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Single person in an apartment vs Couple in an apartment: Electricity Use Compared in France (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 France, single person in an apartment uses about 1,905 kWh a year (€31.75 a month) and couple in an apartment about 3,017 kWh (€50.28 a month). That is 1.6× as much, or €18.53 more per month. Per person: 1,905 kWh vs 1,508 kWh a year.
Sources: France publishes no figure by household type. This is the Enedis national average of 4,287 kWh scaled by the German Stromspiegel ratio for this household type (1,200 ÷ 2,700). France publishes no figure by household type. This is the Enedis national average of 4,287 kWh scaled by the German Stromspiegel ratio for this household type (1,900 ÷ 2,700). Priced at €0.20 per kWh (EDF Tarif Bleu, 2026-08).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Single person in an apartment | Couple in an apartment | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating & cooling | 591 kWh | 935 kWh | +344 |
| Water heating | 291 kWh | 462 kWh | +171 |
| Refrigeration & freezing | 269 kWh | 425 kWh | +156 |
| Cooking | 137 kWh | 217 kWh | +80 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 114 kWh | 181 kWh | +67 |
| TV, computing & network | 208 kWh | 329 kWh | +121 |
| Lighting | 59 kWh | 94 kWh | +35 |
| Other appliances | 236 kWh | 374 kWh | +138 |
- 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 136 kWh/yr
- Electric Oven 62 kWh/yr
- Computer Monitor 43 kWh/yr
- Coffee Maker (Drip) 25 kWh/yr
- Smart Speaker 13 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 |