Living on your own is great. It means you have a space to call your own and complete control over it – no more feeling confined to your bedroom and compromising on what to watch on TV.
In fact, nearly one in three (29.5%) UK households are single-occupancy, making them the most common type after one-family households.
However, nearly nine in 10 Brits recently reported feeling the strain of the rising cost of living, and with energy bills set for the steepest rise in four years and mortgage interest rates reaching their highest levels in three years, living alone presents a financial challenge for many.
Moreover, when living alone, you shoulder these household expenses, some of which, like a TV licence, streaming services, and broadband, cost the same no matter how many people live in the property.
You may also feel the pressure to go out and socialise more to avoid feeling isolated, and some may also have the added expense of dating if you’re looking for love.
What is the UK’s singles tax?
While there is no official singles tax, this informal term is given to the premium you pay for products and services because you don’t have anyone to share the costs with.
To find out the true cost of being single in 2026, UK Debt Expert has analysed key living costs across the UK, including mortgage payments, council tax, utilities, broadband, and lifestyle expenses such as pet ownership, travel, and Christmas spending.
In previous years, our research focused on renters, but because mortgage rates have risen sharply, this year’s report focuses on the higher costs for single homeowners rather than renters in shared households.
Quick summary from UK Debt Expert’s Singles Tax research:
- The singles tax in the UK has increased by nearly £900 in the past year, reaching £12,983 for the average person living alone.
- Mortgage payments make up just over half the expense, making it the biggest financial strain.
- However, proportional to last year, social and leisure costs are facing the biggest increase, with prices for a single’s holidays surging the most.
- London is the most expensive city for solo living at £33,535 per year, while Hartlepool is the most affordable at £7,949 per year.
- London living costs also saw the biggest year-on-year increase at £12,980, while Aberdeen saw the biggest decrease at -£1,637.
How much has the singles tax risen?
Living alone in the UK now comes with an average annual singles tax of £12,983, up nearly £900 from £12,103 in 2025.
That means singletons pay roughly £1,082 per month in extra expenses simply by not splitting the household costs with housemates or a partner, effectively costing a full house deposit every three years just to live alone.
Mortgages are by far the biggest cost driver, accounting for over half the singles' tax expense, averaging £7,582 per year (£632 per month). Thanks to increased mortgage rates throughout this year, single homeowners have seen an average 10% rise in mortgage payments.
However, compared with last year, social and leisure costs rose the most in proportion, led by a 40% surge in singles' holiday prices and a 32% jump in wedding attendance costs.
Now, essential living costs are taking up a much larger share of your monthly pay, and the price of having a social life is considerably higher.
Where are the top 20 most expensive cities to live alone?
This year, double the number of cities surpassed the £20,000 mark in singles tax, and for the first time one city crossed £30,000.
Unsurprisingly, London tops the list for the highest singles tax among homeowners, costing a whopping £33,535 and more than £10,000 higher than last year. Single residents can expect to spend over £2,349.13 a month on their mortgage. This is, however, just under the average monthly rent of £2,368 plus an additional £1,633.38 a year on utilities.
Next is St Albans, which has jumped four places, overtaking Oxford and Cambridge with an annual singles tax of £22,963. The average solo homeowner has faced a £2,234.01 increase in singles tax thanks to the rising cost of living.
Here, residents pay an average of £1,452.08 in mortgage payments per month and an extra £1,525.02 for utilities each year, a 16% increase compared with last year. Broadband payments witnessed the biggest increase among fixed costs, at 19%.
This year, Cambridge’s singles tax surpassed Oxford’s, coming third at £21,943 a year, an increase of £1,815.96 from last year.
Monthly mortgage payments averaged £1,371.65 and also faced the second-highest fixed-cost increase at 12%. Compared to last year, broadband payments saw the biggest fixed-cost increase at 13%, adding £200.64 per year to a solo homeowner's outgoings.
