College life is complicated enough with long days of classes and long nights of studying (okay, some partying, too). An extended commute to school isn’t just inconvenient, it takes you away from the social hub that is the campus—which is what first attracted us to this no-fee, two-bedroom, one-bathroom rental in Morningside Heights for $2,500 a month (or $1,250 each).
Located at 191 Claremont Avenue, the apartment is within walking distance of three schools— Columbia University, Barnard College and the Manhattan School of Music—and the 1 train is on the next block. And since the listing actually highlights the apartment’s proximity to those schools, as well as the fact that the landlord accepts guarantors, it’s a pretty good assumption that the building is roommate-friendly, even for those renters who don't attend one of those institutions.
The place itself is decently laid out for roommates: both bedrooms are large enough to fit double beds, and the narrow kitchen has a built-in microwave and a dishwasher. The elevator building has a live-in super and a laundry room, too.
One potential con: the apartment is only available in mid-January, so you’d need to find someplace else to crash for another two months. That said, since the place is priced well below similar listings in the neighborhood, which are going for an average of $3,839, according to StreetEasy, it may well be worth the wait.
Related:
8 classic roommate dilemmas—and how to solve them
BrickUnderground's 6-step guide to renting a NYC apartment with roommates
5 things all roommates need to know about renter's insurance