Every September Boston fills with people who know nobody: new students, postdocs, residents, researchers on a one-year contract. "Rent a friend Boston" is the search a lot of them make by October.
What a Boston Local Friend is for#
| Plan | Why a local matters |
|---|---|
| Fenway | Bleacher seats and the bars on Lansdowne |
| The North End | Dinner where the menu isn't for tourists, then the pastry argument |
| Cambridge and Somerville | Where the city's twenty-somethings actually go out |
| The Harbor Islands | A ferry and a day out of the city |
| First week, new city | Someone to text who isn't a colleague |
How it works#
Browse Local Friends in Boston, message one, agree a plan, meet in public. Each sets their own hourly rate; worldwide most charge $15 to $50 an hour, Boston near the top (what moves the price). Rent a friend in the USA explains the model; New York is four hours down the coast.
For Bostonians: getting paid#
Sign up free on Roavi, add real photos and a bio, say which neighbourhoods you know, set a rate and your free evenings. Roavi takes no commission. The rhythm here is academic: September and January are when the newcomers arrive, and a Local Friend who replies fast in those weeks gets repeat bookings all semester. Visitors for the 2026 World Cup read the Boston match guide and then want someone to show them a city the stadium isn't in.
Live in Boston? Get paid to show newcomers the city.
Become a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Can you rent a friend in Boston?
Yes. On Roavi, Boston Local Friends offer their time by the hour for the neighbourhoods, a game, the food and the city beyond the Freedom Trail. Company, not dating.How much does it cost to rent a friend in Boston?
Each Local Friend sets their rate. Worldwide most charge $15 to $50 an hour; Boston sits high in that range. Food, tickets and the T are agreed before you meet.Who rents a friend in Boston?
New graduate students and postdocs who arrived alone, international students in their first semester, visiting researchers, and visitors who want the city Bostonians actually live in.How do Bostonians get paid?
Sign up free on Roavi, add real photos and a bio, set a rate and your free times. People message you; you meet in public. Roavi takes no commission.