The best way to find roommates in NYC is to use online websites and resources designed for finding roommates. Here are some of the best roommate finders in NYC:
12 Best NYC Roommate Websites
- Diggz
- Roomi
- Spare Room
- Rainbow Roommates
- Listings Project
- Perfect Strangers
- Roomie Match
- RoomZoom
- Craigslist
- Reddit
- Ghostlight Housing
- Nooklyn
Diggz
The best roommate finder in NYC is Diggz. It is a free website that helps tenants search for roommates, rooms for rent, or apartment listings in various cities across the US, including NYC. The site allows users to create a profile with information about their maximum monthly budget, preferred lease duration, occupation, hometown, and other relevant information.
Plus, it allows users to rank their habits such as drinking, smoking, eating, work schedule, and more on a scale based on frequency. Many users have ranked Diggz as one of the best roommate searching apps on the market and say it has a simple design that makes finding a roommate fast and easy.
Roomi
Roomi is another great place to find roommates in NYC. This app helps users rent rooms and find reliable roommates in major urban areas. Anyone listing a unit must pass a background check to weed out scams or suspicious people. Plus, the app features a secure messaging feature, so you don’t have to give out your personal contact info to get in touch with potential roommates.
Users fill out a profile that includes their personal information, roommate preferences, and moving preferences. Or they can search the available listings and contact other users or landlords directly.
Spare Room
Another one of the best ways to find a roommate in NYC is to use Spare Room. Spare Room is another free website that helps users find rooms for rent and roommates in NYC or the UK. Users can create a profile that includes a bio, total budget, what neighborhoods they’re looking at, interests, and whether or not they smoke or have pets.
When you’ve come across a profile that looks promising, you can message them through the website or find their email or social media in their profile if it’s available. Spare Room has been rated positively by both tenants and landlords, who claim it’s a safe, reliable resource for finding renters in NYC.
Rainbow Roommates
Rainbow Roommates is also one of the best roommate finders in NYC. This service is specifically geared toward the LGBTQ community. It advertises itself as the leader in lesbian and gay roommate and rental services since 1995. This listing service has rooms available all over the five boroughs and New Jersey.
They also have a physical location in Midtown where users can schedule an appointment to meet with a representative in person. According to the testimonials on their website, users say that the staff at Rainbow Roommates is attentive and can find reliable roommates with ease and efficiency.
Listings Project
The listings project is a carefully curated newsletter of real estate listings, jobs, and general opportunities in major cities across the US, including New York. It’s similar to the email version of the classified’s with thorough vetting put into each listing to ensure safety and accuracy.
To view the listings, all you need to do is give them your email address and permission to send you weekly updates. In addition to apartment listings and rooms for rent, they also list art studios, workspaces, rehearsal spaces, and more.
Perfect Strangers
Perfect Strangers is an NYC-based real estate agency and an online forum specializing in helping NYC residents find roommates. Users will be asked to fill out a questionnaire with info about their search. Plus, they have the option of doing a video call with a representative to learn more about the platform.
Next, you will be able to search their selection of apartments in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens to find one that suits your needs. Finally, a team of Certified Matchmakers will help you find other qualified tenants to live with. They will also assist with the lease signing if you need additional real estate expertise.
Roomie Match
Roomie Match is a roommate curation website that serves all major metro areas. It advertises itself as a human-moderated roommate service that helps renters find the perfect roommate based on personalized matching and behavior ratings.
Users create a profile that will only be seen by the representatives working at the company. These representatives will then weed out any spam posts or profiles from questionable sources. They will then send you emails with potential roommate matches for you to surf through.
They have two subscription options – free and cheap. The paid version allows you to contact roommates directly. But with the free version, you’ll have to wait until they contact you.
RoomZoom
RoomZoom is a roommate matching service that pairs potential roommates based on their budget, lifestyle, and living habits. Users will be asked a series of questions about their employment, personality, and lifestyle. That data is then inputted into a powerful algorithm that will match them with the perfect roommate.
