— Budgeting
Monthly Expense Calculator
Add up monthly spending by category and see the total, composition, per-day and per-year equivalents, and largest category. Add income to see the share you spend and how much could be saved.
Total monthly expenses
$4,300
- Per day
- $141
- Per year
- $51,600
- Largest category
- Housing · 41.86%
- Fixed (committed)
- $2,600
Try: Typical household, As a % of $6,500 income, Per person, family of 4
— Where your money goes
| Category | Monthly | % of total | Annualized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,800 | 41.86% | $21,600 |
| Food & groceries | $700 | 16.28% | $8,400 |
| Everything else | $600 | 13.95% | $7,200 |
| Debt payments | $500 | 11.63% | $6,000 |
| Transport | $400 | 9.3% | $4,800 |
| Utilities & bills | $300 | 6.98% | $3,600 |
| Total | $4,300 | 100% | $51,600 |
— Expense composition
Download— How it works
Total monthly expenses = sum of all category spending. Per day = total × 12 ÷ 365. Per year = total × 12. Each category’s share = its amount ÷ total.
The number you keep underestimating
Ask anyone what they spend a month and the answer is usually low — small, frequent costs and the occasional big one slip the memory. Totalling it by category fixes that, and the per-day and per-year translations land hardest: a comfortable-sounding monthly figure becomes a startling annual one. Seeing that $4,300 a month is really $141 a day or $51,600 a year reframes the decision behind every purchase. The largest-category call-out points straight at where the money actually goes — almost always housing — so you know which lever moves the total most.
Worked example — $1,800 housing, $700 food, $600 misc and the rest: Total = $4,300 a month → about $141 a day, $51,600 a year. Housing alone is 42% of it — the one category worth negotiating hardest.
Against income, and per head
Add your income and the total gains meaning: spending 66% of what you earn leaves a healthy third to save; spending 95% leaves you one surprise away from trouble. The calculator shows both the percentage and the money left over — your savings headroom. For families, the per-person figure is a useful equaliser, letting you compare a single person’s costs with a household’s on a fair basis. And the fixed-versus-variable split hints at resilience: the more of your spending that’s committed (rent, EMIs), the less you can flex if money gets tight.
— Reader questions
How do I calculate my monthly expenses?
Add up what you spend in each category — housing, utilities, food, transport, debt and everything else. The total is your monthly expense figure. The calculator also shows it per day, per year, and as a share of income if you add that.
What’s the difference between this and the Cash Flow calculator?
This totals expenses only — the spending side. The Cash Flow calculator adds income, so it shows your net surplus or deficit and a full statement. Use this to understand your spending; use Cash Flow to see what’s left.
What percentage of income should I spend?
There’s no single rule, but spending under about 80% of take-home income — leaving 20%+ to save — is a common healthy target, as in the 50/30/20 guide. The lower your spending share, the faster you build wealth.
Should I include money I save as an expense?
No — saving isn’t spending. This calculator counts only true expenses. Money you put into savings or investments is still yours; the Cash Flow calculator shows it on a separate line so the picture stays honest.