delivery (i.e., Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc.) is a key contributor to ‘dining out’ expenditure

    Nationally, Gen Z completes roughly 5.8 food delivery orders per month (Circuit). The average food cost in Chicago (excluding service fees, delivery fees and tips) for a food delivery order is $29 (Otter). Considering that fees represent about 36% of total food delivery costs on a national basis (Circuit), a conservative estimate (extra fees are generally higher in large cities) of the average total food delivery cost for an order in Chicago is about $45.

    Taking all that into account, the estimated food delivery cost per month for a Gen Z individual in Chicago is $261.

  • Average monthly spending on clothing for young adults aged 25-34 in Chicago is $150, 20% higher than the national average for the same demographic.

    Euromonitor International reports that Chicagoans spend an average of $1,200 per year on clothing, exceeding spending in cities like New York and Los Angeles.

  • Average monthly spending on alcohol for young adults aged 25-34 in Chicago is $150, 25% higher than the national average for the same demographic.

    Euromonitor International reports that Chicagoans spend an average of $1,500 per year on alcoholic beverages, surpassing spending in cities like New York and Los Angeles

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