Home › Households › Compare › Canada
Student house share vs Family of four in a house: Electricity Use Compared in Canada (2026)
Five students sharing a flat use about as much electricity as a family of four in a house, despite having no dryer, no dishwasher and no garage. Five people cooking separately, five laptops, and several bedroom fridges make up for the missing big appliances. Per person the students are cheaper, but per home they are not.
In Canada, student house share uses about 7,417 kWh a year (C$86.53 a month) and family of four in a house about 12,694 kWh (C$148.10 a month). That is 1.7× as much, or C$61.57 more per month. Per person: 1,483 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): Low-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
| Category | Student house share | Family of four in a house | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating & cooling | 2,596 kWh | 4,443 kWh | +1,847 |
| Water heating | 1,113 kWh | 1,904 kWh | +791 |
| Refrigeration & freezing | 742 kWh | 1,269 kWh | +527 |
| Cooking | 223 kWh | 381 kWh | +158 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 445 kWh | 762 kWh | +317 |
| TV, computing & network | 445 kWh | 762 kWh | +317 |
| Lighting | 445 kWh | 762 kWh | +317 |
| Other appliances | 1,409 kWh | 2,412 kWh | +1,003 |
- Five separate cooking sessions a day cost more than one family meal.
- Bedroom mini fridges are inefficient for their size and add up quickly.
- The family's dryer and dishwasher are roughly matched by the students' extra kettles, microwaves and screens.
Only in the family of four in a house
- Chest Freezer 508 kWh/yr
- Clothes Dryer 435 kWh/yr
- Desktop Computer 228 kWh/yr
- Dishwasher 218 kWh/yr
- Outdoor Security Floodlight 206 kWh/yr
- Electric Lawn Mower (Corded or Battery) 44 kWh/yr
- Air Fryer 38 kWh/yr
- Coffee Maker (Drip) 25 kWh/yr
Only in the student house share
- Mini Fridge 456 kWh/yr
The same comparison in other countries
| Country | Student house share | Family of four in a house | Ratio | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | 14,336 | 13,072 | 0.9× | $-18.960 |
| United Kingdom | 3,800 | 3,800 | 1.0× | £0.000 |
| Germany | 3,100 | 3,800 | 1.2× | €21.58 |
| France | 4,922 | 6,034 | 1.2× | €18.53 |
| Australia | 9,008 | 7,311 | 0.8× | A$-49.496 |
| Canada (average) | 7,417 | 12,694 | 1.7× | C$61.57 |