Why co-living is becoming popular among Millennial Expats

Photo source: Freepik

Travelling to Singapore and researching on where to stay? Co-living might be your best bet if you are new to sunny island for work.

Once upon a time, accomodation options for expats were limited to hotels, serviced apartments or traditional room or apartment rental. Of course, those were the days where hopping into a car with a stranger or sharing an office seems beyond imagination. 

Thanks to the likes of Grab and WeWork, we have come to an age where living with strangers is a concept where it is becoming widely accepted. This contemporary co-living concept isn’t actually new. People have lived in close-knit communities since the dawn of humankind, and the need for community and affiliation is as important today as it was when we were establishing ourselves as a species.

Co-living, a communal housing concept where people live together and share spaces has become something that millennials are happy to adopt for the following reasons:

1. Flexible
Renting a room or apartment from a typical landlord in Singapore usually ends up with a minimum lease of 12 months. This is an issue for anyone who’s on a short term work assignment, internship or exchange program.   
Co-living, which offers a minimum of 3 months lease, seems like a more viable option for Millennials. Even if the intended stay could be 6 months to 12 months, for a newcomer in Singapore, it is pretty scary to get stuck in a long term lease as there are uncertainties on whether it will be a preferred neighbourhood or if you have good chemistry with flatmates you have never met before. 
Of course, there are other options which offer more flexibility in terms of lease such as hotels (by days) and serviced apartments (by months). But this comes at a much higher cost. An average night stay in a 3 to 4-star hotel costs between S$103 and S$153 per night. Serviced apartments on the other hand cost from S$5,400 per month. 

2. Affordable
Looking at the comparison table on the various flexible accommodation options, it is much more costly to stay in a hotel (S$103 and S$153 per night) or serviced apartment (from S$5,400 per month).
Renting a co-living room with a shared bathroom typically starts from $1400 per month. A co-living room with an en-suite bathroom for more privacy costs around $1800 per month to $2500 per month.
Anyone can do the math. It’s an obvious choice. 
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Cost comparison of flexible accommodation for expats

3. Convenient
Most co-living condominiums are located within 10 minutes walk to MRT stations, within popular neighbourhoods, city-fringe or central areas of Singapore. 
When you check-in to a co-living room, you are quite sure that it will be easy for you to travel around the city, with close proximity to shopping malls, supermarkets and food options. 
If you choose the right neighbourhood, just across the street will be bars, cafes or parks for a hang-out after work and over the weekends.

4. Hassle-free
The best part of moving into a co-living condominium is that it is easy-peasy for the lazy. Book a room at your preferred location and you’re ready to move in with just a luggage. 
The coliving condominiums are fully furnished - you get your bed and pillows with new sheets. Love to cook? Pots, pans, plates, cutleries, cups are all provided for a home-cooked meal. Fridge, washer and dryer are also standard provisions for the kitchen.
Everything from utilities, WiFi, basic supplies of detergent, dishwashing liquid and toilet paper, weekly cleaning of the common areas as well as community activities are all included in one price. 
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5. Social
Beyond being under the same roof and sharing the cost of living, co-living focuses on connection and creating social opportunities. In a way, mingling in the common areas and facilitation through community events that are organised, members end up forging friendships among their flatmates and within the community. 
Additionally, with a bunch of interesting and diverse members, there will be opportunities to get into brand new hobbies and exchange cultures. Maybe you’re into video games or want to get into hiking - you can probably find others in the community to learn from.

Your Thoughts on co-living?

Will you consider co-living? Have you stayed in a co-living space somewhere in the world? Let us know in the comments!

Where to next? Co-living rooms at YOLOlive.