I have a lot of conversations with my fellow single friends about the cost of living alone. We talk about what we’re going to do when we get old; can we afford a nice long-term-care home or should we pool our resources to buy a house and live together, Golden Girls–style? We wonder about when we’ll be able to afford to buy a place that isn’t the tiniest condo ever built, on one income and without family help. Seriously, why is there a column right in the middle of the living room, and why does it cost $500,000?

There’s undoubtedly a fun side to being single. I spend a lot of time with my friends, I hang out with my family and I can change my wallpaper without having to get sign-off from another person. The independence is also a perk. I also don’t have to worry about consulting someone over every financial decision or career move. I can invest time in personal growth and pursue new hobbies at my own pace, I can travel without coordinating schedules, and I have a sense of financial autonomy that allows me to save more or allocate resources toward experiences I value. I can hang out with my niblings and do fun auntie things like concerts and school walks home.

My experience aligns with the research: a 2024 Family Relations study found that young single people who aren’t focused on relationships are happy and fulfilled. Back in 2016, psychologist and author Bella DePaulo reported that single people have more fulfilling social lives and are more connected to family and friends. The more self-sufficient they were, the less likely they were to experience negative emotions. Singles are a growing demographic in Canada. Some of us want to focus on work and education. Some are divorced or separated. And some of us just don’t want a cringe boyfriend.

But all this independence comes at a cost. While there’s no line item in the CRA forms, there is definitely........

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