Roses are red. Rent is due. Solo is sweet — but sharing saves too

There’s a certain romance to having your own place: no thermostat negotiations, no mystery leftovers, no one commandeering your streaming queue. But in today’s rental market, that independence carries a price tag.

According to a new Zillow Rentals analysis, Americans who live alone pay an average of $10,470 more per year than renters who share housing. Zillow calls it the “singles tax” — the extra cost of covering rent solo instead of splitting it with a partner or roommate.

Here’s the twist this Valentine’s Day: the rental market is finally being a little kinder to singles.

A little more breathing room

After several years of rapid rent increases, the market has settled into a steadier rhythm. Apartment affordability nationwide — accounting for income gains — is now the best it has been since April 2021.

That shift is showing up in the singles tax itself. Over the past year, it increased by just $146, the smallest annual rise in five years. The premium for privacy hasn’t disappeared, but it’s no longer climbing the way it did during the height of the rental surge.

For renters living alone, that stabilization matters. When rent growth slows, the share of income required to cover housing stops stretching quite so far — and having a clear sense of what fits within your budget becomes easier. Zillow’s affordability calculator can help renters map out what they can comfortably afford before they start their search.

More love in select markets

That improvement has benefited renters in some markets more than others. In Sun Belt markets, especially, a boom in apartment construction has eased competition for each unit. 

New York City continues to rank as the most expensive market for solo renters, where living alone costs about $23,400 more annually than sharing housing, according to StreetEasy, Zillow’s New York City brand. San Jose and Boston follow close behind.

The “couples’ discount”

Sharing still delivers a meaningful financial upside. Two renters who combine households can save roughly $20,940 per year by maintaining one lease instead of two separate apartments.

In high-cost cities, the math gets even sweeter. 

In markets where rent can consume a significant portion of income, splitting housing costs can dramatically improve affordability — freeing up room for savings, travel or future plans.

The right match

Living solo remains an intentional choice for many renters who value independence. With affordability gradually improving, the choice between “me” and “we” feels less pressured and more personal. Renters have more room to be strategic in today’s cooler market and may find opportunities to negotiate concessions or take advantage of move-in incentives. 

This Valentine’s Day, love may be priceless. And in a steadier rental market, it can also make the budget look better.