As urbanization accelerates and housing needs diversify, the way people live is evolving beyond traditional rental models. There are too many terms to define living today. Let’s try and understand them.
Modern lifestyle trends, shifting work patterns, and the desire for greater flexibility and community have given rise to new housing solutions: Coliving, Flex Living, and Shared Living.
Each model offers distinct features and caters to varying preferences, in my opinion, from young professionals and digital nomads to students and remote workers. Understanding these three terms will help prospective tenants determine which option aligns best with their lifestyle and professional goals.
Coliving emphasizes community and shared experiences, attracting those seeking meaningful connections and social engagement alongside flexible accommodation. Meanwhile, Flex Living focuses on adaptability, offering lease and design flexibility that appeals to professionals with shifting job demands or personal circumstances. On the other hand, Shared Living represents the traditional approach of sharing a space with roommates—popular among students or individuals seeking affordable housing solutions without a structured community environment.
This piece explores the key differences between these models based on my worldview, shedding light on their unique characteristics with real-world examples and practical insights. There is a good overlap, but let's try and understand the similarities and differences 🙂
1. What is Coliving?
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According to me, coliving is more than just a rental model—it’s a lifestyle that revolves around community, convenience, and shared values. At its core, coliving offers residents the perfect blend of privacy through individual rooms or suites and social connection via shared common spaces like kitchens, coworking lounges, and gyms. Operators of coliving spaces foster intentional communities through events, activities, and networking opportunities designed to bring residents together, providing more than just a place to live.
Features and Amenities of Coliving Spaces
- Private and Shared Spaces: Residents have their own private rooms or apartments but share amenities such as coworking areas, entertainment rooms, kitchens, and laundry facilities.
- All-Inclusive Pricing: Rent typically covers utilities, internet, cleaning services, and maintenance with no hidden costs, reducing the complexity of monthly bills.
- Community-Focused Living: A key differentiator is the strong focus on community building. Coliving spaces often host events like yoga classes, movie nights, or networking sessions to encourage interaction among residents.
Target Audience for Coliving
Coliving spaces attract a diverse group of people, such as:
- Digital Nomads and Remote Workers: Coliving complements the rise of remote work, providing flexible leases and coworking facilities in vibrant urban centers or travel-friendly locations.
- Young Professionals and Graduates: Many young adults seek the convenience, social interaction, and central locations offered by coliving, allowing them to avoid the isolation of living alone in a new city.
- Travelers and Relocators: Coliving’s flexible lease options—from weekly to yearly—appeal to those moving to new cities for work or study, eliminating the need for long-term commitments.
Benefits of Coliving
- Flexibility: Short-term and flexible leases enable residents to move easily without penalties, ideal for those with unpredictable schedules or frequent relocations.
- Convenience: Fully furnished apartments and shared services save residents time and money by eliminating the hassle of setting up a new home.
- Networking and Social Connection: Residents enjoy social events and access to like-minded individuals, making it easier to build personal and professional networks in new environments.
Examples of Coliving Spaces
- theSettl, Zolo Stays, Outpost offer modern coliving experiences in urban hubs, with amenities like gyms, coworking spaces, and social lounges. These spaces appeal to young professionals seeking both comfort and connection.
- Outsite, Same Same Coliving targets digital nomads by providing coliving hubs with coworking spaces in scenic locations, ideal for remote workers who wish to blend work and leisure.
Coliving provides more than just a home—it’s an all-in-one living experience centered around community and flexibility. It appeals to individuals looking for hassle-free accommodation and social engagement, offering a sustainable and connected lifestyle that aligns with the growing trend of remote work and global mobility. This model is particularly suited for those new to a city or frequently moving between locations, making coliving a popular and practical choice in today’s housing market.
2. What is Flex Living?
Flex living is an innovative housing model designed to accommodate the dynamic lifestyles of modern individuals (GenZ). It emphasizes adaptability, offering flexible lease terms and multi-purpose spaces that cater to the changing needs of its residents. Whether someone is staying for a few weeks or several months, flex living provides the freedom to move without being tied to traditional long-term rental agreements.
