The average cost of rent in the U.S. is $1,755 for a 903-square-foot apartment, according to RentCafe. In some places, rental apartments go for $2,000, $3,000 or even more a month. That’s a hefty chunk out of anyone’s wallet, which is why having a roommate is so popular — and in some cases, essential to afford your cost of living.
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The good news is having a roommate can save you quite a bit of money. SmartAsset ranked 100 of the largest cities in the country to determine in which cities having a roommate will save you the most money. The study compared the typical savings of someone sharing a two-bedroom apartment vs. renting a one-bedroom apartment on their own. Results are based on the idea of splitting the rent 50-50.
Here are the 10 cities where you could save the most money each month by having a roommate.
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Chicago, Illinois
Average one-bedroom rent: $2,020
Average two-bedroom rent: $2,500
Typical monthly savings with a roommate: $770
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Santa Ana, California
Average one-bedroom rent: $2,200
Average two-bedroom rent: $2,840
Typical monthly savings with a roommate: $780
Arlington, Virginia
Average one-bedroom rent: $2,510
Average two-bedroom rent: $3,400
Typical monthly savings with a roommate: $810
Miami, Florida
Average one-bedroom rent: $2,550
Average two-bedroom rent: $3,350
Typical monthly savings with a roommate: $875
New Haven, Connecticut
Average one-bedroom rent: $2,200
Average two-bedroom rent: $2,590
Typical monthly savings with a roommate: $905
San Francisco, California
Average one-bedroom rent: $3,200
Average two-bedroom rent: $4,300
Typical monthly savings with a roommate: $1,050
San Jose, California
Average one-bedroom rent: $2,760
Average two-bedroom rent: $3,390
Typical monthly savings with a roommate: $1,065
Boston, Massachusetts
Average one-bedroom rent: $2,850
Average two-bedroom rent: $3,500
Typical monthly savings with a roommate: $1,100
Jersey City, New Jersey
Average one-bedroom rent: $3,190
Average two-bedroom rent: $3,450
Typical monthly savings with a roommate: $1,465
New York, New York
Average one-bedroom rent: $4,470
Average two-bedroom rent: $5,600
Typical monthly savings with a roommate: $1,670
Living alone is more expensive than living with a roommate in many ways: The “singles tax” can be a real drain on your wallet. In these cities, living with just one other person can save you a significant amount of money — potentially making the lack of privacy worth it.
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Sources
RentCafe, “Average Rent in the U.S.“
SmartAsset, “What a Roommate Can Save You in 100 U.S. Cities – 2025 Study.”
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Cities Where Having a Roommate Will Save You the Most Money
