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Single person in an apartment vs Couple in an apartment: Electricity Use Compared in Australia (2026)
Adding a second person to a flat raises the bill by about half, not double. Cooking, washing and screen time roughly double, but the fridge, router and lights were already on. Regulators see this in every country: the second person is the cheapest one to add.
In Australia, single person in an apartment uses about 3,109 kWh a year (A$90.68 a month) and couple in an apartment about 5,237 kWh (A$152.75 a month). That is 1.7× as much, or A$62.07 more per month. Per person: 3,109 kWh vs 2,618 kWh a year.
Sources: Australian Energy Regulator, Residential energy consumption benchmarks (Frontier Economics, December 2020), temperate climate zone (Sydney), households without a swimming pool: 1 person. Australian Energy Regulator, Residential energy consumption benchmarks (Frontier Economics, December 2020), temperate climate zone (Sydney), households without a swimming pool: 2 people. Priced at A$0.35 per kWh (AER Default Market Offer 2026–27, 2026-07).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Single person in an apartment | Couple in an apartment | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating & cooling | 1,244 kWh | 2,095 kWh | +851 |
| Water heating | 653 kWh | 1,100 kWh | +447 |
| Refrigeration & freezing | 302 kWh | 508 kWh | +206 |
| Cooking | 87 kWh | 147 kWh | +60 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 174 kWh | 293 kWh | +119 |
| TV, computing & network | 180 kWh | 304 kWh | +124 |
| Lighting | 187 kWh | 314 kWh | +127 |
| Other appliances | 283 kWh | 477 kWh | +194 |
- The fridge is the same fridge; it is the largest item for the single person and a smaller share for the couple.
- A dishwasher usually appears with the second person and adds more than the person does.
- Two laptops and a second phone are trivial; a second TV on for hours is not.
Only in the couple in an apartment
- Dishwasher 220 kWh/yr
- Electric Oven 42 kWh/yr
- Computer Monitor 39 kWh/yr
- Coffee Maker (Drip) 17 kWh/yr
- Smart Speaker 12 kWh/yr
Only in the single person in an apartment
- None
The same comparison in other countries
| Country | Single person in an apartment | Couple in an apartment | Ratio | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | 7,184 | 10,648 | 1.5× | $51.96 |
| United Kingdom | 1,600 | 2,500 | 1.6× | £19.50 |
| Germany | 1,200 | 1,900 | 1.6× | €21.58 |
| France | 1,905 | 3,017 | 1.6× | €18.53 |
| Australia | 3,109 | 5,237 | 1.7× | A$62.07 |
| Canada (average) | 6,583 | 7,417 | 1.1× | C$9.73 |