For those wanting company around the house, a dog could cost an extra £927 per year, while a cat would add around £679. Even relaxing with a drink and your favourite show starts to add up. Streaming services can total £213.67 a year if you’re subscribed to two or more platforms.
| City | Singles Tax (with living and lifestyle costs) | Year-on-year difference |
|---|---|---|
| London | £33,535.34 | £12,980.20 |
| St Albans | £22,962.95 | £2,234.01 |
| Cambridge | £21,942.78 | £1,815.96 |
| Oxford | £21,100.01 | £1,999.50 |
| Brighton and Hove | £21,076.22 | £2,588.18 |
| Bath | £20,379.07 | £4,559.59 |
| Watford | £18,353.63 | £956.82 |
| Slough | £17,572.79 | £2,299.59 |
| Woking | £17,570.91 | -£116.23 |
| Hemel Hempstead | £17,537.04 | £3,967.90 |
| Bristol | £17,159.07 | £270.87 |
| Edinburgh | £17,147.24 | £2,991.62 |
| Cheltenham | £16,389.09 | £8,488.32 |
| High Wycombe | £16,318.26 | -£471.40 |
| Crawley | £16,153.30 | £400.30 |
| Chelmsford | £15,908.71 | £2,066.89 |
| Worthing | £15,679.71 | £728.11 |
| Reading | £15,606.35 | £946.44 |
| Portsmouth | £15,112.07 | £1,315.36 |
| Stevenage | £14,926.78 | £1,354.55 |
Where are the top 20 most affordable cities to live alone?
The North of England is noticeably more affordable for solo households, claiming 17 of the top 20 spots and, most strikingly, no southern cities break into the ranking.
Hartlepool remains the most budget-friendly city for singles, with an annual solo living cost of £7,949, substantially less than those in the top twenty. The singles tax is four times less expensive here than in London.
For a single homeowner, the average monthly mortgage payment is roughly £235.68. Hartlepool witnessed a steady decline in most fixed costs, culminating in a £583.90 drop in the singles tax. Broadband prices dropped by 19%, bringing residents' annual bill to £150, and utility bills also fell by 11% to £1,186.02 per year.
Grimsby ranked second, with an average single tax of £8,289, witnessing the second biggest decline in the singles tax at -£1,352.44. Middlesbrough followed with an annual singles tax of £8,465 – a -£17 decline compared with last year.
| City | Singles Tax (with living and lifestyle costs) | Year-on-year difference |
|---|---|---|
| Hartlepool | £7,949.16 | -£583.90 |
| Grimsby | £8,289.41 | -£1,352.44 |
| Middlesbrough | £8,465.13 | -£17.38 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | £8,793.90 | -£547.88 |
| Darlington | £8,814.65 | -£84.01 |
| Blackburn | £8,873.57 | -£700.59 |
| Kingston upon Hull | £8,964.28 | £551.42 |
| Blackpool | £9,148.43 | £101.97 |
| Sunderland | £9,186.69 | £620.83 |
| Birkenhead | £9,299.31 | -£816.85 |
| Barnsley | £9,353.36 | £571.25 |
| Doncaster | £9,513.80 | £353.20 |
| Rotherham | £9,537.39 | -£388.16 |
| Wigan | £9,590.42 | -£599.92 |
| St Helens | £9,602.56 | -£6.65 |
| Bradford | £9,640.66 | -£88.38 |
| Dundee | £9,656.48 | -£152.07 |
| Huddersfield | £9,663.38 | -£156.40 |
| Halifax | £9,728.72 | £178.06 |
| Chesterfield | £9,828.65 | £308.11 |
Which cities have seen the biggest changes in singles tax?
As well as claiming the top spot for highest singles tax, London’s singles have witnessed the largest overall increase from last year – a huge £12,980. Most fixed costs rose in the capital, with mortgage payments leading the way at 22%, followed by utilities costs, which climbed 19%.
London may have seen the largest monetary increase, but Cheltenham’s residents felt the largest proportional increase. Its singles tax increased by 107% (£8,488) to £16,389, driven primarily by rising mortgage payments.
Over the past year, Bath’s singles tax worsened by £4,559, meaning solo households experienced the third-largest increase in the country. Utility bills dropped by 27%, but average mortgage payments rose by nearly 50% to £1,263.42 per month. These increases mean that living solo in Bath costs £20,379.
| City | Price increase | Percentage increase | Singles Tax (with living and lifestyle costs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £12,980.20 | 63.15% | £33,535.34 |
| Cheltenham | £8,488.32 | 107.44% | £16,389.09 |
| Bath | £4,559.59 | 28.82% | £20,379.07 |
| Hemel Hempstead | £3,967.90 | 29.24% | £17,537.04 |
| Rayleigh | £3,744.00 | 34.63% | £14,556.36 |
| Sale | £3,017.58 | 25.45% | £14,872.76 |
| Edinburgh | £2,991.62 | 21.13% | £17,147.24 |
| Brighton and Hove | £2,588.18 | 14.00% | £21,076.22 |
| Slough | £2,299.59 | 15.06% | £17,572.79 |
| St Albans | £2,234.01 | 10.78% | £22,962.95 |
The cities bucking the rising singles tax trend
On the other hand, solo residents in Aberdeen may be better off than last year, with the singles tax decreasing by £1,637.03 – though it still comes in at £11,008 – driven largely by a 21% drop in annual utility costs and a 17% decline in average mortgage payments to £432.91.