RoomZoom is a free service and is exclusively based in New York City. As of yet, there is no search function, so users will have to wait to be paired with a potential roommate by the algorithm.
Craigslist
While Craigslist often gets a bad rap because of scams and the potential for sketchy situations, it isn’t a bad resource if you use it with caution. There is a real estate section of the website where you can search for sublets or post ads for new roommates.
Make sure to read the ads carefully and insist on meeting with anyone you contact in person to be sure they are trustworthy and the info they posted is accurate. But as long as you use common sense and good judgment, Craigslist can be a good way to find potential roommates.
Reddit is another resource similar to craigslist that can help find roommates. However, you must be careful. There are subreddits such as r/redditroommates where users post information about rooms for rent or their need to find a roommate.
You may have to be patient to find a situation that makes sense for you. Plus, you have to do your due diligence and speak to the poster in person or on the phone to verify their personal credentials and lifestyle habits. But this can be another helpful resource to check if you’re looking for something free and easy.
Ghostlight Housing
Ghostlight Housing is a Facebook group dedicated to helping connect members of the NYC performing arts community who need housing. To be added to the group, members must answer questions that prove they meet the qualifications. Once added, users can either post a room or unit they are looking to rent out or make a post stating what they are looking for.
This group has some great deals on local apartments. But by signing up users, agree to proceed at their own risk, meaning nothing is officially vetted. So, you must do your own due diligence when dealing with potential renters or other roommates.
Nooklyn
As a Brooklyn-based real estate brokerage, you wouldn't necessarily expect to see Nooklyn at the top of a list of the best websites to find roommates in NYC, but the fact of the matter is that they have an excellent roommate matching service. Their agents are also highly experienced in finding apartments that work well for roommates, as well as walking roommates through the rental process and ensuring they are qualified before they apply.
Finding Roommates in NYC Bottom Line
Finding a roommate in NYC is easier than you think, thanks to the many roommate-matching websites available. When looking for a roommate, keep in mind that you'll be sharing a living space and financial responsibilities with another person, so it's best to vet them and ensure you trust them. You'll also need to qualify for an apartment, so be sure you and potential roommates fulfill typical NYC apartment application requirements, such as making 40 times the monthly rent.
Finding Roommates in NYC FAQs
How do I find a Roommate in NYC?
There are a variety of different ways to find a roommate in NYC. Using any of the above resources is one way to find a roommate who is searching for the same things as you. Another way is to ask friends and family to see if anyone in your personal circle is looking for a roommate.
You could consult a broker and see if they know of any rooms for rent. Not all brokers have access to these kinds of listings, but it’s worth a try if you’re looking for someone who has been thoroughly vetted. There are a variety of different ways to find potential roommates, but it all comes down to your personal preferences and comfort level.
Is it Hard to Find Roommates in NYC?
Finding a room or roommate used to be very tricky, but as coliving has become a popular trend, more and more companies are starting to offer rooms for rent and roommate matching services, making it much easier to find a roommate in NYC. But if you have very specific requirements for both your roommate and your housing situation, it may be a bit harder. While no one wants to live with someone they don’t get along with, you should keep an open mind if you’re looking to find a roommate quickly.
If you don’t mind taking your time to search for the perfect candidate, then you can afford to be a bit pickier. But unless you’re going to be living with someone you already know, chances are you’ll have to make some kind of concessions to find someone within a reasonable time frame.
How Can I Find a Safe Roommate?
The best way to find a safe roommate is to use one of the roommate marching websites or services listed in this article or go through a real estate brokerage. They will vet the other tenants and perform a background check to ensure they are who they say they are.
Or, if you believe you’re a good judge of character, you can always conduct your own interview and get to know them before you agree to move in. You could even ask for personal references or statements from past roommates to judge the accuracy of what they tell you.
Ultimately, anytime you are dealing with a complete stranger, there are risks that they may not be who they say they are. But as long as you proceed with caution and do your due diligence, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a safe, reliable roommate.