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Single person in an apartment vs Couple in an apartment: Electricity Use Compared in Germany (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 Germany, single person in an apartment uses about 1,200 kWh a year (€37.00 a month) and couple in an apartment about 1,900 kWh (€58.58 a month). That is 1.6× as much, or €21.58 more per month. Per person: 1,200 kWh vs 950 kWh a year.
Sources: Stromspiegel für Deutschland (co2online, with the Federal Ministry for the Environment), average consumption by persons and building type: 1 person, flat. Stromspiegel für Deutschland (co2online, with the Federal Ministry for the Environment), average consumption by persons and building type: 2 persons, flat. Priced at €0.37 per kWh (BDEW Strompreisanalyse August 2026, 2026-08).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Single person in an apartment | Couple in an apartment | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigeration & freezing | 120 kWh | 190 kWh | +70 |
| Cooking | 120 kWh | 190 kWh | +70 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 156 kWh | 247 kWh | +91 |
| TV, computing & network | 348 kWh | 551 kWh | +203 |
| Lighting | 144 kWh | 228 kWh | +84 |
| Other appliances | 312 kWh | 494 kWh | +182 |
- 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 185 kWh/yr
- Computer Monitor 72 kWh/yr
- Electric Oven 55 kWh/yr
- Coffee Maker (Drip) 22 kWh/yr
- Smart Speaker 21 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 |