What a Roommate Can Save You in 100 U.S. Cities

Rent prices can shift dramatically depending on local housing demand, sometimes pricing renters out entirely. With the price tag of a one-bedroom rental in many large U.S. cities topping over $2,000 per month, those looking to sign a lease may be hesitant to potentially overextend an already-tight budget. Financial advisors often follow a general rule of thumb: You should not spend more than 28% of your gross income on housing to maintain a sustainable budget. However, in the most expensive cities, this can put people earning the U.S. median household income of $80,610 overextended on housing costs.

One approach to maintaining a short commute and city benefits while cutting costs is to consider adding a roommate to the equation to split housing expenses. But roommates have unquantified costs as well – such as lack of privacy, unexpected guests, or other potential inconveniences. So this begs the question: At what point is it worth adding a roommate to the mix?

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 100 of the largest U.S. cities based on the average savings for someone who splits a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate versus renting a one-bedroom apartment by themselves.

Key Findings

Adding a roommate in Cleveland, OH cuts rent costs nearly in half. Cleveland renters stand to save an average of 48.1% on rent by splitting a two-bedroom apartment instead of going solo. The average two-bedroom is only $50 more than one one-bedroom rental ($1,400 and $1,350, respectively), generating a monthly savings of $650.
Splitting an apartment with a roommate in New York City saves the most at $1,670 per month. Those in the Big Apple are facing an average rent price of $4,470 for a one-bedroom apartment, versus splitting a $5,600 two-bedroom apartment at $2,800 each. This is a 37.4% reduction in monthly rent costs. Across the Hudson River, Jersey City residents see the second-highest dollar savings on rent with a roommate at $1,465.
It makes least sense to add a roommate in these Arizona cities. Sharing a two-bedroom apartment in Tucson, AZ will only save an individual $285 per month, the lowest studywide. A one-bedroom apartment costs $920 on average, versus $1,270 for a two-bedroom apartment. Percentage-wise, Scottsdale, AZ holds the title for least savings by adding a roommate at 22.1%, or $375 monthly savings.
Living alone is relatively cheap in these cities. After Tucson, the cities with the smallest dollar differences between splitting a two-bedroom versus opting for a one-bedroom alone include Wichita, KS ($285 savings, $910 rent for one bedroom); El Paso, TX ($305 savings, $1,210 for one bedroom); Albuquerque, NM ($305 savings, $1,290 for one bedroom); and St. Louis, MO ($315 savings, $990 for one bedroom).

Top 10 Cities Where a Roommate Saves You the Most Money per Month

New York, NY

Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $1,670
Percentage savings with a roommate: 37.4%
One-bedroom rent: $4,470
Two-bedroom rent: $5,600

Jersey City, NJ

Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $1,465
Percentage savings with a roommate: 45.9%
One-bedroom rent: $3,190
Two-bedroom rent: $3,450

Boston, MA

Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $1,100
Percentage savings with a roommate: 38.6%
One-bedroom rent: $2,850
Two-bedroom rent: $3,500

San Jose, CA

Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $1,065
Percentage savings with a roommate: 38.6%
One-bedroom rent: $2,760
Two-bedroom rent: $3,390

San Francisco, CA

Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $1,050
Percentage savings with a roommate: 32.8%
One-bedroom rent: $3,200
Two-bedroom rent: $4,300

New Haven, CT

Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $905
Percentage savings with a roommate: 41.1%
One-bedroom rent: $2,200
Two-bedroom rent: $2,590

Miami, FL

Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $875
Percentage savings with a roommate: 34.3%
One-bedroom rent: $2,550
Two-bedroom rent: $3,350

Arlington, VA

Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $810
Percentage savings with a roommate: 32.3%
One-bedroom rent: $2,510
Two-bedroom rent: $3,400

Santa Ana, CA

Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $780
Percentage savings with a roommate: 35.5%
One-bedroom rent: $2,200
Two-bedroom rent: $2,840

Chicago, IL

Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $770
Percentage savings with a roommate: 38.1%
One-bedroom rent: $2,020
Two-bedroom rent: $2,500

Top 10 Cities With the Highest Percentage Savings With a Roommate

Cleveland, OH

Percentage savings with a roommate: 48.1%
Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $650
One-bedroom rent: $1,350
Two-bedroom rent: $1,400

Baton Rouge, LA

Percentage savings with a roommate: 47.7%
Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $530
One-bedroom rent: $1,110
Two-bedroom rent: $1,160

Memphis, TN

Percentage savings with a roommate: 46.6%
Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $485
One-bedroom rent: $1,040
Two-bedroom rent: $1,110

Jersey City, NJ

Percentage savings with a roommate: 45.9%
Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $1,465
One-bedroom rent: $3,190
Two-bedroom rent: $3,450

Shreveport, LA

Percentage savings with a roommate: 45.3%
Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $385
One-bedroom rent: $850
Two-bedroom rent: $930

Detroit, MI

Percentage savings with a roommate: 45.2%
Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $475
One-bedroom rent: $1,050
Two-bedroom rent: $1,150

Nashville, TN

Percentage savings with a roommate: 45.0%
Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $720
One-bedroom rent: $1,600
Two-bedroom rent: $1,760

Tampa, FL

Percentage savings with a roommate: 44.5%
Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $735
One-bedroom rent: $1,650
Two-bedroom rent: $1,830

Fresno, CA

Percentage savings with a roommate: 44.1%
Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $630
One-bedroom rent: $1,430
Two-bedroom rent: $1,600

Chattanooga, TN

Percentage savings with a roommate: 44.0%
Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $550
One-bedroom rent: $1,250
Two-bedroom rent: $1,400

Data and Methodology

This study examined data from 100 U.S. cities, comparing the average rents for one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments between March 2024 and March 2025 based on data from Zumper. Specifically, the cost of a one-bedroom was compared with half the cost of a two-bedroom for each city, assuming each roommate pays equal rent.

What a Roommate Can Save You in 100 U.S. Cities – 2025 Study