In Grimsby, the singles tax declined by £1,352.44 and, proportionally, residents enjoyed the largest decline in the UK at -14%. The notable drop was thanks to a 33% decline in average mortgage payments, which now stand at £246.46 per month, followed by an 11% decrease in utility bills, bringing annual bills down to £1,389.
Birkenhead’s solo homeowners saw the third biggest drop in singles tax, noting an 8% decline of £816.85 to £9,299.
| City | Year-on-year increase | Percentage change | Singles Tax (with living and lifestyle costs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | -£1,637.03 | -12.95% | £11,008.45 |
| Grimsby | -£1,352.44 | -14.03% | £8,289.41 |
| Birkenhead | -£816.85 | -8.07% | £9,299.31 |
| Blackburn | -£700.59 | -7.32% | £8,873.57 |
| Oldham | -£617.65 | -5.67% | £10,268.51 |
| Wigan | -£599.92 | -5.89% | £9,590.42 |
| Hartlepool | -£583.90 | -6.84% | £7,949.16 |
| Gillingham | -£575.66 | -4.28% | £12,889.04 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | -£547.88 | -5.86% | £8,793.90 |
| High Wycombe | -£471.40 | -2.81% | £16,318.26 |
How can I budget my money when living alone?
Households across the country have felt the impact of the increased cost of living, with 80% of Brits saying they’re planning to cut household spending in the coming months.
Budgeting can feel particularly tough when shouldering household bills on a single income. Below are five essential budgeting tips to help you get started – and remember support is always available if you ever feel overwhelmed.
Maximise discounts
Don’t miss out on the 25% discount on council tax available to single occupants – it’s an easy way to save. If you live alone and don’t use much water, switching to a meter could lower your bills. And when planning holidays, look for travel providers that cater to solo travellers to dodge the dreaded ‘single supplement,’ which, according to our research, can add an average of £774 to the cost of a package break.
Rotate your subscriptions
With streaming services clamping down on shared accounts and new Government crackdowns on subscription traps, it’s a good time to check in with your monthly subscription. Choosing one streaming service, checking if there are any onboarding deals before signing up, and rotating your subscription every few months can help save money.
Meal prep to save costs
Takeaways can be tempting when living alone, but they can quickly add up. Instead, batch-cook meals to freeze and quickly reheat throughout the week and stick to a shopping list to reduce those expensive last-minute supermarket trips.
Seek support early
Living solo and managing costs can be a lot to handle. Seeking support early on can help you get on top of any debts and avoid them spiralling out of control. Our expert advisors support individuals every day in finding the right debt solutions to take back control of their finances. Learn more here.
Arielle Flynn at UK Debt Expert says:
“Living alone has always come at a financial cost, but this year has pushed the ‘singles tax’ to new levels. With many fixed-rate mortgages expiring and new deals offering much higher interest rates, solo homeowners are bearing the brunt of an uncertain housing market and rising household bills without a second income to rely on.
“It’s particularly challenging because not only are fixed costs increasing, but leisure and social costs have surged too. Many people who live alone may also have an active social life and are now effectively being penalised for simply staying connected to friends and family.
“For solo homeowners, it’s particularly important to keep track of finances and make sure they're aware of any eligible schemes that may be available, like council tax discounts, water meter switches or energy schemes if monthly payments become unmanageable.”
Methodology
UK Debt Expert used financial data from sources including ONS and Rightmove to find out how much extra single-person households were paying on average compared to couples who cohabit.
The data in the study includes core expenses like rent, mortgage payments, council tax (with a 25% discount), utility bills and broadband. It also includes lifestyle expenses such as owning a pet, attending a wedding, car insurance, streaming services, Christmas, takeaways and package holidays.
Using data previously collected in 2025 by UK Debt Expert, year-on-year differences were calculated to give an overall total.
