Holiday Spending Statistics in Canada

For a few years, the holiday season looked very different because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, life has returned to more normal but Canadians are now facing rising living costs and inflation. How did this affect Canadians’ holiday plans during the 2024 holiday season?

In this article, we look at holiday spending in Canada both during and after the global pandemic. Continue reading to learn about holiday spending in Canada.

Holiday Spending Statistics for Canadians

• On average, Canadians plan to spend $1,675 during the 2025 holiday season.
• Most Canadians overspent during the holiday season with only 2% sticking to or spending less than their budget.
• 7% of Canadian consumers overspent their budget by more than a thousand dollars
• Canadians from Generation Z are likely to spend the most during the 2025 holiday season.
• Holiday travel expenses increased 12% from 2024 to 2025, contributing to higher overall holiday spending.
• The amounts Canadians spend on family and friends during holidays remain close to recent levels.
• Almost 2/3 of Canadian consumers say they like to show loyalty to Canadian brands.
• Valentine’s Day spending in 2025 was slightly lower than in 2024.
• Around half of Canadians planned to spend under $50 on Easter celebrations in 2025.

Holiday spending in Canada

During the 2024 holiday season, Canadians spent an average of $1,853 on gifts, travel, and entertainment, which was a notable increase compared with previous years. That figure reflected a stronger willingness to spend despite ongoing economic uncertainty at the time. 

For the 2025 holiday season, Canadians are planning their spending amid continuing cost‑of‑living concerns. According to surveys conducted in mid‑2025, Canadian consumers intend to spend an average of around $1,675 — a 10% decrease from the 2024 holiday spending, though still 2% higher than actual spending in 2023.

Budgets Canadians set for themselves versus actual spending

Regardless of what Canadians plan to spend, data from Statista shows that most Canadians are likely to overspend during the holiday period, with only 2% of shoppers staying within their budget.

Canadians are most likely to overspend by up to $100, with 27% of consumers falling into this group. 19% of consumers overspend between $101 and $200 while 16% of people overspend by $401-$500. Surprisingly many Canadians go over the budget they set themselves by over $1,000 with 7% of consumers in this category.

Spending increases with wages

The people most likely to increase their holiday season spending were those with higher wages. Canadians earning over $60,000 were planning to spend $1,773 on average, compared to $919 for those earning less than $60,000. Individuals earning over $150,000 per year planned to spend around $2,451.

How does planned spending vary across the generations?

How much Canadians are planning to spend during the holiday season also varies between the generations. According to Statista, Canadians from Generation Z are likely to spend the most followed by Millenials. The average planned spending among Generation Z is $2,296 and for Millenials, it is $2,233 on average. Older generations are spending less on average for gifts, travel, and holiday entertainment.

Spending on gifts during the holiday season

The difference in gift spending from year to year is not as striking as in other areas of Canadian holiday spending. According to a 2025 survey of Canadian holiday shoppers, Canadians who plan to give gifts during the 2025 holiday season intend to spend an average of about $708 on gifts, compared with $698 in 2024, showing only a modest year‑over‑year change. Spending varies across income groups and age cohorts, with higher‑income and younger adults generally planning to spend more on gifts than other groups. 

According to a recent Ipsos poll, many Canadians indicated changes in how much they plan to spend on gifts, with some planning to spend less and others planning to spend about the same as the previous year, reflecting ongoing caution in holiday budgets.

Spending on holiday travel

Canadians continue to prioritise their holiday budgets, with travel being an important, though sometimes costly, component. In the 2024 holiday season, average spending on travel was around $745 per person, and in 2025, this is expected to increase slightly to approximately $760 per person.

Rising costs are causing some Canadians to rethink their holiday travel plans. For 2025, about 23 % of Canadians are planning to travel during the holiday season. Of those planning a trip, 50 % intend to spend less on travel than in 2024, while 51 % plan to choose alternative destinations to reduce expenses. Overall, 65 % of Canadians said they could not afford to include travel in their holiday spending budget.

Holiday season entertainment

Holiday entertainment continues to be an important part of Canadians’ seasonal spending. In 2024, the average Canadian spent around $245 on entertainment, covering activities such as dining out, movies, concerts, and other leisure experiences. Many Canadians balanced traditional outings with smaller, more cost-conscious activities, reflecting careful budgeting amid rising living costs.

