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‘Singles tax’ costs Americans living alone $10,470 annually in extra expenses

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'Singles tax' costs Americans living alone $10,470 annually in extra expenses

Americans who live alone are paying a five-figure “singles tax” amid rising rents around the nation, a new analysis finds.

Data from Zillow shows that the typical apartment rent is currently $1,745 and has risen 30% over the last five years, which represents a significant burden for renters who live alone and don’t have one or more roommates to split the bill with.

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The premium paid by solo renters was dubbed the “singles tax” by Zillow, which found that the national average singles tax amounts to $10,470 per year. 

“When you’re living alone, you’re covering the full rent on one income and that can add up fast,” said Emily Smith, Zillow rental trends expert. “Apartments often make living solo more attainable, while also offering shared spaces that help people feel connected.”

HOUSING MARKET COOLS AS PRICE GROWTH HITS SLOWEST PACE SINCE GREAT RECESSION RECOVERY

New York City street

New York City had the largest “singles tax” in Zillow’s data, which amounted to $23,400 per year. (Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images / Getty Images)

New York City tops the list of areas with the highest singles tax, as the Big Apple’s typical apartment rent of $3,900 a month amounts to a singles tax of $23,400 for the year.

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San Jose ranked second, with a typical rent of $3,248 a month and a singles tax of $19,488 per year. Boston was close behind in third, with the typical rent in the city amounting to $3,014 a month and resulting in a singles tax of $18,084.

A pair of California cities rounded out the top five, with San Francisco in fourth based on a typical rent of $2,857 and a singles tax of $17,142, while Los Angeles ranked fifth with a typical monthly rent of $2,648 and a singles tax of $15,888.

HOMEBUYERS GAIN UPPER HAND IN 3 MAJOR CITIES AS INVENTORIES GROW

San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco ranked fourth on Zillow’s list with a “singles tax” of $17,142 per year. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Renters who pair up their living arrangement with a partner derive what Zillow called a “couples’ discount” from being able to split up the rental bill as well as utilities and other costs.

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“For renters who choose to live with a partner or roommate, splitting everyday costs like rent, utilities and groceries can go a long way in easing the pressure of today’s higher cost of living,” Smith said.

Based on the firm’s national data, the couples’ discount amounts to a combined $20,940 in annual rental savings from splitting the bill.

RICH CALIFORNIANS FLOCK TO LAS VEGAS HOUSING MARKET AS LAWMAKERS CONSIDER WEALTH TAX

Los Angeles city

Los Angeles ranked fifth on Zillow’s list of cities with the largest “singles tax.” (iStock / iStock)

For example, given the sizable singles tax in the cities with the highest rent, couples in New York City can get a discount of $46,800 instead of the singles tax of $23,400.

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The report noted the couples discount can go a long way toward helping renters save for a down payment on a home, with the national average couples discount of $20,940 being more than halfway to a 10% down payment on a typical U.S. home, per Zillow’s data.

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The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Prepared Remarks Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Anne-Marie Megela
VP & Global Head of Investor Relations

Hello. This is Anne-Marie Megela, Head of Global Investor Relations at The Kraft Heinz Company. I’d like to welcome you to our fourth quarter and full year 2025 business update. During the following remarks, we will make forward-looking statements regarding our expectations for the future, including related to our business plans and expectations, strategy, efforts and investments and related timing and expected impacts. These statements are based on how we see things today, and actual results may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties. Please see the cautionary statements and risk factors contained in today’s earnings release, which accompany these remarks as well as our most recent 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filings for more information regarding these risks and uncertainties.

Additionally, we will refer to non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude certain items from our financial results reported in accordance with GAAP. Please refer to today’s earnings release and the non-GAAP information that accompany these remarks, which are available on our website at ir.kraftheinzcompany.com under News & Events for a discussion of our non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures. Today, our Chief Executive Officer, Steve Cahillane, will provide an update on our overall strategy and business performance. Andre Maciel, our Chief Global Financial Officer, will then provide a financial review of the fourth quarter results, and we will conclude by discussing our 2026 outlook. We have also scheduled a separate live question-and-answer session with analysts. You can access our question-and-answer session at ir.kraftheinzcompany.com. A replay will also be available following the event through the same website.

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