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Single person in an apartment vs Family of four in a house: Electricity Use Compared in Canada (2026)

A family of four uses roughly two to three times the electricity of a single person, not four times. The fridge, router, lighting and standby loads are shared, so each extra person adds less than the first. Per head, the single person is the most expensive household there is.

In Canada, single person in an apartment uses about 6,583 kWh a year (C$76.80 a month) and family of four in a house about 12,694 kWh (C$148.10 a month). That is 1.9× as much, or C$71.30 more per month. Per person: 6,583 kWh vs 3,174 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): Single detached house. Priced at C$0.14 per kWh (Canada Energy Regulator 2026 market snapshot, 2026-06).

Where the difference comes from

CategorySingle person in an apartmentFamily of four in a houseDifference
Heating & cooling2,304 kWh4,443 kWh+2,139
Water heating987 kWh1,904 kWh+917
Refrigeration & freezing658 kWh1,269 kWh+611
Cooking197 kWh381 kWh+184
Washing, drying & dishwashing395 kWh762 kWh+367
TV, computing & network395 kWh762 kWh+367
Lighting395 kWh762 kWh+367
Other appliances1,251 kWh2,412 kWh+1,161

Only in the family of four in a house

Only in the single person in an apartment

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The same comparison in other countries

CountrySingle person in an apartmentFamily of four in a houseRatioExtra per month
United States (average)7,18413,0721.8×$88.32
United Kingdom1,6003,8002.4×£47.67
Germany1,2003,8003.2×€80.17
France1,9056,0343.2×€68.82
Australia3,1097,3112.4×A$122.56
Canada (average)6,58312,6941.9×C$71.30

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