The United States is where "rent a friend" is searched most in the world. The searches split three ways: people who want a local in an American city, people who want to be paid as one, and Americans planning a trip abroad. This page answers all three.
What it is#
Paying a local for a few hours of their time and company: a neighbourhood, a meal, a game, an event, a conversation. Company, not dating. Roavi bans anything else, and so does every serious platform. Is renting a friend weird? answers the awkward question honestly.
How it works#
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Browse Local Friends in a city: real photos, a bio, reviews |
| 2 | Message them in the app, agree a plan and a time |
| 3 | Meet in a public place; their hourly rate covers their time |
| 4 | Food, tickets and transport are agreed before you meet |
Each Local Friend sets their own rate. Worldwide, most charge $15 to $50 an hour; US rates tend toward the top of that. How much does it cost to rent a friend? explains what moves the price, and RentAFriend alternatives compares the apps.
In the US, by city#
- Rent a friend in New York: the biggest market, from newcomers to visitors who want the city beyond Times Square.
- Rent a friend in Los Angeles: a city you can't do alone without a car and a plan.
- Rent a friend in Miami: Little Havana, the beaches locals use, the Spanish-speaking city.
Getting paid as a Local Friend in the US#
The jobs are real, as a side income: evenings, weekends, the odd visitor. Sign up free on Roavi, add real photos and a short bio, set your rate and free times, reply fast. Roavi takes no commission. Report the income as self-employment. The rule that protects you: a real platform never asks you to pay to earn; registration, activation or withdrawal fees mean a scam. Paid friend jobs describes the work honestly, and there are guides for Miami, Austin, Denver, Nashville, Atlanta, San Diego, Seattle, Phoenix and Washington DC.
Where it pays off most: abroad#
For an American traveller, the biggest return is in countries where the language, prices and neighbourhoods are hard to read alone, and where a local costs less than at home:
| Country | Why a local friend matters there |
|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico City, Cancún and the Riviera Maya beyond the resort |
| Dominican Republic | Punta Cana and Santo Domingo off the all-inclusive |
| Colombia | Medellín, Cartagena, Bogotá |
| Japan | Rent a friend in Japan, where the idea began |
| Thailand | Rent a friend in Thailand, Bangkok |
The best international trips from the USA and where the dollar goes furthest help pick the country.
Live in a US city with visitors? Get paid to show them around.
Become a Local FriendGoogle Local Guide? You can be paid for what you already know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rent a friend a real thing in the US?
Yes. Platforms like Roavi let you pay a local by the hour for company: showing you around, a meal, an event, conversation. It's not dating; anything intimate is banned and is a different business entirely.How much does it cost to rent a friend in the US?
Each Local Friend sets their own rate. Worldwide most charge $15 to $50 an hour; US rates tend toward the upper end. Food, tickets and transport during the meetup are agreed beforehand.Are rent-a-friend jobs real?
Yes, as a side income. You set a rate, visitors or newcomers message you, you meet in person and keep what you charge (Roavi takes no commission). Any site asking a registration or 'activation' fee is a scam; a real platform never charges you to earn.Which US cities have the most demand?
New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas, Chicago and San Francisco: wherever tourists, business travellers and newcomers arrive. College towns and tech cities have demand from people who just moved.Where does renting a friend work best for an American travelling abroad?
Anywhere the language, prices or neighbourhoods are hard to read alone: Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Japan, Thailand. Roavi has the most Local Friends in those countries, and rates there are often lower than in the US.