Key Features of Flex Living
- Flexible Lease Terms: Unlike traditional leases that lock tenants into one-year contracts, flex living offers short-term agreements ranging from a few days to several months. This structure appeals to those with temporary assignments, relocations, or evolving lifestyle needs.
- Versatile Spaces: Rooms and apartments are designed to be multifunctional. For example, a space might function as a home office during the day and convert into a bedroom at night. Modular furniture and adaptive layouts play a crucial role in maximizing functionality. Check ORI.
- Technology Integration: Many flex living spaces incorporate smart technologies, such as app-based access, automated billing, and remote control of utilities, making management and adaptation easier for residents and property managers alike as the turnover is higher.
Target Audience for Flex Living
Flex living caters to a wide demographic, particularly:
- Professionals with Temporary Assignments: Individuals on short-term work projects, such as consultants or freelancers, benefit from the flexibility to move between locations without incurring penalties.
- Digital Nomads and Remote Workers: Those with flexible working arrangements appreciate the ability to switch between cities or regions without being tied down by lease agreements.
- Individuals in Transition: Whether due to relocation, family changes, or personal circumstances, residents seeking temporary housing solutions find flex living appealing.
Examples of Flex Living Models
- Transformable Homes in Tokyo: Space is used efficiently with modular furniture and sliding walls, allowing residents to adjust layouts based on their needs, maximizing space in crowded urban areas.
- Urban Co-living Spaces: Some coliving operators, Collective and Quarters, offer flex-stay models where residents can extend or shorten their leases as needed, fostering both adaptability and community.
Benefits of Flex Living
- Adaptability: Flex living ensures that residents can adjust their housing arrangements according to life changes, such as job relocations or personal commitments.
- Lower Financial Barriers: With reduced deposits and the option to avoid long-term commitments, residents can save money and avoid hefty penalties for early terminations.
- Community and Convenience: Some flex living spaces also provide shared amenities, fostering a sense of community while maintaining flexibility in living arrangement.
Challenges of Flex Living
While the benefits are attractive, flex living also presents some challenges:
- Zoning and Legal Regulations: Some regions have strict zoning laws that limit short-term rentals, complicating the implementation of flex living models.
- Higher Initial Costs for Design: Creating spaces that adapt to multiple functions requires careful planning and potentially higher upfront investments in modular furniture and smart technologies.
Flex living offers a compelling alternative to traditional rentals by prioritizing freedom and adaptability. It is particularly suited for individuals who value mobility, whether for personal or professional reasons, and need housing solutions that match their dynamic lifestyles. With the growing trend of remote work and gig-based employment, flex living is poised to play an increasingly important role in the future of urban housing.
3. What is Shared Living?
Shared living, often referred to as shared housing, involves multiple individuals cohabiting within a single property, typically with private bedrooms but shared communal spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms. Unlike coliving, shared living is not structured around a curated community but rather focuses on practical arrangements that reduce housing costs, accessibility to good locations, and maximize space utilization.
Key Characteristics of Shared Living
- Private and Shared Spaces: Residents have private rooms but share common areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. Some properties may also offer shared amenities like gyms or laundry rooms, but without the communal events typically found in coliving spaces.
- Informal Management: In shared housing, residents usually manage daily tasks like cleaning and bill splitting among themselves, rather than relying on professional property managers or operators.
- Flexible Living Arrangements: Shared living is often associated with student housing or multi-tenant arrangements where individuals rent rooms within a larger property, fostering independent lifestyles without structured community engagement.
Target Audience for Shared Living
- Students: Many student accommodations follow the shared living model, providing affordable housing with access to shared facilities like kitchens or common study areas.
- Young Professionals and Budget-Conscious Renters: Individuals who prioritize affordability over amenities often choose shared living as a way to cut costs in expensive urban areas.
- Individuals Transitioning to Independent Living: Those moving out of family homes or relocating for work often start with shared living arrangements to save on initial setup costs.
Examples of Shared Living Spaces
- Student Housing: Many universities provide student residences that offer private rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchens, promoting independence while keeping housing costs low.
