Per capita spending is similar among single and married adults in their early 20s, but by the late 20s, singles spend more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Married 21-26-year-olds earn more than singles, but by 27-29 the gap closes. Some differences in spending are due to economies of scale, but others are affected by lifestyle.
Source: “Focus on Prices and Spending: Consumer Expenditures: 2009,” May 2011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, William Hawk, Economist, 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE, #2850, Washington, DC 20212; 202-691-5131; hawk.william@bls.gov; www.bls.gov.
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