Did you know there’s such thing as a singles tax in NYC? We wish were kidding, but alas it’s a real thing–along with the NYC bagel tax you may have been paying without even realizing. Real estate site StreetEasy, along with its parent company Zillow, recently set out to find the rent comparison between those who live alone vs. those who live with a partner or roommate, thus determining how much solo dwellers pay in “singles tax.” And as for the results? Let’s just say we’ll be doomscrolling Hinge all night…
After crunching the numbers, the study has found that NYC’s singles tax remains an all-time high. As for the numbers, solo NYC dwellers are paying a staggering $20,100 more per year in “singles tax” than those who split a home with their partner or roommate–i.e. NYC couples or roommates who live together save a combined average of $40,200 annually on rent.
And if that doesn’t sound bad enough, NYC 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. Not only that, but NYC’s singles tax is nearly three times the national average! Sure, the tax remains flat from last year, but maybe flying solo isn’t so freeing after all…
And though rising rents have been affecting all New Yorkers over recent years–citywide rents have increased 24% in the last five years–those living alone are hit the hardest. Casey Roberts, StreetEasy home trends expert, stated:
It’s not easy to be single here, and the lack of affordable rentals just adds another layer to that struggle. 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…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.
What’s the most surprising, though, is that couples living in Manhattan can save an average of more than $50,000 by living together–more than anywhere else in the country. A bit strange considering Manhattan is NYC’s most expensive borough AND is home to NYC’s most expensive neighborhood. Even more, 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, which is $25,077 lower than the NYC average.
Beyond NYC, the most expensive cities for living alone are San Francisco, San Jose, and Boston. Check out the full study.