What does the average American summer cost?

(Photo by Bermix Studio via Unsplash)

Nearly $400 a weekend — That's what the average American spends on summer activities, according to new data.

Per a recent survey of 2,000 Americans commissioned by DailyPay and conducted by Talker Research, that price tag reflects the balancing act many are facing in order to enjoy summer and have “IRL” moments with family and friends, while still managing the financial realities of today’s economy.

In the study, exactly half of Americans (50%) reported that they spend the most money on socializing during the summer season, and 60% said they’re working to spend more time “IRL” this summer with their loved ones — that is, time offline and face-to-face.

The most popular summer activities this year include dining at restaurants (40%), spending the day at the park, beach or lake (34%) and going to the movies/having movie nights (33%), followed by having parties with friends and family (32%) and going on road trips (27%).

However, the majority of people polled (60%) admitted that having a social life is becoming more and more difficult to afford. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (73%) said their income is holding them back from doing everything they’d like to do this summer.  And over half (57%) of Americans said their finances are holding them back from enjoying quality time with loved ones. Most (55%) confessed they often end up sacrificing their social lives due to financial restrictions.

Others are grinding to earn more, with 53% of Americans picking up extra work or side hustles this summer, just to be able to participate socially.

This financial stress is impacting more than wallets — it’s also straining friendships. Forty-two percent of respondents said they've lost friends because they couldn't afford to keep up socially, and nearly half (48%) admitted to regularly making excuses to avoid plans, rather than admitting they can't afford them.

(Photo by Abu Sayeed Ibn Muktar via Unsplash)

When Americans are managing their finances around summer vacations, pay timing can become a factor. There is increasing recognition that on-demand pay should be an option, with 71% of Americans believing everyone should have the ability to access their pay as they earn it.

“This data shows how financial stress and social connection pull against each other, and summer pushes that tension to its peak,” said Poulomi Damany, chief product officer at DailyPay. "Much of this financial stress comes down to timing. Most people manage their daily lives on a pay structure designed decades ago. When people can access the pay they've already earned, they gain the flexibility to spend on the moments that matter to them."

In the study, most people (72%) said being around family, friends, and loved ones is important to them, and more than three in five Americans (62%) stated that socializing is essential for their well-being.

Face-to-face, in-person quality time is becoming increasingly important to people, with respondents saying they actually need nearly 10 hours, on average, with their friends and family during a typical weekend to feel recharged and balanced.

And even though more Gen Z and millennials said they’re carving out IRL time with their loved ones this summer than older respondents in the survey, younger adults also admitted to overspending the most on social activities.

Spending over a typical summer weekend, on average:

• Dining out (eating at restaurants, getting coffee, going to bars, etc.) — $61
• Transportation (train or metro tickets, rideshares, gas, parking, etc.) — $51
• Hosting gatherings at your home and/or spending money bringing food or drinks to someone else’s gathering — $60
• Entertainment (going to the movies, going to a concert, attending a show, amusement parks, etc.) — $57
• Outdoor activities (camping, boating, hiking passes, fishing permits, etc.) — $55
• Self-care and wellness (haircuts, spa treatments, beauty services, etc.) — $54
• Attending celebrations and buying gifts (attending weddings and buying wedding gifts, attending birthdays and buying birthday gifts etc.) — $59

Top 10 summer 2026 “IRL” activities:

1. Going to restaurants (40%)
2. Going to the park, beach or lake (34%)
3. Movie nights / going to the movies (33%)
4. Parties with family and friends (32%)
5. Go on a road trip (27%)
6. Picnics (23%)
7. Weekend getaways (23%)
8. Cooking as a social activity/shared experience (23%)
9. Game nights (21%)
10. Concerts (17%)

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans evenly split by generation who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by DailyPay and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between July 1 and July 7, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.