
Be My Valentine… And My Roommate? Here’s How Much You Can Save By Moving In Together.

By Amy Mueller
Feb 07, 2023
With Valentine's Day approaching, love is in the air—and what could be more romantic than potential rent savings? Whoever said distance makes the heart grow fonder clearly never heard of rent splitting. And while cost savings alone may not be the best reason to move in with your significant other (see our Moving In Together Survey for more on that), it’s certainly an added bonus.
Sharing the cost of renting a one- or two-bedroom apartment can save you thousands of dollars in rent annually compared to living alone. It may even allow you to upgrade to a better property or location that you wouldn’t have been able to afford as single renter, allowing you to save money while also upgrading your living situation.
How Much Can You Save By Splitting Rent?
We analyzed our rent price data to reveal how much can be saved by cohabitating in cities across the United States, and the totals are eye-popping. The biggest savings, of course, are found in the most expensive rental cities, where the cost of living solo in a one-bedroom unit is prohibitive for many renters. Take New York City, for example, which currently tops our list as the most expensive city to live in the U.S. The median cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment alone was $3,700 per month in January. Split that 50/50 with your significant other, and you’ll each save $22,200 by the end of the year. Enough to shell out on flowers, chocolate, and maybe even a reservation at Carbone.
In the next two most-expensive cities topping our list — San Francisco, CA and Boston, MA — you stand to save $17,292 or $16,506, respectively, by cohabitating. So, taking this big step can mean big savings.
How Much Would It Cost to Upgrade Your Apartment Size?
The savings opportunities are typically just as compelling when you upgrade from living alone in a one-bedroom to sharing a bigger two-bedroom. In Austin, TX, for example, you’d pay an average $1,498 to live alone in a one-bedroom, but just $998 to split the cost of a two-bedroom (median rent is $1,860). Instead of paying $17,976 for the year in rent alone in a one-bedroom, you’d each individually be paying $11,160—that’s a $6,816 difference. Plus, you’ll gain on average 340 square feet of extra living space (as well as extra closet space, and a room you could set up as a home office if you need some me time).

An example of a two-bedroom apartment at median rent in Austin, TX.
Feeling inspired? Check out some of our resources for couples planning to move in together for the first time. And if you’re ready to take the plunge and find your new home, let us help you find the best deal.
How much can you save in your city by cohabitating? Here’s the breakdown, based on recent median rents in the top 25 priciest rental cities. We’ve ranked these cities by the biggest savings opportunities when you go from living alone in a one-bedroom to sharing a one-bedroom.
Annual Savings When Splitting Rent of a 1-Bedroom Apartment in The Top 25 Most Expensive U.S. Cities
City | 1-Bed Monthly Rent (Solo) | 1-Bed Monthly Rent (Split) | Annual Rent Savings (Individual) |
---|---|---|---|
New York City, NY | $3,700.00 | $1,850.00 | $22,200.00 |
San Francisco, CA | $2,882.00 | $1,441.00 | $17,292.00 |
Boston, MA | $2,751.00 | $1,375.50 | $16,506.00 |
San Jose, CA | $2,501.00 | $1,250.50 | $15,006.00 |
San Diego, CA | $2,388.00 | $1,194.00 | $14,328.00 |
Miami, FL | $2,305.00 | $1,152.50 | $13,830.00 |
Los Angeles, CA | $2,295.00 | $1,147.50 | $13,770.00 |
Washington, DC | $2,246.00 | $1,123.00 | $13,476.00 |
Seattle, WA | $1,900.00 | $950.00 | $11,400.00 |
Chicago, IL | $1,800.00 | $900.00 | $10,800.00 |
Atlanta, GA | $1,795.00 | $897.50 | $10,770.00 |
Riverside, CA | $1,795.00 | $897.50 | $10,770.00 |
Honolulu, HI | $1,700.00 | $850.00 | $10,200.00 |
Denver, CO | $1,686.00 | $843.00 | $10,116.00 |
Tampa, FL | $1,639.00 | $819.50 | $9,834.00 |
Nashville, TN | $1,591.00 | $795.50 | $9,546.00 |
Sacramento, CA | $1,561.00 | $780.50 | $9,366.00 |
Virginia Beach, VA | $1,527.00 | $763.50 | $9,162.00 |
Portland, OR | $1,500.00 | $750.00 | $9,000.00 |
New Orleans, LA | $1,500.00 | $750.00 | $9,000.00 |
Austin, TX | $1,498.00 | $749.00 | $8,988.00 |
Dallas, TX | $1,420.00 | $710.00 | $8,520.00 |
Raleigh, NC | $1,411.00 | $705.50 | $8,466.00 |
Houston, TX | $1,399.00 | $699.50 | $8,394.00 |
Philadelphia, PA | $1,395.00 | $697.50 | $8,370.00 |
Annual Savings When Moving Out of a Solo 1-Bed to Split Rent of a 2-Bed in The Top 25 Most Expensive U.S. Cities
City | 1-Bed Monthly Rent (Solo) | 2-Bed Monthly Rent (Together) | 2-bed Monthly Rent Split | Annual Savings (Individual) |
---|---|---|---|---|
New York City, NY | $3,700.00 | $3,295.00 | $1,647.50 | $24,630.00 |
Boston, MA | $2,751.00 | $3,200.00 | $1,600.00 | $13,812.00 |
San Jose, CA | $2,501.00 | $3,000.00 | $1,500.00 | $12,012.00 |
San Francisco, CA | $2,882.00 | $3,856.00 | $1,928.00 | $11,448.00 |
