Rising living costs are keeping Americans closer to home this summer, with a new report revealing that the majority of workers have scaled back or abandoned vacation plans entirely.
According to Monster’s Staycation Summer Report, 52% of U.S. workers say higher living costs are causing them to stay home more often this summer.
Nearly two in five workers (39%) report cutting back on vacations or travel, and 37% are actively seeking lower-cost leisure activities to replace traditional summer spending.
The findings paint a picture of a workforce under significant financial strain. Some 86% of respondents said their financial stress has increased over the past year, with 46% describing the impact as “significant.”
“Workers are making difficult choices as higher costs continue to impact household budgets,” said Vicki Salemi, Monster Career Expert. “For most people, this summer is less about where they’re traveling and more about enjoying time off while managing financial realities and tighter budgets. We’re seeing today’s workers prioritize affordability, flexibility, and financial stability over discretionary spending.
Savings Over Spending
The shift goes beyond skipping beach trips. More than a quarter of workers (28%) say they are prioritizing saving money over leisure spending, while 23% plan to work more this summer to keep up financially.
Only 17% reported that their summer plans have not changed at all.
Broader spending cutbacks are also widespread. More than half of workers (54%) have reduced dining out or entertainment, 38% have delayed a major purchase, and 33% have reduced contributions to savings. An additional 31% have cut back on driving, and 26% have taken on extra work or a side income to offset rising costs.
A New Definition of Summer
Together, these trends suggest that for many Americans, summer 2026 looks markedly different from years past — defined less by travel and more by financial trade-offs.
The data indicates that staycations are not simply a preference but, for a large share of the workforce, a financial necessity.
The Monster Staycation Summer Report was based on a survey of 1,005 U.S. respondents conducted between April 20 and May 4, 2026.
