A Millennial broke down the real cost of living alone — and why it feels like everything favors couples

Being single often feels like a loss when you witness the love, companionship, and more you’re missing out on. A Canadian millennial revealed that it gets worse when it comes to the cost of living, as shared by Newsweek. The anonymous user who goes by u/dmans218 shared a post on June 19 highlighting how inconvenient and expensive it is for single people to afford adulthood in this economy. They highlighted how couples are enjoying the pre-drafted arrangements meant for split purchases and saving, and in the bargain, bachelors are struggling. The nearly 900 upvotes and nearly 400 comments proved that the user was not alone. 

In their post, they wrote, “No one really talks about how expensive being single is.” They added that buying food in bulk might seem like the cheaper option, but it’s not feasible since they’re single. “I can't buy food in bulk because on average it would spoil before I could get through it,” they wrote. They are forced to purchase smaller portions at higher costs, which gradually become expensive when considering overall expenses. “This feels like the biggest financial barrier that no one talks about. The economy is designed for pairs. Not individuals,” they remarked. When the user noticed the amount of comments pouring in, stating that they related to them, they realized, “millennials are collectively feeling frustrated, overlooked, and financially squeezed on all sides.”

Many tried to share ideas, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t change the fact that the world and many arrangements are designed for a couple or family setting and not for a person living alone. According to a study done by Apartments.com, 54% of U.S. couples decide to move in within the first six months to progress in their relationship. However, there is a strong 33% that said they moved in that early only to save up on rent. And that’s exactly what Dunn and her partner chose to do. The woman mentioned that living alone felt comfortable and like a dream, but when she realized how financially convenient it was for her to live with her partner, she couldn’t say no. Another study revealed that individuals who are not in a relationship are forced to pay a “singles tax” to society due to the prearrangement of the economy.

It’s not just rent and groceries, even bills, travel and other factors are designed to be effortless and efficient for duos, thereby becoming a dilemma for single people. And if you think it's just a few dollars, data from Zillow revealed that Americans pay around $7,000 as singles' tax. For more expensive cities, this number can go up to over $19,000 or even $24,000. Amanda Pendleton, Zillow home trends expert, highlighted several joys of living alone, including a room to oneself and never having to share a bathroom, but “that freedom comes with a cost,” and quite a pricey one at that. 

Several fellow singles commented on the issue. u/Fearless-Celery wrote, “I'm less concerned about bulk food shopping and more worried about paying an entire mortgage on my own. Spinach going bad before I eat it all is not the thing killing my budget.” u/Borrowing-air added, “It’s traveling for me … jealous of those who get to split the cost of lodging.” u/TheLuminary added, “This is why lots of people have roommates.”

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