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Find a cheap room that fits your budget
Rent is the biggest line item in most people's budgets, and a private room in a shared home is one of the few ways to bring it down without moving somewhere you don't actually want to live. Roommates.com has been matching renters and room-havers since 2003, and our filters let you sort by price, neighborhood, lease length, and what's included with rent. Use the rent slider to set a hard ceiling, then narrow by the things that matter: utilities included, lease, deposit, pet friendly, close to transit.
Whether you have a spare room and want to bring in some income, or you're trying to keep your rent under a third of your paycheck, we'll help you find a fit.
Roommates Near Columbus, Ohio
Why people choose to split rent
A cheaper place to live, without giving up on the place itself.
You can pay roughly half.
A private room in a shared home usually runs 40 to 60 percent of what a one-bedroom costs in the same neighborhood. That's the difference between living where you want to live and living where you can afford to live.
Utilities and household costs get split too.
Electric, water, gas, internet, trash, and the random "we need toilet paper again" runs all get divided. On a one-bedroom, you're paying for all of that solo.
No first, last, and deposit on a whole apartment.
Moving into a private room usually means a smaller security deposit and first month, not a four-figure upfront cost. That alone is the reason a lot of people choose this route.
Flexibility on lease length.
Plenty of room-havers offer month-to-month, three-month, or six-month terms. Useful if you're not ready to sign a year on an apartment that may or may not be the right one.
You can save while you save.
Most people renting a room aren't planning to do it forever. It's a way to build a deposit, pay down debt, or get through a transition without going backwards financially.
How It Works
Create your free profile
Tell us about your interests, your habits, what you're hoping for. Honesty is the best policy here.
Browse and filter.
Search by location, age range, budget, lifestyle, interests, and more. You decide who fits.
Message safely
Connect through our secure messaging; no need to share your phone or email.
Meet, talk, decide
When you're ready, always meet in person, in a public place, before making a decision.
ID verification is included free on every paid plan.
When you see the "ID Verified" badge on a profile, that person has confirmed their identity with us.
You control your information.
Phone, address, and full name stay private until you choose to share them.
Meet in person before committing
Bring a friend or family member along if it helps you feel more comfortable. Anyone who pressures you to skip that step, or asks for money before meeting, is not someone you want to live with.
Trust the basics.
Walk through the actual home. Ask about the lease, who's on it, and what's included in writing. Trust your instincts, and make sure it lines up with what was in the listing.
roommates.com reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does ID verification work?
ID verification is free with any paid plan. You upload a government-issued ID through our secure verification partner, and once it's confirmed, an "ID Verified" badge appears on your profile. It's one of the simplest signals to look for when you're choosing who to message.
How do I find the cheapest rooms for rent in my area?
Use the rent filter on the search page to set a ceiling, then sort results by price (low to high). The cheapest rooms tend to be slightly outside city centers, in homes with three or more people, or in listings that include shared bedrooms. Filtering by "utilities included" can also lower your real monthly cost even if the rent itself is a little higher.
What's a realistic monthly budget for a room?
National range is roughly $500 to $1,200 a month for a private room in a shared home, depending on metro. In smaller cities and suburbs, you can often find rooms under $700. In coastal metros (San Francisco, New York, Boston, Seattle), $1,000 to $1,500 is more typical. Always check what's included before comparing prices: a $900 room with utilities and internet can be cheaper than an $800 room without.
Are utilities usually included with cheaper rooms?
Often, but not always. Many room-havers bundle utilities into a flat monthly rent because it's simpler. Others split the bills proportionally each month. Confirm in writing before you sign whether electric, water, gas, internet, and trash are included or billed separately. A flat rate makes budgeting easier.
Are short-term or month-to-month rentals available?
Yes. Many private-room listings offer month-to-month or short-term arrangements, which can be useful if you're between leases, doing a contract job, or testing out a new city. Use the lease length filter on search to narrow to what you need.
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