Fans of ‘Sex and the City’ remember Carrie Bradshaw as the stylish writer who somehow managed a fabulous Manhattan apartment on a freelance income that often seemed stretched thin. Her glamorous single life in the city inspired many viewers to dream of the same independence. Now, that iconic character has lent her name to a real-world measure created by The Economist. Known as the Carrie Bradshaw Index, it reveals just how realistic or unattainable living alone has become in major cities across the United States and Europe.
The index focuses on a simple but telling rule of thumb for financial health. Experts generally agree that rent should take up no more than 30 percent of a person’s gross income to leave room for other essentials. To build the ranking, analysts pull average rental prices for studio apartments from the platform Zumper and compare them to median local salaries. This approach highlights whether a typical single person can comfortably afford to rent on their own without overwhelming financial strain.
In the latest 2026 look at American cities, the picture is increasingly challenging for solo renters. Even places once seen as more budget-friendly are shifting toward luxury status when it comes to independent living. As Elizabeth Peet, a researcher at The Economist, pointed out, fluctuations happen in any market, but the data over recent years clearly favor cities that manage steady new housing construction alongside population and wage increases. Those balanced locations tend to provide the best shot at affordable solo living.
This year, the analysis expanded to include major European cities, offering fresh insights into affordability across the continent. The top spots for singles turned out to be welcoming places like Bonn, Lyon, and Bern, followed closely by Brussels, Helsinki, Vienna, Luxembourg, and Berlin. These rankings reflect stronger alignments between rents and earnings, making it easier for individuals to maintain their own space. The results underscore how urban policies and economic conditions play a huge role in everyday life choices.
Not every city fares as well in these comparisons. Take Zagreb as an example from the 2024 data, when it appeared among the tougher markets for singles. With average monthly salaries falling below about $1,520 and one-bedroom rents averaging around $575, many residents found themselves devoting far more than the recommended share of income to housing. The index emphasizes the need for at least 70 percent of earnings to remain after rent for a sustainable lifestyle, which proved difficult there.
Our Carrie Bradshaw index takes a trip to the continent https://t.co/gZDf4vXVwC
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) January 26, 2026
Overall, the Carrie Bradshaw Index serves as a wake-up call about the evolving realities of urban independence. What once seemed like a charming TV fantasy now comes with hard numbers that vary widely by location. Rising costs in many areas mean more people are rethinking solo living arrangements, opting for roommates or different cities altogether. It also sparks broader conversations about housing supply, wage growth, and what it truly takes to thrive alone in today’s world.
The charm of Carrie’s life on screen continues to captivate, yet the index grounds those aspirations in current economics. For anyone navigating rental markets or planning a move, these findings offer valuable context on where independence feels within reach. They remind us that while personal style and ambition matter, practical affordability often shapes our options the most.
What does the affordability of living alone look like in your city, and how does it stack up against these rankings? Share your thoughts in the comments.
