The Household Budget Survey (HBS) is a household survey and its data is used to measure the cost of living in Ireland. The main reason the survey is conducted is to ensure that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the official measure of inflation, continues to be based on up-to-date and accurate household expenditure data. The reliability of the results from the Household Budget Survey (HBS) depends to a large extent on the accuracy, reliability and completeness of the information provided by the respondents. Estimates for certain types of expenditure (e.g. alcohol and tobacco) tend to be underestimated in surveys of this nature.

Previously, in defining a ‘household’, the HBS used an ‘address’ concept (i.e. all persons living at the same address who shared catering arrangements were treated as a single household). From 2022-2023, the HBS definition of a household uses a shared income and expenditure concept. Flat mates or housemates who do not share expenditure are now considered as separate households. Household expenditure (including rent) is now calculated on this basis and as a result, caution is advised when interpreting changes in expenditure over time as the change to household definition impacts on expenditure estimates from the 2022-2023 HBS. 

The estimated average weekly expenditure in 2022-2023 for all households in the State was €1,007.47. This is 20.3% higher than the estimated figure of €837.47 in 2015-2016. The proportion of total expenditure on Alcoholic Drink & Tobacco has consistently fallen since 1987 (from 8.0% to 2.8% in 2022-2023). See report figure 2.1 and table 2.2.