In 2017, households living in France spent on average just over 1,000 euros on cultural goods and services, i.e. 3.8% of their annual budget. Access to various audiovisual services (audiovisual licence fees, cable and satellite subscriptions, video on demand, etc.) was the main cultural expenditure, followed by the purchase of equipment goods allowing access to cultural contents (radio, television, microcomputer, etc.), then books and newspapers.

Younger households spent more on equipment goods, while households with a reference person aged 65 or over spent more on books and newspapers. Executive households allocated a higher amount and share of their budget to cultural spending than did farmers and workers. In addition, spending and budget effort on culture by households increased with the level of education and the standard of living.

Between 2011 and 2017, average household spending on cultural goods and services fell by around one hundred euros in current terms, i.e. a drop of 10%, which was mainly due to price reductions. This decline primarily concerned purchases of equipment goods enabling access to cultural contents (-35%) and, in second place, books and press (-11%). On the other hand, spending on going out and entertainment increased (+19%), as did spending on access to various audiovisual services (+8%).