- Renter demand for roommate situations in metro New York is rising 38% year over year, according to Q3 2026 rent data from roommate site SpareRoom.
- Sharing as a roommate in Manhattan now costs, on average, $1,903/month - 6.5% higher than a year ago - but more than $18K/year cheaper than renting an average studio apartment ($3,426/month*).
Adding a roommate may not be a new way to cope with the high cost of living in New York but SpareRoom reports that demand for roommate situations in metro New York - where renting as a roommate costs an average $1,543/month - is rising 38% year over year.
In Manhattan, sharing as a roommate now costs, on average, $1,903/month. That's a 6.5% increase on the previous year but it's still $18,276/year cheaper than renting an average studio apartment at $3,426/month*.
As such, demand for roommate situations in the two most expensive boroughs, Manhattan and Brooklyn, has risen by almost half (48%) in the year to Q3 2026.
The Bronx has both the cheapest ($1,162/month) and most stable (-0.8% year over year) roommate rent in NYC, but demand is now very high - 8.5 people are searching per room available to rent - and rising 35% year over year.
| Borough | Ave roommate rent Q3 2026 | Demand* Q3 2026 | Ave roommate rent Q3 2025 | Demand* Q3 2025 | YOY demand change (%) | YOY rent change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronx | $1,162 | 8.5 | $1,171 | 6.3 | 34.6 | -0.8 |
| Brooklyn | $1,468 | 6.1 | $1,430 | 4.1 | 48.4 | 2.7 |
| Manhattan | $1,903 | 5.4 | $1,787 | 3.6 | 48.2 | 6.5 |
| Queens | $1,271 | 7.8 | $1,232 | 5.8 | 34.0 | 3.2 |
| Metro New York, NY, NJ | $1,543 | 4.1 | $1,492 | 3.0 | 37.7 | 3.4 |
*Demand is defined as the number of roommates enquiring per room available to rent on SpareRoom.com
Matt Hutchinson, director of roommate site SpareRoom, comments: “In New York, landlords can't usually stop you from adding a roommate who isn't named on the lease to help you split the rent. As the cost of living has increased, more people are taking advantage of this right, searching for roommates and roommate situations where the financial savings can be huge compared to renting a studio apartment solo.
“And what starts out as a living arrangement driven by necessity can be life changing. Lifelong friendships are forged in apartment shares and, if you're new to the city, living with a local can be the best way to feel at home fast.”