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Single person in an apartment vs Couple in an apartment: Electricity Use Compared in the US (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 the US, single person in an apartment uses about 7,184 kWh a year ($107.76 a month) and couple in an apartment about 10,648 kWh ($159.72 a month). That is 1.5× as much, or $51.96 more per month. Per person: 7,184 kWh vs 5,324 kWh a year.
Sources: EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Table CE2.1, average kWh per household using electricity: 1-person household. EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2020, Table CE2.1, average kWh per household using electricity: 2-person household. Priced at $0.18 per kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, 2026-06).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Single person in an apartment | Couple in an apartment | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating & cooling | 2,866 kWh | 4,249 kWh | +1,383 |
| Water heating | 862 kWh | 1,278 kWh | +416 |
| Refrigeration & freezing | 697 kWh | 1,033 kWh | +336 |
| Cooking | 201 kWh | 298 kWh | +97 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 402 kWh | 596 kWh | +194 |
| TV, computing & network | 417 kWh | 618 kWh | +201 |
| Lighting | 445 kWh | 660 kWh | +215 |
| Other appliances | 1,293 kWh | 1,917 kWh | +624 |
- 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 447 kWh/yr
- Electric Oven 86 kWh/yr
- Computer Monitor 80 kWh/yr
- Coffee Maker (Drip) 34 kWh/yr
- Smart Speaker 24 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 |