What is the average monthly expenses for a single person?

Asked by: Esmeralda Ryan  |  Last update: May 23, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (17 votes)

A single person household spends an average of $4,641 on monthly expenses. Married couples without kids spend an average of $7,390 on monthly expenses. A family of four spends an average of $8,450–9,817 on monthly expenses (depending on kids' ages).

What is the US average cost of living single person per month?

Average cost of living in USA

Thus the average cost of living in US is estimated to be $12,000 to $20,000 per year, which averages around $1500 to $2000 per month (INR 1,27,214 to INR 1,69,619), without rent. Monthly expenses with rent are estimated to be $3,580 for a single person and $5,934 for a family of four.

What is the average monthly bills for a single person?

The average monthly expenses for one person in 2022 were $3,693, up 8.5% from 2021. That translates into an increase of $287.75 per month.

What is a reasonable monthly budget?

NerdWallet advocates the 50/30/20 budget. With this formula, you aim to devote 50% of your take-home pay to needs like rent and insurance, 30% to wants like vacations and entertainment, and 20% to debt repayment and savings.

What is your typical monthly spending?

The average household's monthly expenses are $6,440 ($77,280 over the entire year). That's up from $6,081 ($72,967 over the entire year) in 2022. The average annual income after taxes is $87,869, up from $83,195 in 2022. Housing is the largest average cost at $2,120 per month, making up 33% of typical spending.

Cost Of Living - My Average monthly expenses living in the UK

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What is a realistic living budget for a single person?

The average monthly expenses for one person can vary, but the average single person spends about $3,405 per month. Housing tends to consume the highest portion of monthly income, with the average annual spending on housing at $1,885 per month per person.

How much do you usually spend per month?

According to the same 2022 BLS study, the average American's monthly expenses are $6,080, 1 which is about 77% of the average monthly income before taxes. This list of expenses covers everything from housing, health insurance and food to entertainment, personal care products and books.

What is a good monthly income for a single person?

A good monthly income in California is $5,002, based on what the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Californians pay for their cost of living. A good monthly income for you will depend on what your expenses are and how much you typically spend per month.

How much does one person spend on groceries a month?

Averages look at foods many people commonly purchase, such as eggs, dairy, meat, bread, and produce items. For a single person, the average grocery bill can range, depending on age and gender, between $238.46 to $434.33. For a household with two people, the average grocery bill is $5,635 per year, or $469.58 per month.

What is the 50 20 30 rule?

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals. Let's take a closer look at each category.

What is the average income in the US for a single person?

The average salary in 2023 for an individual worker was $65,470. Demographics like location, occupation, race, and gender significantly influence average wages.

How much is rent per month in the US?

What is the average rent in the United States? The average rent in the United States is $1,553/month. This is +0.8% higher than this time last year. The states with the largest rent increases when compared to last year include Rhode Island, Delaware, and Virginia.

What is a living wage in the US for a single person?

To live "comfortably" as a single person in 99 of the largest U.S. metro areas, you'll need a median income of $93,933, according to a recent SmartAsset analysis.

Is $50 a week enough for groceries for one person?

How much should one person spend on groceries? Generally speaking, one person should aim to spend around $50-$75 per week on groceries, depending on their income, dietary needs, and preferences.

What state has the cheapest food?

1. North Dakota. North Dakota has the lowest grocery index in the country at 94.2, which is 15.8% below the national average. This state has the lowest average costs for many basic foods including milk, orange juice, sugar and frozen meals.

How much does the average person spend on clothes a month?

Clothing and personal upkeep

The average U.S. household spends about $120 per month on clothing, and you'll probably want to include personal grooming costs as well as any dry cleaning in this budget category.

What is a stable income for a single person?

Hourly wage needed for a single adult: $57.10. Annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably: $118,768. Combined salaries for two working adults with two children needed: $316,243.

Can a single person live on $1000 a month?

Bottom Line. Living on $1,000 per month is a challenge. From the high costs of housing, transportation and food, plus trying to keep your bills to a minimum, it would be difficult for anyone living alone to make this work. But with some creativity, roommates and strategy, you might be able to pull it off.

What is the 50 30 20 rule?

One of the most common types of percentage-based budgets is the 50/30/20 rule. The idea is to divide your income into three categories, spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings.

What are the normal bills a household has to pay?

To create a budget, you need to factor in all of your monthly expenses, such as housing, food, transportation, child and pet care. Budgeting for variable expenses, such as food, entertainment and travel can be challenging, but it can help you to average the costs for the past year.

What is the ideal monthly budget?

We recommend the 50/30/20 system, which splits your income across three major categories: 50% goes to necessities, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt repayment.