2 May 2024 Dallas, Texas – Walking Side of Dallas Apartment Building | Image by Shadowspeeder/Shutterstock

Renters who live alone pay an average of $10,470 more per year than those who share housing, according to a February 11 analysis from Zillow. The company defines that additional cost as the national “singles tax.”

The typical U.S. multifamily apartment rent now stands at $1,745 per month, Zillow reported. Solo renters cover that full cost themselves rather than splitting expenses with a roommate or partner. Renters who share one lease instead of maintaining two separate households save a combined $20,940 annually in rent.

Smallest Increase In Five Years

The singles tax increased by $146 over the past year, marking the smallest annual increase in five years, according to Zillow.

Zillow also reported that apartment affordability nationwide — when accounting for income growth — is at its strongest level since April 2021.

Unlike last year’s report, which focused only on one-bedroom units, Zillow expanded this year’s methodology to include typical rents across all multifamily apartments. The company analyzed more than 72,000 listings to reflect the range of units renters consider.

Where Living Alone Costs The Most

The singles tax varies widely by metro area.

According to Zillow and StreetEasy, the typical monthly rent and corresponding singles tax in major markets are:

New York City, NY — $3,900 rent | $23,400 singles tax | $46,800 couples’ discount
San Jose, CA — $3,248 rent | $19,488 singles tax | $38,976 couples’ discount
Boston, MA — $3,014 rent | $18,084 singles tax | $36,168 couples’ discount
San Francisco, CA — $2,857 rent | $17,142 singles tax | $34,284 couples’ discount
Los Angeles, CA — $2,648 rent | $15,888 singles tax | $31,776 couples’ discount
San Diego, CA — $2,643 rent | $15,858 singles tax | $31,716 couples’ discount
Miami, FL — $2,443 rent | $14,658 singles tax | $29,316 couples’ discount
Riverside, CA — $2,243 rent | $13,458 singles tax | $26,916 couples’ discount
Washington, DC — $2,230 rent | $13,380 singles tax | $26,760 couples’ discount
Seattle, WA — $2,062 rent | $12,372 singles tax | $24,744 couples’ discount
United States overall — $1,745 rent | $10,470 singles tax | $20,940 couples’ discount

The “couples’ discount” reflects the combined savings when two renters share a household instead of paying for two separate leases.

What The Numbers Look Like In Dallas

In Dallas, the average rent across all bedrooms and property types is $1,950 per month, according to Zillow Rental Manager data updated February 13, 2026.

Dallas rental averages by unit size are:

Studio: $1,286 per month
One-bedroom: $1,300 per month
Two-bedroom: $1,883 per month
Three-bedroom: $2,400 per month
Four-bedroom: $7,450 per month

There are currently 3,252 rentals available in Dallas.

Over the past year, rent in Dallas declined by $50, including a $45 decrease month over month, according to Zillow data.

Zillow did not publish a Dallas-specific singles tax figure. However, renters living alone in Dallas pay the full $1,950 monthly average rather than splitting that cost with a roommate or partner.

The Trade-Off

Living alone offers independence and privacy. Sharing housing reduces costs.

Nationally, the $20,940 in annual savings from combining households equals more than half of a typical 10% down payment on a U.S. home, according to Zillow.

For renters in higher-cost markets, the difference between living solo and sharing a lease can exceed $30,000 per year.