Being single is expensive. Like, really expensive… to the tune of $19,260 lost in savings compared to your coupled-up friends.

It's not an official tax. The government didn't legislate it. But the single tax is very real, and it's quietly draining the bank accounts of Australians flying solo.

Singles tax is the hidden cost of paying for everything alone. Rent, utilities, groceries, insurance - none of it scales down for one person. So, you end up paying a similar amount to a couple, but on a single income.

Think about it: have you ever cooked dinner for one, doing the painful ratio maths.

Half the recipe and waste all those dishes? Or, make enough spag bol that you're eating it for lunch every day until Thursday?

And the savings gap is pretty grim too.

The average Aussie with a partner saves $50,192 annually. The average single person? $30,932.

That's a $19,260 difference… and monthly, it means singles stash $651 compared to $1,086 for those in couples.

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It stings at milestone moments too.

Being a wedding guest costs around $2,600 on average.

From accommodation, transport, gifts. All on one person.

Plus doing it all while someone's nan leans over and says "it'll happen for you when you stop looking!"

The big thing is the assumption that all single people want to be coupled up. But that’s not the case. Relationship dynamics aren’t what they were 20 years ago.

One in three Australians have never been married - and the median age at first marriage is steadily climbing into the early 30s, according to Census data from 2021.

And if a single person chooses to stay single, they never recoup those costs through their own celebration. It's an unspoken imbalance.

Travel is another hit.

Roughly 13% of single Australians say they can't afford to travel, compared to just 5% of partnered Australians.

Again, hotels, Ubers, car rentals. Basically, costs that couples split, singles take on all on their own.

But it's not all doom and gloom.

Women are more financially independent than ever, and many Australians are actively choosing single life. More Aussies are deprioritising romantic relationships in favour of friendships, hobbies and personal goals, according to a 2023 Australian Institute of Family Studies report.

So, being single is more viable than ever. Meaning every financial decision is yours, no compromise (if that’s what you want).

As relationship dynamics continue to shift, it's worth being mindful of how we celebrate and split things… so single friends don't always end up with the short end of the stick.