Study: The States with the Most Expensive Hobbies

What starts as a spark of interest can quickly turn into a full-blown hobby in no time at all. From painting and cooking to Pilates and designing 3D prints, you can find endless options when picking a hobby.

While hobbies are a nice way to spend free time, they can also be a way to build connections with others whose interests align with yours. At CGTrader, we work alongside creatives who have fully embraced 3D printing as a hobby, but we wanted to learn more about the other activities captivating Americans across the country. 

To do this, we surveyed residents in each state and asked about the hobbies they take part in. In addition to the most popular activities, we wanted to gain insight into the money Americans pour into these hobbies as well. That’s why we also asked respondents how much they spend in a typical month and calculated the average spend by state. Read on to learn which states are spending the most.

Key Takeaways

• Florida, Alabama, and Minnesota residents have the most expensive hobbies on average.
• Reading or book clubs and cooking or baking are the top-two most popular hobbies in the U.S.
• The average American spends about $94 on their main hobby in a typical month.
• The average American spends about 7 hours a week on their hobby.
• 41% of Americans have had to limit engagement with their hobby because of costs.
• 34% of Americans have had to give up a hobby because it got too expensive.

Where Americans Spend the Most and Least on Hobbies

While some hobbies cost little to none to partake in, others come with a hefty price tag for materials, membership fees, and more. Overall, we discovered the average American spends about $94 on their hobby each month, totaling more than $1,000 a year. 

Leading the way for the most expensive hobbies are Florida residents with an average monthly spend of $131.33. While there is a vast array of hobbies residents take part in, we learned reading or book clubs (53%), video gaming (51%), and traveling (49%) are the top three activities Floridians take part in. 

Up next with the second most expensive hobbies on average is Alabama where residents spend about $128.22 monthly or more than $1,500 yearly. Taking the top spot for the most popular hobby in the state is attending concerts, shows, or events, which 51% of residents report. 

Coming in third place for pricey hobbies is Minnesota as the average resident spends $126.21 each month on their favorite activities. Similar to Florida, Minnesota residents enjoy playing video games (47%) and reading (45%) as they rank second and third for popular hobbies respectively, with puzzles (49%) taking the top spot. 

Setting aside money to enjoy your hobbies can sometimes be necessary to ensure you are budgeting correctly, but we found that 41% of people say they have had to limit engagement with their hobby due to the costs. For another 34% of people, spending became too much, forcing them to give up their hobby altogether. 

When asked about the aspects of their hobby that cost the most, nearly 1 in 3 respondents pointed to the consumables or supplies required for their activities. For 1 in 4 Americans, their main spend comes from purchasing equipment or gear for their hobby. Similarly, nearly 1 in 5 people reported the cost of a membership or subscription is the priciest aspect of their hobby.

Most Popular Hobbies in America

After learning about the cost of hobbies across the country, we turned our attention to the activities captivating Americans. Topping our list, with 52% of people saying they participate, is reading or book clubs. Whether you read to have alone time or for connection with others, books help to keep our brains active making it just as healthy and fun for avid readers. 

Coming in second place for hobbies in the U.S. is cooking or baking which 51% of people say they do in their free time. While many Americans find themselves cooking meals each day, this is anything but a mundane task for some people who pride themselves on trying new recipes and techniques regularly. 

Up next in third place is playing video games which nearly half of Americans report as a hobby (48%). From single-player adventures to battle-royale-style games with friends, there is something for everyone when it comes to video games. In addition to a wide range of genres, video games have also been adopted by people of all ages making it a popular hobby for children and grandparents alike. 

For nearly 2 in 5 people puzzles are the top hobby as it claims fourth place overall. This category includes everything from jigsaw puzzles to crosswords. Once again, this is another hobby that people of all ages are able to enjoy. 

Rounding out our top five hobbies is traveling, as more than a third of Americans report it. While some might imagine travel for a hobby as international trips, it can also include traveling to a nearby town or city you’ve never been to before. So next time you feel the desire to start traveling in your free time, remember while your goal one day can be Europe, a new destination in your state can still be just as exciting.

Overall, we discovered the average American spends about 7 hours a week on their hobby. For 1 in 3 people, their hobby typically takes about 3 to 5 hours of the week. For nearly 1 in 4, however, their hobby time extends to about 6 to 9 hours each week on average. While time spent on a hobby can vary based on availability, we learned that 27% of Americans regularly spend 10 or more hours on their hobby in a given week.

Try 3D Printing as a Hobby

If you have yet to find a hobby that excites you, don’t worry because it’s never too late to find an activity that you enjoy. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast or a tech wizz, there is a hobby out there that will captivate you and potentially become another item you budget for each month. 

If you have a desire to try out 3D printing, the team at CGTrader is here to help. With a wide range of 3D models and 3D printing files across a variety of categories, you are sure to find something that will spark your interest. 

Perhaps you are already in the 3D printing world and want to find a designer community who shares your interest. Whatever your goals, the team at CGTrader has you covered.

Methodology

In this study, we set out to learn where Americans are spending the most on their hobbies. To do this, we surveyed residents in each state about their hobbies and asked a variety of questions from the hobbies they participate in, how much they spend, how much time they spend on their hobby each week, and more. We then calculated the average cost per month of hobbies by state and ranked states accordingly.