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The Price of Going Solo: The $10,000 ‘Singles Tax’

By Anushna Prakash on 11 Feb 2026

• According to Zillow Rentals data, renters who live alone pay an average of $10,470 more per year than renters who share housing, a cost Zillow defines as the national “singles tax.”
• Zillow data shows the singles tax increased by just $146, the smallest annual increase in the past five years.
• Zillow analysis shows that renters who share one lease instead of maintaining two separate households can save a combined $20,940 per year in rent.
• New York City has the highest singles tax in the U.S., where solo renters pay $23,400 more per year than those who share housing, according to StreetEasy data.

Living solo comes with plenty of perks — independence, privacy and full control of the thermostat. But that freedom also comes with a price tag. The national “singles tax” — the extra amount renters pay to live alone rather than share housing — now totals $10,470 per year.

With the typical U.S. apartment rent at $1,745 — up 30% over the past five years — solo renters are covering that full amount on their own instead of splitting it among two or more roommates, essentially paying a premium for having the fridge, remote and closet space all to themselves. The good news for all renters (not just those flying solo) is that apartment affordability nationwide (taking rising incomes into account) is the best it’s been since April 2021.

Last year, Zillow calculated the singles tax using only one-bedroom units. This year, Zillow ditched the unnecessary box-checking and analyzed typical rents across all apartments, drawing from the more than 72,000 multifamily listings on Zillow to reflect the range of homes singles actually consider.  After all, who couldn’t use an extra bedroom for a home office, gym or overflow closet? 

Love, roommates and the ‘couples’ discount’

For sweethearts, the singles tax flips, becoming a meaningful “couples’ discount.” By sharing one lease instead of maintaining two separate rent bills, couples can capture a combined $20,940 in annual rent savings. Those savings can add up quickly. An extra $20,000 back in renters’ pockets is more than halfway to a 10% down payment on a typical U.S. home, or money that can go toward travel, date nights and making a shared space feel like home.

Where solo living is priciest — and sharing delivers big savings

New York City remains the most expensive market for renters living alone. According to StreetEasy®, Zillow’s New York City brand, solo renters in New York City pay $23,400 more per year than those who share housing — the highest singles tax in the country. San Jose follows, with living alone costing renters $19,488 annually, and Boston is close behind at $18,084.

These same metros, however, are also where sharing a home can deliver the biggest financial payoff. In New York City, San Jose, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, renters who share housing can save more than $30,000 per year, making falling in love one of the most effective ways to stretch a housing budget in the nation’s most expensive rental markets.

*New York City data comes from StreetEasy’s median asking rent. Data for all other markets comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index (multifamily units only) and covers the full metro area.