Top 5 U.S. Cities for Roommate Rent Savings in 2026
StorageCafe conducted an analysis of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. to identify where sharing rent with a roommate proves to be the most advantageous financially. Renters who share a two-bedroom apartment save around $6,700 each year, with savings surpassing $13,000 in high-cost areas. Currently, about 5.6 million renter households in the U.S. are cohabiting, reflecting a 20% rise over the last ten years, with Gen Z representing the largest demographic. Leading the list is Irvine, California, where average savings reach $12,800, and 25% of renters have roommates, marking a 136% increase since 2016. Following Irvine are Atlanta at $8,900, Tampa at $9,200, San Diego at $10,000, and Raleigh, North Carolina, at $8,100, with San Diego offering the least personal space at 491 square feet.
Key facts
- StorageCafe analyzed the 100 largest U.S. cities to find where splitting rent with a roommate pays off most.
- Nationally, renters who share a two-bedroom save an average of $6,700 per year compared to renting alone.
- Nearly 5.6 million U.S. renter households share housing with someone outside their immediate family, up more than 20% over the past decade.
- Irvine, California, tops the list with annual savings of $12,800, nearly double the national average.
- Atlanta ranks second with savings of about $8,900 per year.
- Raleigh, North Carolina, ranks third with savings of about $8,100 per year.
- Tampa, Florida, ranks fourth with savings of about $9,200 per year.
- San Diego ranks fifth with savings of about $10,000 per year.
Entities
Institutions
- StorageCafe
Locations
- Irvine
- California
- Jersey City
- New Jersey
- Atlanta
- Georgia
- Raleigh
- North Carolina
- Tampa
- Florida
- San Diego
- United States
Sources
- Quartz —