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Singles in this city pay the most to live alone
CNN
Most people who live alone know they’re paying a premium compared to their friends who split rent with partners or roommates. But in no city is this “singles tax” more expensive than in New York City.
Most people who live alone know they’re paying a premium compared to their friends who split rent with partners or roommates. But in no city is this “singles tax” more expensive than in New York City. In the city that never sleeps, singles pay an average of $20,100 more per year to live alone. That’s according to an analysis from real estate platforms StreetEasy and Zillow, which owns the StreetEasy brand. They calculated the additional cost a person is paying to live solo in a one-bedroom apartment rather than sharing that space with a partner. Couples who live together in a one-bedroom apartment in New York City save a combined average of $40,200 per year on rent, according to the analysis. Other cities with expensive rent, like San Francisco, San Jose, California and Boston, also come with a hefty singles tax – but paying to live alone in New York costs the most. Nationwide, the typical annual savings for a pair of cohabitating renters is $15,123. That’s more than $25,000 lower than the New York City average.