The United States is witnessing a growing gap in the housing market between single individuals and shared households, with 64% of unmarried people struggling to cover rent or mortgage payments, compared with 39% of married households, according to a survey by Redfin.
Rising home prices and rents have outpaced wage growth, putting pressure on personal savings—especially for those supporting themselves alone. In contrast, married households benefit from dual incomes, tax advantages, and shared expenses that help ease the financial burden.
The gap is even more apparent in major cities such as Washington and San Francisco, where the cost of living alone can reach thousands of dollars per month. The burden drops significantly when couples share expenses, creating what is known as the “living alone premium,” which can exceed $40,000 annually.
This financial strain limits mobility for unmarried individuals and makes housing a barrier to improving living standards or relocating in search of job opportunities, reflecting how the economics of solo living have become a defining feature of the post-pandemic housing market.
