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Single person in an apartment vs Couple in an apartment: Electricity Use Compared in Canada (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 Canada, single person in an apartment uses about 6,583 kWh a year (C$76.80 a month) and couple in an apartment about 7,417 kWh (C$86.53 a month). That is 1.1× as much, or C$9.73 more per month. Per person: 6,583 kWh vs 3,708 kWh a year.
Sources: Natural Resources Canada, Survey of Household Energy Use 2019, Table 3.5a electricity intensity per household (GJ converted at 277.78 kWh/GJ): High-rise apartment. Natural Resources Canada, Survey of Household Energy Use 2019, Table 3.5a electricity intensity per household (GJ converted at 277.78 kWh/GJ): Low-rise apartment. Priced at C$0.14 per kWh (Canada Energy Regulator 2026 market snapshot, 2026-06).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Single person in an apartment | Couple in an apartment | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating & cooling | 2,304 kWh | 2,596 kWh | +292 |
| Water heating | 987 kWh | 1,113 kWh | +126 |
| Refrigeration & freezing | 658 kWh | 742 kWh | +84 |
| Cooking | 197 kWh | 223 kWh | +26 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 395 kWh | 445 kWh | +50 |
| TV, computing & network | 395 kWh | 445 kWh | +50 |
| Lighting | 395 kWh | 445 kWh | +50 |
| Other appliances | 1,251 kWh | 1,409 kWh | +158 |
- 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 334 kWh/yr
- Electric Oven 64 kWh/yr
- Computer Monitor 58 kWh/yr
- Coffee Maker (Drip) 26 kWh/yr
- Smart Speaker 17 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 |