9 Tips for Finding a Roommate in a New City

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: December 31, 2022 References

Moving to a new city is an exciting big step in your life, but it can sometimes be a challenge if you don't know anyone you can live with. We know you might feel a little nervous about sharing your home, but there are so many easy and safe ways to find a good roommate. Keep reading to find out about the best places to look for new roommate so you can start enjoying the city!

Things You Should Know

Ask friends or family if they know somebody looking for a roommate. Post to social media to reach out to others in your social circle.
Create a profile on a roommate finder app or website to match with potential roommates. Sites and apps tend to be safe since they verify users.
Meet and chat with potential roommates in public to see if you get along and mesh well.

1

Ask friends and family.

You may be able to find a roommate through your mutual connections. Your friends and family know your personality the best, and they may know someone that would mesh well with you. Reach out to the people you trust most and let them know you’re searching for a roommate. At the very least, they may know someone else who lives in the city that can help you out more.^{[1]
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- You could say something like, “Hey, I’m looking for someone to live with when I move to Chicago. Do you know anyone in the area at all?”
- Seeing if your friends and family know anyone is usually the best way to safely find a roommate since you can trust the people they’d recommend.

2

Post on social media.

A friend on social media may know someone who’d be a good roommate. Don’t be afraid to make a Facebook status or tweet letting people know that you need a roommate. Post what you’d want from an ideal roommate and what your budget is, and tell anyone who’s interested to send you a direct message.^{[2]
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- Example: Hey everyone! I’m looking for a roommate in New York City in the next month or two. If you know anyone looking for a funny, reliable person to live with, send me a DM!

3

Join a Facebook housing group.

A Facebook group connects you to potential rooms and roommates. Go on Facebook and search for the name of the city with the phrase “Housing” or “Roommate” to see if there are any groups you can join. Once you’re accepted as a member of the group, you can post a short bio, the living situation you’re looking for, and your budget. You can also respond to posts from other people if you’re interested in rooming with them.^{[3]
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- Example: Hi! My name is John Smith and I’m looking for a roommate in Los Angeles. I work full time and I’m very clean and responsible. I have a budget of $1,000 a month including utilities, and I’m hoping to live near Hollywood.
- Facebook groups are a great place to find roommates since you can check the person’s profile to learn more about them. Groups are also usually moderated, so it helps you avoid rental scams.
- There may be multiple roommate and housing groups for your city, so join them all so you can get more people to see your posts.
- If you already have a place in the city and you’re looking for a roommate to move in with you, then provide the size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, amenities, and rent price.

4

Check a roommate finder app.

An app lets you swipe through and message potential roommates. Make a profile on a roommate finding app and choose the city where you’re looking for roommates. You’ll be able to see profiles of other people who are searching for someone to live with and match with people that you’d like to live with. From there, you can send them messages to get to know them even better.^{[4]
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- Roomi has a free service that lets you post listings and browse roommates, but you can upgrade to get background checks and boost your search rankings.
- SpareRoom is great for finding someone who has an extra room.
- Roomster verifies users so you’re less likely to run into spam accounts or fake postings.

5

Use a website dedicated to finding roommates.

Pair with a random person based on your interests using a site. Log in to a dedicated roommate website and fill out your profile so users know who you are and what you’re looking for. You can browse all of the listings available for people with open rooms looking for a roommate or make your own post to see if other people want to live with you.^{[5]
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- Roommates.com verifies users to protect you from spam and fraud. You can also message potential roommates right from the site to immediately connect.
- RoomieMatch is moderated and has extra security so you only see users in the area looking for a roommate. Since the site requires you to stay active, you don’t have to worry about old spam accounts clogging up the listings.
- RoomMatch lets you communicate with potential roommates without sharing your personal email address or phone number.

6

Reach out to an alumni or college housing association.

You may know someone from your school that you can move in with. If you moved into a new city to attend school, reach out to the housing association and see if they offer any help for matching you with a roommate. If you’re living in a new city and want to know if other graduates from your school are in the area, talk to the alumni association to see if they can connect you with anyone nearby.^{[6]
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- You also may be able to find alumni groups on Facebook. Search for your school and the year that you graduated to find a group and write a post asking if anyone lives in the city or knows someone who needs a roommate.

7

Try searching for roommates on Craigslist.

Craigslist lets you find a random roommate in the area. Go to the Craigslist site for your area and post a classified ad to one of the housing boards. Post a short bio about what your daily life and budget is. Then, give all of the details of what you’re looking for in a place to live and what you expect from a roommate.^{[7]
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- Example: I’m 25 years old and just started a full-time job in Denver. I’m looking for a spot in a pet-free, smoke-free home. I’m very quiet and clean, and I tend to spend my free time outdoors so I’m not home very frequently. Looking for a young professional to live with that doesn’t mind hanging out from time to time.
- Be cautious responding and communicating with people over Craigslist since it’s harder to vet their information. Make sure you plan on meeting up and getting to know the person before you make any commitments.

8

Consider subletting while you look for a roommate.

A short-term sublet gives you more time to find a permanent roommate. Subletting is when you replace someone on an existing lease for a set amount of time. The lease will still stay in the original tenant’s name, and you’ll either pay them or the landlord. You can find sublets on any of the apps or sites you use to find a roommate by searching “sublet” or “sublease.”^{[8]
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- Alternatively, you could look for weekly or monthly rentals on sites like Airbnb.
- Taking a sublease lets you get a little more familiar with the city so you can figure out which neighborhood you want to live in. You’ll also have a chance to connect with potential roommates a little easier.

9

Meet with potential roommates before moving in.

You can get a better feeling for the person after you meet and chat. Find a time where you can meet in a public place and get to know one another.^{[9]
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- If you can’t get together in person, chat on social media and schedule a video call so you can talk to each other.
- Watch out for red flags like financial instability, partying or excessive drinking habits, lack of communication, and uncleanliness.
- Be wary of potential roommates who only communicate by email and don’t want to meet in person since they could be scammers.^{[11]
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Warnings

Never share financial or personal information with anyone that you meet online since you could get scammed.^{[13]
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