The penalty for being single - £250,000 over a lifetime

Almost three in ten households (29%) are formed by a single person according to the latest ONS statistics. However, new research from uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, reveals that people who live alone fork out almost £4,800 a year more on average for basic living expenses than those who live with a partner or spouse. And, over the course of a lifetime, this can add up to an eye-watering £250,000 penalty for being single.

For everything from paying more for holidays, to meeting all household bills with one pay cheque, singletons are being stretched more than couples. While the average annual income today is £23,961, someone living alone will be spending £11,904 of this on housing costs, essential bills and food, whereas somebody living as part of a couple will only be spending £7,110 a year. This means that those running a household singlehandedly are forking out £4,794 or 67% more just on the essentials.

Mortgage or rent accounts for the biggest outlay for both types of household with singles paying £7,080 a year compared with just £3,804 a year on average for someone living with a partner or spouse. And while it may not be quite as cheap to feed two as one, it certainly doesn't cost twice as much. The average person living alone spends £1,824 a year on food - £432 a year more than it costs someone in a couple.

With predictions that single person households could rocket to as high as 9.5 million within the next decade, the fact that those living alone face such high costs is a concern. Over two thirds of people (67%) say the Government should be helping the growing number of people living by themselves.

However, even when help is made available, often it is too little to do any good. Although those living alone are entitled to a 25% reduction on their council tax, the average singleton still pays £90 a month compared to the £63 paid by someone living with a partner. This means that even after the reduction someone living alone is still paying 43% or £27 a month more. Unsurprisingly, over three quarters of single people feel the discount is not enough (78%) and 41% of people in couples agree.

Because people living alone see more of their salary disappear on essentials such as rent and utilities, they have less money for the fun things in life. 43% rarely or never go on holidays compared with 21% of those living with a partner. While the latter spends an average of £1,339 a year on holidays and £1,164 socialising, someone living alone spends just £890 on holidays and £732 on their social lives. And when they do get a chance to get away they are hit again, this time with single room supplements. 62% of singletons pay more for their holiday as a result of being single but only one in 20 (5%) say these supplements are justified. Even those in couples agree, with two thirds (67%) saying single person supplements are unfair.

With many households struggling to get by on two incomes let alone just one, the myth of the singleton's party lifestyle has been shattered. While 60% of those living as part of a couple say they have a better lifestyle than someone living alone, just 20% of single people think they have the better deal.

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: "The huge increase in the number of single person households is not just a worry in terms of housing stock, it will also have a serious impact on lifestyle and spending in this country. Increasingly we are seeing evidence that to enjoy a good quality of life in Britain, a household needs two incomes. With the number of single person households set to increase by over 2 million within the next 10 years, it's important we all understand the implications.

"Those who live alone face a range of disadvantages from the nominal 25% discount on their council tax to meeting household bills single handed and having to pay a surcharge on holidays. Making the most of whatever subsidies exist and keeping on top of your personal finances and bills will be key. Your consumption of utilities such as water and energy should be lower than the ‘typical' household so use this to your advantage - move to a water meter and make sure you are on an energy plan that rewards low usage. Whether you are running a household on your own through choice or circumstance, keeping a lid on the essentials will free up more of your money for the nicer things in life."