San Diego, CA | $2,388.00 | $2,975.00 | $1,487.50 | $10,806.00 |
Chicago, IL | $1,800.00 | $1,995.00 | $997.50 | $9,630.00 |
Washington, DC | $2,246.00 | $2,908.00 | $1,454.00 | $9,504.00 |
Los Angeles, CA | $2,295.00 | $3,095.00 | $1,547.50 | $8,970.00 |
Virginia Beach, VA | $1,527.00 | $1,609.00 | $804.50 | $8,670.00 |
Riverside, CA | $1,795.00 | $2,176.00 | $1,088.00 | $8,484.00 |
Nashville, TN | $1,591.00 | $1,800.00 | $900.00 | $8,292.00 |
New Orleans, LA | $1,500.00 | $1,650.00 | $825.00 | $8,100.00 |
Atlanta, GA | $1,795.00 | $2,256.00 | $1,128.00 | $8,004.00 |
Miami, FL | $2,305.00 | $3,300.00 | $1,650.00 | $7,860.00 |
Seattle, WA | $1,900.00 | $2,495.00 | $1,247.50 | $7,830.00 |
Raleigh, NC | $1,411.00 | $1,527.00 | $763.50 | $7,770.00 |
Tampa, FL | $1,639.00 | $2,005.00 | $1,002.50 | $7,638.00 |
Portland, OR | $1,500.00 | $1,795.00 | $897.50 | $7,230.00 |
Honolulu, HI | $1,700.00 | $2,200.00 | $1,100.00 | $7,200.00 |
Philadelphia, PA | $1,395.00 | $1,595.00 | $797.50 | $7,170.00 |
Sacramento, CA | $1,561.00 | $1,941.00 | $970.50 | $7,086.00 |
Denver, CO | $1,686.00 | $2,200.00 | $1,100.00 | $7,032.00 |
Houston, TX | $1,399.00 | $1,645.00 | $822.50 | $6,918.00 |
Austin, TX | $1,498.00 | $1,860.00 | $930.00 | $6,816.00 |
Dallas, TX | $1,420.00 | $1,950.00 | $975.00 | $5,340.00 |
Methodology: To determine the annual individual savings when renting a one-bedroom apartment, we took the median rent of each city for a one-bedroom apartment, assumed a 50/50 rent split, and calculated how much each individual would save when compared to the rent prices they would have paid in the same apartment, alone.
To determine the annual individuals savings when upgrading from a solo one-bedroom apartment to a shared two-bedroom apartment, we took the median rent of each city for a one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment, assumed a 50/50 rent split, and calculated how much each individual would save when compared to the rent prices they would have paid for a one-bedroom apartment, alone.
Top metro areas
Atlanta Apartments
729 apartments starting at $550/month
Austin Apartments
936 apartments starting at $625/month
Baltimore Apartments
602 apartments starting at $450/month
Birmingham Apartments
251 apartments starting at $550/month
Boston Apartments
3,260 apartments starting at $700/month
Buffalo Apartments
109 apartments starting at $750/month
Charlotte Apartments
686 apartments starting at $605/month
Chicago Apartments
3,708 apartments starting at $400/month
Cincinnati Apartments
316 apartments starting at $600/month
Cleveland Apartments
444 apartments starting at $499/month
Columbus Apartments
875 apartments starting at $400/month
Dallas Apartments
1,205 apartments starting at $645/month
Denver Apartments
641 apartments starting at $500/month
Detroit Apartments
479 apartments starting at $525/month
Grand Rapids Apartments
230 apartments starting at $560/month
Hartford Apartments
74 apartments starting at $795/month
Houston Apartments
628 apartments starting at $649/month
Indianapolis Apartments
533 apartments starting at $400/month
Jacksonville Apartments
938 apartments starting at $438/month
Kansas City Apartments
497 apartments starting at $500/month
Las Vegas Apartments
787 apartments starting at $600/month
Los Angeles Apartments
3,471 apartments starting at $600/month
Louisville Apartments
298 apartments starting at $594/month
Memphis Apartments
710 apartments starting at $475/month
Miami Apartments
603 apartments starting at $1,200/month
Milwaukee Apartments
524 apartments starting at $465/month
Minneapolis Apartments
666 apartments starting at $625/month
Nashville Apartments
343 apartments starting at $795/month
New Orleans Apartments
444 apartments starting at $595/month
New York City Apartments
1,835 apartments starting at $900/month
Oklahoma City Apartments
567 apartments starting at $549/month
Orlando Apartments
406 apartments starting at $650/month
Philadelphia Apartments
1,692 apartments starting at $400/month
Phoenix Apartments
1,019 apartments starting at $600/month
Pittsburgh Apartments
738 apartments starting at $600/month
Portland Apartments
869 apartments starting at $415/month
Providence Apartments
155 apartments starting at $799/month
Raleigh Apartments
398 apartments starting at $600/month
Richmond Apartments
451 apartments starting at $650/month
Riverside Apartments
106 apartments starting at $495/month
Sacramento Apartments
346 apartments starting at $811/month
Salt Lake City Apartments
181 apartments starting at $550/month
San Antonio Apartments
737 apartments starting at $410/month
San Diego Apartments
946 apartments starting at $795/month
San Francisco Apartments
767 apartments starting at $775/month
San Jose Apartments
217 apartments starting at $1,000/month
Seattle Apartments
916 apartments starting at $600/month
St. Louis Apartments
371 apartments starting at $525/month
Tampa Apartments
386 apartments starting at $801/month
Virginia Beach Apartments
216 apartments starting at $595/month
Washington DC Apartments
515 apartments starting at $828/month