By the 2025 holiday season, average spending on entertainment had increased slightly to approximately $258 per person. Canadians showed a growing interest in digital and streaming experiences alongside in-person activities, combining classic holiday traditions with virtual options. 

Personal spending

During the holiday season, Canadians continue to allocate a portion of their spending to themselves, including personal gifts, clothing, and leisure items. In 2024, the average Canadian spent around $490 on themselves, reflecting a steady increase in personal holiday spending as consumers sought to treat themselves while balancing budgets across other expenses.

By the 2025 holiday season, spending on personal items had risen further to approximately $505 per person. Canadians of all ages demonstrated a growing interest in self-care and experiences as part of their seasonal celebrations. Many used this spending to purchase personal electronics, wellness products, or special outings, signalling that holiday self-spending remains an important aspect of Canadian holiday habits.

Spending on family and friends

Canadian consumers continue to prioritise spending on family and friends during the holiday season. In 2024, Canadians spent an average of $875 on family and $120 on friends, reflecting a steady increase in holiday spending compared to previous years.

By the 2025 holiday season, spending on family rose slightly to around $890, while spending on friends reached $125 on average. About 48% of Canadians said they planned to focus on buying what their family needs, up from 41% in 2024.

Canadians remain budget-conscious when shopping for gifts. Around 77% said they would compare prices to find the best deals, and 71% indicated they would choose more affordable brands. Additionally, 45% reported that they would visit multiple stores or websites to ensure they were getting the best value for their holiday purchases.

Spending on pets

Many pet owners continue to purchase treats or gifts for their pets during the holiday season. In 2024, Canadian pet owners spent an average of $42 on gifts and treats for their pets. This amount increased slightly in 2025, reaching around $44, reflecting a steady interest in including pets in holiday celebrations.

Consumers want to support Canadian companies during the holiday season

62% of Canadian consumers say they like to show loyalty to Canadian brands and retailers when doing their holiday shopping. In addition, 55% say they want their dollars to stay in Canada to support the Canadian economy.

However, cross-border shopping is also popular. People who shop across the border say they do it because of better prices (83%), not being able to find what they wanted locally (68%), and more choices (62%).

Additionally, 73% of Canadian consumers said that they preferred to shop at stores with ethical business practices. Product safety and quality are the most important factors to most Canadians, with 81% saying this was the primary concern for shopping at more sustainable and ethically sound stores.

Valentine’s Day spending 2025

In 2025, Canadian consumers’ spending on Valentine’s Day reflected both enthusiasm for the occasion and caution amid broader cost‑of‑living concerns. According to a consumer survey, about 55.6 % of Canadians who planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day said they would spend more than $50 on gifts, dining, and related expenses, with 33.1 % planning to spend between $51 and $100, and smaller shares intending to spend higher amounts. 5.4 % said they would spend $101–$150, 2.7 % planned to spend $201–$300, and 2.5 % expected to spend more than $400 overall.

Dining out and gift buying remained central to Valentine’s Day celebrations in 2025. Surveys showed that 41.1 % of Valentine’s shoppers planned to dine out as part of their festivities, and many Canadians continued to favour local and in‑store shopping for their purchases, with around 56 % saying they would make a dedicated shopping trip for Valentine’s Day gifts.

Easter Spending 2025

In 2025, about 50 % of Canadians said they planned to spend on Easter‑related purchases, with 85.7 % of those intending to spend the same amount or more compared to what they spent in 2024. Of those planning to shop for Easter, 47.9 % expected to spend between $0–$50, while 28.3 % planned to allocate $51–$100 for their holiday purchases, showing a range of spending levels across the population. 46 % of shoppers said they would make a dedicated trip specifically for Easter purchases, slightly down from the previous year.

Much of the Easter budget continues to be spent on food, alcohol and candies, with food and alcohol being the top spending categories for 2025, followed by hosting or attending gatherings and purchases like flowers. A growing share of shoppers also said they consider eco‑friendly or sustainable products in their Easter shopping. 

Conclusion

In 2025, Canadians tightened their budgets for holiday spending, with many households reducing their overall expenditures due to rising prices. Younger Canadians and families were the most likely to feel the impact and cut back the most.

Holiday travel plans were also affected, with a significant number of Canadians adjusting or cancelling trips. Rising costs also influenced spending on other holidays, including Valentine’s Day and Easter, as consumers became more selective about how they allocated their budgets.