Key Takeaways:
- NYC couples who live together can save a combined average of $40,200 annually on rent, meaning singles living alone miss out on saving $20,100 per year.
- Singles living in four of the five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx — pay more to live alone than those in any other city in the country.
- Outside of NYC, the most expensive cities for living alone are San Francisco, San Jose, and Boston.
Love is in the air in NYC, but the city’s cohabitating couples may find themselves with an even nicer gift than chocolates and roses this Valentine’s Day: a hefty $40,200 annual savings on rent. A new analysis from StreetEasy® and Zillow® shows that shacking up with your significant other has never made more sense, as the city’s “singles tax” remains at an all-time high. The good news for those flying solo, however, is that NYC’s current $20,100 singles tax remains flat from last year.
Rising rents in recent years have brought up housing costs for all New Yorkers, particularly those living alone. In the last five years, citywide rents have increased 24%, with the median asking rent for a one-bedroom increasing 22%.
“As anyone on the dating scene in NYC will tell you, it’s not easy to be single here, and the lack of affordable rentals just adds another layer to that struggle,” said Casey Roberts, StreetEasy home trends expert. “It’s no secret that New York is an expensive city, whether it’s food, entertainment, or housing — and those costs have only gone up, making the dream of living alone even harder to achieve. Over the last five years, we’ve seen rents continue to set and break new records. So whether you’re living with a romantic partner, a friend, or even an acquaintance, it can make a lot of sense for New Yorkers to partner up to make living in the city work.”
NYC Rentals Under $3,500 on StreetEasy Article continues below
Manhattan couples save the most
While NYC unsurprisingly ranks number one as the place where singles shoulder the most financial burden, each borough individually also outranks most of the largest cities in the United States. Nationally, the typical annual savings for cohabitating renters is $15,123 — $25,077 lower than the NYC average.
In Manhattan, the city’s most expensive borough, couples can save an average of more than $50,000 by living together — more than anywhere else in the country. In Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, couples also save more than in any of the largest cities nationwide. Meanwhile, singles in Staten Island pay the lowest singles tax of any borough: just under $12,000 more than their coupled-up counterparts, which is still higher than in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Denver.
Take your relationship with NYC to the next level
For those ready to plant their roots solo in New York City, buying a home can offer the financial stability of avoiding future singles tax increases. Plus, if you’re going to pay more to live alone, why not build equity? Regardless of romantic status, those looking to take their relationship with NYC to the next step can connect with the StreetEasy Concierge for buyers to talk about leveling up to homeowner status. Still not sure if you’re ready to commit? Check out our first-time buyer guide for more information.
Methodology
The singles tax is the additional cost a person is paying for their solo occupancy rather than cohabiting in the same space with a partner. We multiplied a median-priced one-bedroom rental in December 2024 by 12 to calculate the typical annual rent paid, and halved this number to calculate the singles tax in a given area. We doubled the singles tax to estimate the typical discount couples receive by living together. The couples discount reflects the typical maximum discount a couple may receive by living together, as total savings in reality are likely to be less than double the expense of living alone.
StreetEasy is an assumed name of Zillow, Inc. which has a real estate brokerage license in all 50 states and D.C. See real estate licenses. StreetEasy does not intend to interfere with any agency agreement you may have with a real estate professional or solicit your business if you are already under contract to purchase or sell property. All data for uncited sources in this presentation has been sourced from Zillow data. Copyright © 2025 by Zillow, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
