How much can I realistically save by getting a roommate?

On average, having a roommate saves $500–900/month in US cities — mostly from splitting rent. Even if the shared apartment costs 30–40% more than a studio, splitting it is almost always cheaper per person.

What costs can't be split with a roommate?

Personal expenses like groceries (if you cook separately), your phone bill, personal subscriptions, gym membership, and transportation are typically individual costs and won't decrease with a roommate.

How should roommates split bills fairly?

The simplest approach is 50/50 for all shared costs (rent, utilities, internet). Some roommates adjust for room size differences. Use a shared payment app to track who owes what and settle monthly.

👥Roommate Cost Savings Calculator

Compare living alone vs. sharing with one roommate to see your monthly and annual savings.

🙋 Living Alone — Your Monthly Costs

Rent + Fees ($)

Utilities + Internet ($)

Personal Expenses (groceries, transport, etc.) ($)

👫 With Roommate — Total Shared Costs (both people)

Total Rent + Fees ($)

Total Utilities + Internet ($)

Your Personal Expenses ($)

How Much Can You Save with a Roommate?

The biggest lever is rent — a two-bedroom apartment split between two people almost always costs less per person than a studio. Beyond rent, shared costs like utilities and internet get halved automatically. Personal expenses (groceries you buy separately, your phone, transport) stay the same.

This calculator separates shared costs (split 50/50) from personal expenses (unchanged) to give you a realistic savings number — not an overly optimistic one that assumes everything gets cut in half.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 2BR apartment always cheaper per person than a studio?

Almost always. Even if the 2BR costs 60–80% more than a studio, splitting it makes each person's share 30–40% cheaper than a solo studio. The only exception is extremely expensive markets where 2BR premiums are very high.

What should I put in "personal expenses"?

Include groceries (if you shop separately), transportation, phone, streaming services, gym, and any other costs that won't change whether you have a roommate or not. These don't get split — they're yours alone either way.

What about 3 or more roommates?

This calculator is for 2-person sharing. For 3 roommates, divide the shared costs by 3 instead of 2. The savings per person are even greater — but so are the coordination challenges.

How Much Can You Save with a Roommate?

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tools