The table shows how much money a retired single person and a retired couple in Australia need on average for a comfortable life, divided into different types of expenses.
Overall, couples spend more money than single people in every category. Housing is the biggest expense for both groups, while other costs are lower in comparison. The total amount needed by a couple is much higher than that of a single person.
Looking at the details, housing costs are the highest, at $184 for a single person and $194 for a couple. Leisure is also a major expense, especially for couples, who spend $202, compared to $140 for individuals. Health costs follow a similar pattern, with $177 for couples and $122 for singles.
For basic needs, couples spend twice as much on food as single people, at $100 and $50 respectively. Clothing and other expenses are also higher for couples, reaching $80 and $70, while single people spend $44 and $37. Transport is the only category where spending is almost the same, at $107 for a single person and $108 for a couple.
In total, a retired couple needs $931, which is considerably more than the $684 required for a single person.