1 — City studio
- Rent ~2800
- Solo food + subscriptions
- 5-year horizon
Classic housing-led single tax
Costs · housing · solo vs shared
Single tax calculator P
Find out how much extra you pay for housing, bills and everyday life simply because you don’t share those costs with another person.
This is an estimate model of fixed costs — not a lifestyle judgement and not relationship advice. Amounts follow the currency in the header.
We often think of single life in terms of freedom and independence. This calculator shows the other side — the financial one. It estimates how much more you pay by living alone compared with a situation where you share your main housing, utilities and some shopping costs with another person. It’s not a call to change your lifestyle, just a way to calmly see your personal “solo premium”.
Results
Enter your costs and click Calculate to see your single tax.
How to interpret your single tax
- Your single tax shows the difference between your solo living costs and an estimated per-person cost if you were sharing core expenses between two people.
- The model focuses on housing, utilities, food and recurring services — that’s where cost sharing usually matters most.
- The result is not a judgement or relationship advice. It’s simply a number that illustrates how much our cost structures favour two-person households.
What drives your single tax the most?
- Housing and fixed bills — rent or mortgage, building fees, utilities and internet. These costs rarely scale with the number of people.
- Food — if you mostly buy for one person, some products lose the benefits of bulk buying or shared meals.
- Subscriptions and services — even when you can share an account, many services still treat a person or household as the basic unit.
- Travel — single-room premiums and unshared transport or rental costs can quietly add up to a noticeable “solo penalty” over a year.
Assumptions behind this calculator
- The model compares one person’s living costs with a simplified scenario of two people sharing major expenses at a similar standard of living.
- It doesn’t try to capture differences in lifestyle, housing quality or spending that may go up or down in a couple — it focuses on classic fixed costs.
- The food “bulk buying” effect is simplified to a fixed percentage. In reality it can be higher or lower depending on habits.
- This calculator is not financial or relationship advice — it’s a tool to help you think through the financial side of living solo.
Sample profiles
2 — Higher rent + travel
- Higher rent & utilities
- Solo travel premium
- 5 + 10 years
Strong horizon effect
3 — Leaner, no travel premium
- Lower rent
- No “buy for one” box
- No long horizons
Smaller premium, still visible
FAQ
What is “single tax” here?
The gap between your solo living costs and an estimated per-person cost if core expenses were shared by two people.
Is this telling me to couple up or get a roommate?
No. It only shows the financial effects of cost-sharing systems — without judging lifestyle choices.
How does the food scale effect work?
If you check “I mainly buy for one person”, the shared scenario applies a simplified −20% food effect. Real habits can differ.
Why do both comparison modes use the same math?
For v1 they differ in wording (couple vs roommate). The 50/50 split stays shared so results stay comparable.
Is the currency fixed?
No. Amounts follow the currency selected in the page header.