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Being single in modern America is a tricky line to walk. Everything costs more, even if it's not supposed to, and it feels like you're being taxed just for choosing to not settle down, or for having left a relationship that was wrong for you.
So when the most recent Consumer Expenditure Survey, published this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed that single people spend more on housing than married people, I was absolutely not shocked. This is true across the board, whether you're renting or you have a mortgage .
How much more do singles pay for housing?
First of all, before we talk about what singles pay for housing, let's talk about what people pay for housing in general. In 2023, the overall cost of housing was $25,436 per household, which includes both shelter-related expenses and utilities.
Homeowners paid about $8,699 per year, up from $8,230 in 2022 -- which makes sense, seeing as how mortgage rates have been holding steadily high until recently. Renters paid $5,370 in 2023, up from $4,990 the year before. It's a 5.7% gain for homeowners and a 7.6% gain for renters.
Overall, housing represented 32.9% of annual expenditures per household in 2023, which has been part of a downward trend since 2020, when it was at 34.9%. That's great news. But, maybe not for everyone.
As a share of average expenditures, households of single people spent 36.3% of their yearly expenses on housing, as opposed to married couples with no children, who paid 31.2% of their expenses on housing.
The only people who have a larger percentage of their expenses dedicated to housing than single people with no children are single parents, who dedicated 37.3% of their expenditures on housing for themselves and their minor child or children.
Breaking down the math
To put that into more concrete numbers, if we assume everyone is paying $77,280 -- the average annual consumer expenditures for 2023 -- married couples with no children pay $24,111.36, or $2,009.28 per month, for housing and related expenses, where single people with no children pay $2,337.72 monthly for housing and related expenses (this includes single people that split expenses with roommates).
All things being equal, singles pay way more for housing and housing related expenses than their married counterparts. Here's a chart!
| Household Type | Housing Percentage of Expenses | Total Yearly Cost Based on 2023 Average Consumer Expenditures | Total Monthly Cost Based on 2023 Average Consumer Expenditures |
|---|
| All households | 32.9% | $25,425.12 | $2,118.76 |
| Married couple, no children | 31.2% | $24,111.36 | $2,009.28 |
| Married couple, children under 18 | 30.6% | $23,647.68 | $1,970.64 |
| One parent, one or more children | 37.3% | $28,825.44 | $2,402.12 |
| Single person | 36.3% | $28,052.64 | $2,337.72 |
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey. Table by author.
Tips for reducing housing cost creep
These high housing prices for singles haven't just happened overnight -- they've been building to this point.
If you want to buy
The most important thing you can do to control your housing costs is to buy a home of your own. Watch out for HOAs (homeowners associations) that can assess special fees that lead to skyrocketing payments, and choose instead properties where you have control over as many expenses as possible.
It's hard to buy a home right now, but it's not impossible. Call your favorite mortgage lender and get pre-approved for financing. You may find that you qualify for a better house today than you did even a year ago, due to a recent decline in mortgage rates.
You may also find that if you look for homes that are in less popular areas, or that need a little sprucing up (I don't mean a complete gut-job or tear down, but paneling in the living room won't kill you), you'll be able to save a lot more.
First-time home buyers often qualify for special financing assistance through state or municipal programs, so check that if you've not got a down payment saved up. Your housing costs are only going to grow over time if you're renting, so the sooner you move on taking control of your finances, the better off you'll be.
If you want to keep renting
If you're not ready to buy yet, you can also look for rentals that are offered by individuals, rather than large corporate owners. My father, for example, owns three rental properties. He's like many small landlords who prefer to have good tenants locked in for a long time than to get every nickel the market will give him, and this is how he's funding his retirement.
You'll find these folks by driving around looking for signs, or through word of mouth, so keep an ear to the ground to help reduce the price you pay to be single.
Whether you rent or you buy, thinking outside the box can help you save more on housing and mitigate the singles tax.
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