New York is the city most people arrive in alone: for a job, a semester, a week's visit. "Rent a friend NYC" is the search for someone who lives here, and for New Yorkers, the question of whether they can be paid for being that person.
What a New York Local Friend is for#
| Plan | Why a local matters |
|---|---|
| Queens | Jackson Heights, Flushing: the best food in the city, with someone who knows the menu |
| Brooklyn | A weekend in Bushwick, Williamsburg or Bed-Stuy without the tourist version |
| A game or a show | Yankees, Knicks, a comedy cellar: not alone |
| The subway and the pace | Which train, which exit, how the city actually works |
| Settling in | Where to live, how to make friends, the neighbourhoods that fit you |
How it works#
Browse Local Friends in New York, message one, agree a plan, meet in public. Each sets their own hourly rate; worldwide most charge $15 to $50 an hour, and New York sits at the top (what moves the price). For visitors: is New York safe?, and rent a friend in the USA for the wider picture.
For New Yorkers: getting paid#
Sign up free, add real photos and a short bio, set your rate and your free evenings or weekends, reply fast. Roavi takes no commission. It's a side income; report it as self-employment. Paid friend jobs explains the work.
Live in New York? Get paid to show people your city.
Become a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Can you rent a friend in NYC?
Yes. On Roavi, New York Local Friends offer their time by the hour for the boroughs, the food, events and the city beyond Midtown. Company, not dating.How much does it cost to rent a friend in New York?
Each Local Friend sets their rate. Worldwide most charge $15 to $50 an hour, and New York rates sit at the top of that. Food, tickets and transport are agreed beforehand.Who rents a friend in New York?
Visitors who want the real city, people who just moved for work or school and don't know anyone, business travellers with a free evening, and anyone who doesn't want to go to a show or a game alone.How do New Yorkers get paid?
Sign up free on Roavi, add real photos and a bio, set a rate and free times. People message you; you meet in person. Roavi takes no commission. Report it as self-employment income.