Food remains the biggest budget item at $175 per household, with another $110 spent on beverages. 

By Joe Lombardi From Daily Voice

Thanksgiving is getting more expensive, and Americans are feeling the pinch long before they sit down at the table. 

A new national survey shows the holiday has quietly transformed into a full season of gatherings that now demand extra planning, more travel, and a bigger financial commitment than many families expected.

According to a poll conducted online by Talker Research between Friday, Oct. 17 and Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, Americans celebrating Thanksgiving this year will spend an average of $952 on food, drinks, travel, decorations, and miscellaneous costs.

The survey was commissioned by the banking app Chime and included two thousand adults who celebrate the holiday, split evenly across Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers.

Food remains the biggest budget item at $175 per household, with another $110 spent on beverages. 

Decorations add $83, while miscellaneous items average $291. Travel pushes costs even higher for the two thirds of respondents planning to journey for the holiday, with those expenses averaging two hundred ninety three dollars.

At the same time, one third of Americans are actively cutting back. Respondents who plan to reduce spending this year say they are trimming budgets by an average of 41 percent through smaller gatherings, potluck meals, or skipping travel. 

Millennials lead the shift toward minimalism, while Gen Z is more likely to keep favorite dishes but switch to lower cost brands.

Generational expectations also differ on who should pay. One third of baby boomers believe hosts should cover everything, while thirty three percent of Gen Z says costs should be split evenly. 

Nearly half of respondents report feeling pressure to host the “perfect” Thanksgiving, adding emotional stress on top of rising prices.

“Results found that 63 percent of respondents find that it’s expensive to get together with family during Thanksgiving, which undermines the whole meaning of the holiday,” said Janelle Sallenave, Chief Spending Officer at Chime. “No matter your budget, there are easy ways to make the season more affordable: plan your menu early, set spending limits and don’t be afraid to ask guests to pitch in. Thanksgiving should be about connection, not cost.”

Survey data shows Americans now attend an average of three Thanksgiving gatherings each year, reflecting the shift from a single holiday meal to a weeks-long season of celebrations.