A new study has quantified the financial burden of being single across 35 major UK cities, highlighting a stark disparity compared to coupled life. Research from credit card company Zable analyzed costs including rent, food, utilities, and non-essentials, then compared them to average single-person salaries using Office for National Statistics data.
London Leads in Cost Gap
London recorded the largest annual difference between coupled and single living expenses, at £11,153. Couples spend an average of £19,483.49 per person annually, while singles face £30,636. Despite higher average take-home pay of £39,298, London ranks only seventh least affordable overall.
Edinburgh follows with a £9,080 gap (£18,565.55 vs £27,645), and Oxford third at £8,768 (£19,929.33 vs £28,697). Across all cities, single-person households spend an average of £5,982 more per year on essentials. Monthly living costs for singles have risen from £1,312 in 2020 to £1,654 in 2025, a £342 increase.
Least Affordable: Brighton and Hove
Brighton and Hove is the least affordable UK city for singles, with living costs consuming 87% of the average salary. One-bedroom rent averages £1,191 per month, and house-share rooms cost £661. Annual council tax for bands A and B averages £1,330.
Most Affordable: Derby
Derby is the most affordable city for singles, with living costs taking only 53% of post-tax income. One-bedroom properties average £586 per month, and shared rooms £482. In contrast, London one-bedrooms cost £1,695 and shared rooms nearly £1,000.
Other cities with notable disparities include Cambridge (£8,426 gap), Brighton and Hove (£8,216), Bristol (£8,065), Manchester (£6,815), Milton Keynes (£6,638), Exeter (£6,471), and Portsmouth (£6,262). The study underscores the financial penalty of solo living, with single-person households spending significantly more relative to income.
