There’s a narrative that floats around - one that says living with roommates is just a temporary phase, a stopgap between college and your own place,  and a rite of passage that you’re supposed to outgrow.

But for a lot of people - especially in today’s economy or in major cities - moving alone doesn't always mean moving forward. In fact, keeping them might be one of the smartest moves you can make. Whether you're in your 20s, 30s, or fully deep into adulthood, there are real, tangible benefits to living with other people. Not in a dorm-style chaos, but in intentional, adult-shared spaces that are well-organized, clean, and maybe even curated.

I have had hundreds of roommates in the many years since I moved out at 18, from school housing in college to a different shared New York City apartment every year, and while that came with challenges, I always loved having people to come home to,  some of the roommates I moved in with as strangers are still some of my closest friends over a decade later.

1. It’s One of the Fastest Ways to Cut Your Living Expenses

Rent is the biggest line item in most people’s budgets. Living alone might feel like freedom, but it's also expensive - especially in cities where studios cost more than a full paycheck. Sharing a home slashes that in half or more. Utilities, internet, security deposits - all divided. That extra savings can go toward paying off debt, funding your travel goals, starting a business, or just breathing a little easier every month. I have friends that have bought their own houses and still had a roommate for a couple of years to cover the transitional cost from renting to owning. 

In a time when inflation’s outpacing salaries and housing prices keep climbing, that kind of financial relief isn’t minor, it's a strategy and often a necessity.

2. You Get More Space for Less Money

One-bedroom apartments are expensive and often tiny. But a shared house or multi-bedroom apartment? Suddenly you have a real living room, a backyard, maybe even a workspace. A 2-bedroom is often only a few hundred dollars more than a 1-bedroom, making the split a significant savings. 

You’re not just saving money - you’re upgrading your lifestyle. If you’re working from home, this matters even more. Having separate rooms to work, cook, stretch, and unwind can completely shift your mental health.

3. It Keeps You From Slipping Into Isolation

Solo living can be peaceful - until it’s not. Without anyone to check in on you, make dinner plans with, or vent to after a long day, it's easy to slip into full hermit mode. Right before covid, a new neighbor moved into the apartment directly next to mine, and we quickly became close friends and would  call each other our roommates because we always left our doors open and wandered in and out, we basically turned our two units into one. And during the months of quarantine and lockdown, I don't know if I could have survived without our extended household. 

Having roommates doesn’t mean you're always in each other's space. But it means there’s someone else around. Someone to talk to over coffee. Someone who notices if you’ve been in your room for three days straight. Someone who reminds you you’re not alone in the world. In a time when loneliness is quietly becoming one of the most widespread health issues, this is no small thing.

4. The Right Roommate Can Make Your Life Easier

The biggest difference between a stressful shared space and one that actually supports your lifestyle is the people you live with. When you live with someone who matches your energy - whether that’s early mornings and clean counters or late nights and shared dinners - everything runs smoother. You never need to worry about who is going to water your plants or take in your packages while you go on vacation, and when you get locked out there are a few more people that have a spare key.

That’s why finding the right roommate is everything, and while long ago Craigslist used to be the main place to find roommates, those days are long gone now, and one if its best replacements is www.spareroom.com, the website is the top roommate finder in the US with constantly updating listings in popular cities like San Francisco and New York as well as small towns. 

When you start with the right match, shared living doesn’t just work - it actually improves your quality of life.

5. Roommates Can Expand Your Life - Not Just Your Budget

You come for the savings, but living with the right person can also open up your world in unexpected ways. You might meet someone who becomes a business partner, a creative collaborator, or just a surprisingly solid support system. You might get introduced to new friends, new ideas, or a version of your city you hadn’t seen before. 

Good roommates can pull you out of a rut, hold you accountable, and create a sense of home that you don’t get living solo, and communal living can be the best decision you ever make when you find the right environment, it's how humans are designed to live. 

6. It Buys You Freedom (Not the Other Way Around)

Choosing roommates isn’t about being stuck in arrested development, freeing up a larger percentage of your income is often essential if you’re trying to build something - a creative career, a business, a travel lifestyle, a slower life with less pressure , and shared housing can be the best way to buy you time and space.

It can give you the financial runway to quit your job and freelance, or to travel more, or to save for a down payment on a house or a six-month sabbatical.

Sometimes the most independent thing you can do is make a choice that gives you more options later.