These are the US metro areas where renters can save the most by living with roommates

Written by SpareRoom Posted On Friday, 11 April 2025 08:48
  • Apartment sharing has always been the cheapest way to rent, but the savings compared to renting solo are into five figures in 11 US metro areas.
  • The savings are most significant in East and West Coast metro areas, including Boston, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., San Diego and Seattle.
  • In Boston, MA roommates could save more than $25K a year compared to renting a one-bedroom apartment.
  • In Chicago, IL, where room rents are rising 4.8% year on year, sharing will still save roommates more than $11K a year compared to renting a one-bedroom apartment.
  • The savings are less substantial in southern metro areas like Houston and Phoenix, but still significant at $326 and $400 per month respectively.

 

Those looking for their next rental, particularly in East and West Coast metro areas, should consider the price difference between renting solo and renting with roommates. New data from roommate matching site SpareRoom reveals the difference is as much as $25,000 a year.

Apartment sharing has always been the cheapest way to rent, but the savings compared to renting solo are into five figures in 11 US metro areas, including Boston, MA where roommates could save more than $25K a year, on average, compared to renting a one-bedroom apartment.

SpareRoom compared its own rental index data for Q1 2025 with the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment. It found that, even in Chicago, IL, where room rents have risen the most year on year, according to its rental index, sharing will still save roommates more than $11K per year compared to renting solo.

The savings, though not as substantial in southern metro areas like Houston and Phoenix, are still significant at $326 and $400 per month respectively. The annual savings in Houston ($3,912) would cover 1,200 gallons of gas at $3.26 per gallon. Enough to fill up a small car around 100 times.

The table below shows the 22 most popular metro areas among roommates using SpareRoom, average room rents for Q1 2025, and the savings compared to renting a one bedroom apartment:

 

US metro area

States

Average room rent per month Q1 2025 ($)

Ave monthly rent for one-bed apartment* ($)

Monthly saving ($)

Annual saving ($)

1

Boston

MA, NH

1338

3,439

2101

25,212

2

New York

NJ, NY

1514

3,207

1693

20,316

3

San Francisco Bay Area

CA

1298

2,985

1687

20,244

4

Washington D.C.

DC, MD, VA, WV

1144

2,305

1161

13,932

5

Fort Lauderdale

FL

1141

2,236

1095

13,140

6

San Diego

CA

1299

2,349

1050

12,600

7

Seattle

WA

1032

2,070

1038

12,456

8

Chicago

IL, IN, WI

977

1,916

939

11,268

9

Philadelphia

MD, NJ, PA

862

1,724

862

10,344

10

Riverside

CA

1007

1,858

851

10,212

11

Los Angeles

CA

1334

2,168

834

10,008

12

Miami

FL

1385

2,160

775

9,300

13

Tampa

FL

963

1,666

703

8,436

14

Orlando

FL

931

1,588

657

7,884

15

Atlanta

GA

951

1,607

656

7,872

16

Denver

CO

1038

1,647

609

7,308

17

Sacramento

CA

970

1,556

586

7,032

18

Austin

TX

868

1,437

569

6,828

19

Dallas

TX

905

1,404

499

5,988

20

Las Vegas

NV

875

1,306

431

5,172

21

Phoenix

AZ

935

1,335

400

4,800

22

Houston

TX

872

1,198

326

3,912

(Source: SpareRoom Q1 2025 rental index, one-bed apartment averages from Apartment.com on April 4, 2025)

Matt Hutchinson, director of roommate matching site SpareRoom, comments: “If you’re in a position where you’re choosing between renting alone or renting with others, it’s well worth considering the potential savings, which are into five figures in some East and West Coast metro areas. In reality, the savings are likely to be even higher as our data includes some utilities in the rent. And generally, though not exclusively, the more roommates you live with the higher the savings, too.” 

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