Do roommates make renting in Boise more affordable? See how much you save
Should you get a roommate or live alone?
That’s an important consideration whenever renters are looking for a new place to live.
In metropolitan areas across the United States, moving in with someone can make life more affordable, according to SmartAsset.
“In large U.S. cities, splitting a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate versus living alone in a one-bedroom apartment could save the average renter about $541 per month, or nearly $6,500 per year,” Jaclyn De John, SmartAsset’s director of economic analysis, wrote in an April 7 article. “In many cities, the average savings climb much higher.”
SmartAsset recently ranked the U.S. cities where renters can save the most by living with roommates.
Here’s where how Boise fared:
Is living in Boise more affordable with a roommate?
In Boise, you can save about 45.4% on monthly rent by having roommates, according to the SmartAsset study.
That shakes out to $650 in savings every month, freeing up $7,800 in just one year.
According to SmartAsset, the average one-bedroom apartment in Boise costs $1,330 a month to rent, while a two-bedroom apartment costs $1,450 on average.
As of Monday, April 20, the average monthly rent in Boise was $1,815, according to real estate website Zillow.
Should I live alone, get a roommate or try co-living?
If monthly rent payments are breaking your bank, getting a roommate or trying out communal living to help ease financial strain.
“Moving to Idaho is becoming increasingly popular amongst young adults,” Boise moving and storage company Peasley Transfer and Storage said.
Housing costs in the Gem State are also on the rise, making co-living a popular option for younger Idahoans.
Benefits of sharing a living space include saving money, companionship and help with chores, according to real estate company Landing.
However, you may clash with your roommates over cleanliness standards, scheduling, paying bills and privacy.
“One of the most significant challenges is the potential for conflicts between roommates,” Peasley Transfer and Storage said. “Roommates may have different expectations when it comes to things like cleanliness, noise levels, or household responsibilities, which can lead to tension and disagreements. “
Where are the best US cities to live with a roommate?
According to SmartAsset, renters can save the most in these 10 cities by living with roommates:
- Cleveland: 47.8% savings on rent
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 46.8%
- Jersey City, New Jersey: 46.7%
- Memphis, Tennessee: 46.2%
- Boise: 45.4%
- Augusta, Georgia: 45%
- New Haven, Connecticut: 44.8%
- Chattanooga, Tennessee: 44.4%
- Virginia Beach, Virginia: 43.9%
- Shreveport, Louisiana: 43%
How did SmartAsset make this study?
To determine where living with roommates makes renting more affordable, SmartAsset said it examined rent costs 100 of the largest U.S. cities.
The personal finance company compared the average monthly rents for one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments between March 2025 and the following March with data from rental marketplace Zumper.
Cities were ranked by the relative different of the cost of renting a one-pedroom apartment and splitting rental costs for a two-bedroom unit equally with a roommate.
This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 8:47 AM with the headline "Do roommates make renting in Boise more affordable? See how much you save."
