Economists calculated exactly how much Trump tariffs will cost you in 2026—and who is paying the most

The total cost depends heavily on several factors, including your income level, your household size, and where you live in the country.

[Images: Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images, Adobe Stock]

The majority of President Trump’s tariffs were struck down earlier this year by the Supreme Court, but a number remain in place, with the threat of higher tariffs still to come. While the importers of tariffed goods are the ones who pay the actual tariff costs up front, they generally pass the cost of those tariffs onto you, the consumer, through higher prices.

But just how much extra can you expect to pay this year based on the current tariff situation? That depends heavily on several factors, including your income level, your household size, and where you live in the country.

The average household will pay around $600 in 2026 due to tariffs

The good news is that the amount the average household will pay out during 2026 due to Trump’s tariffs is down from their 2025 levels, reports CNBC. 

In 2025, the average US household incurred about $1,000 in tariff-related expenses, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. But in 2026, that number is expected to shrink to about $600 per household on average.

That figure is in the same range as what an analysis by Yale University’s Budget Lab found: that in 2026, the average household will pay around $570 in tariff-related costs.

However, as CNBC notes, the additional costs a household will bear from tariffs can vary widely depending on several factors.

The most significant factor is family size. After all, a household with six family members needs to buy a lot more goods throughout the year than a household with a family of three. These goods encompass everything from food to electronics.

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