Moving to a new place has its perks, it can also be stressful if you don’t know anyone and need to find a roommate.
9 ways to find a roommate in a new city
Having a roommate can be hugely beneficial because it means you have company and have someone with whom to split the cost of rent and utilities — but if you don’t get along, it can quickly turn into a disastrous living situation.
If you’re wondering how to find a roommate you’ll get along with in a new city, follow our simple tips.
1. Ask your friends and family
When you’re looking for how to find a roommate in a new city, one of the first things to do is ask friends and family if they know anyone already living there or if they know anyone moving to the same city who may also want a roommate.
Even if their contact isn’t looking for a roommate, it’s good to know someone before you move — they can give you advice about what neighborhood to pick and may even know of someone else looking for a roommate.
2. Post and search online for a roommate
The age of the internet is making it easier to find a roommate than ever before. Instead of posting an ad in the newspaper like the days of yore, you can make a profile on websites like Roomster, RoomieMatch or Diggz.
These sites are like a dating site for roommates. They’ll match you based on personality, interests and priorities, and take a lot of the guesswork out of finding a compatible roommate. These sites verify profiles and can help you feel safe knowing that the applicants have been vetted.
As always, it’s smart to meet with a potential roommate, get to know them in real life and make sure you’re compatible before signing a lease together. You can also search for sublets if you don’t want to deal with the process of renting an apartment on your own.
3. Use your alumni network
Like looking for a job, finding a great roommate is all about networking. If your friends and family weren’t able to think of anyone who’s moving to the same city, try to make some connections with current or future alumni from your school.
This is most easily done through social media. Post on the Facebook page of your graduating class and see if anyone else is in the same situation. If you both went to the same school, that’s already one thing you have in common. This is another great way to find a roommate in a new city.
4. Check Facebook groups
Facebook and other social media sites make it easy to connect with like-minded people. If you’re a part of a book group or exercise group on Facebook, post on the group page that you’re searching for a roommate in a new city. Facebook groups aren’t always local, but you can extend your reach and find a connection in your new place of residence.
5. Post on community bulletin boards
Like online social media groups, you can go old-school and search and find roommates using community bulletin boards. Go to your local coffee shop or community center and see if there are any postings.
Finding a roommate using this tactic is great because you can go to a neighborhood, check it out and likely find a roommate that’s searching in that same area. Don’t overlook these posting boards because you may find someone great to live with.
6. Check with your local church group
Are you part of a church group? If so, this can be a great place to find a roommate in a new city. You can ask people at the church if they know of anyone looking for a roommate, or you can ask to be connected to church leaders located in the new city and they can help put out feelers for you. If nothing else, you can have a church group to connect with once you land in your new city.
7. Ask a coworker
If you work for a company that has offices in multiple cities, you can always use your professional network to find a roommate in a new city. Ask your coworkers, managers or HR personnel if they know about anyone looking for a roommate. You can ask in Slack or other messaging groups to be connected to people looking for roommates. When you’re moving to a new city specifically for a job, the HR or recruiting department can likely help you find a roommate, too.
8. Ask a fellow student
Are you a student taking classes? Ask your fellow students, peer mentor or counselor if they or anyone they know are looking for roommates. If you’re moving to a new city for school, you can ask ahead of time to be connected to other students looking for roommates.
9. Sublease
Consider subletting from someone in your new city. This allows you to rent a room from someone who is already settled into an apartment instead of having to find a roommate and a new apartment when you move to a new city.
This is a good way to have a “soft-entry” into a city. You can check out the location and apartment complex, make sure it works for you and take a little more time vetting roommates for when you move into another place.
Utilize your network to find a roommate in your new city
How to find a roommate in a new city isn’t as daunting a question as it may seem. Nowadays, there are plenty of options and outlets to meet like-minded people who are looking for a place to live and a roommate. If you do your homework and utilize your network, you’ll find someone to live with in your new city.