- Shared Apartments/ HMOs: In urban areas, renters often share large apartments where they split rent, utilities, and other household expenses informally.
Benefits of Shared Living
- Affordability: Shared living arrangements help reduce rent and utility costs by distributing expenses across multiple residents.
- Opportunity for Social Interaction: Although not as structured as coliving, shared living still allows for organic social connections through shared activities, like communal meals or movie nights.
- Independence with Support: Residents enjoy the benefits of living independently while having the option of social interaction and support from housemates.
Challenges of Shared Living
- Lack of Professional Management: Unlike coliving, shared living arrangements typically rely on the residents to manage day-to-day operations, which can lead to conflicts or inconsistencies in maintenance.
- Limited Amenities: Shared living spaces often lack the premium amenities (e.g., coworking spaces, gyms) that are common in coliving arrangements.
- Unstructured Community: While organic connections may form among housemates, the absence of structured events or community-building activities can make it harder to foster deeper relationships.
Shared living provides an affordable, practical solution for individuals seeking housing without the need for long-term commitments or structured community engagement. It appeals particularly to students, young professionals, and budget-conscious renters who value independence while benefiting from shared expenses. While it may lack the amenities and intentional community focus of coliving, shared living remains a popular and accessible option in many urban areas.
4. How to Choose the Right Option for You
Choosing the right housing option—whether coliving, flex living, or shared living—depends on your personal priorities, lifestyle, budget, and future plans. Each model serves a different purpose, so understanding your individual needs is key to making the best decision. Below are some factors to consider to help guide your choice.
1. Assess Your Priorities: What Matters Most to You?
- Community and Social Connection: If being part of a community is essential to you, coliving might be the best option. Coliving spaces foster interaction through curated events and shared activities, which can be especially helpful if you’re moving to a new city or looking to expand your social network.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: If your life circumstances are likely to change—such as frequent job relocations, remote work arrangements, or short-term assignments—flex living offers the adaptability you need with short-term leases and multifunctional spaces.
- Privacy and Independence: For those who value privacy and prefer minimal social interaction, shared living provides a more independent lifestyle without the pressure of community involvement, making it ideal for students or budget-conscious individuals.
2. Evaluate Lease Terms and Mobility Needs
- Short-Term Stays: Coliving and flex living are better suited for individuals who need temporary accommodation or frequent relocation options, with flexible lease structures that allow for easy transitions.
- Longer Commitments: Shared living usually involves fixed leases and less flexibility, which may be preferable for those who prefer stability and lower costs.
3. Budget and Cost Management
- All-Inclusive vs. Shared Costs: If you prefer the simplicity of a single payment covering rent, utilities, and amenities, coliving may be the best fit. This model removes the hassle of managing multiple bills.
- Affordable Housing: Shared living is typically the most budget-friendly option, as rent and utilities are split among residents. However, it requires more personal management and coordination among housemates.
- Moderate Initial Investment: Flex living often strikes a balance, offering lower deposits and flexible payment terms, making it attractive for individuals seeking both convenience and cost-efficiency.
4. Think About Personal and Professional Growth Opportunities
- Networking and Career Development: Coliving often attracts like-minded professionals and offers opportunities for networking and collaboration, making it beneficial for individuals seeking career connections.
- Focus on Independence: Shared living emphasizes personal independence, which may suit those who prefer to focus on their own routines without structured community engagement.
- Flexible Lifestyles: If your lifestyle requires adaptability—whether it’s traveling for work or balancing multiple responsibilities—flex living offers the right balance of mobility and comfort
5. Location and Amenities
- Access to Amenities: Coliving spaces typically offer premium amenities such as gyms, coworking spaces, and social lounges, which can enhance your living experience and save on external costs.
- Basic Living Needs: Shared living often offers basic amenities such as shared kitchens and bathrooms but lacks the luxury amenities found in coliving spaces.
- Smart and Modular Spaces: Flex living incorporates innovative design features, with rooms that can adapt to different purposes, making the most out of available space—particularly valuable in urban areas with limited housing.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on your priorities. If you value community and social experiences, coliving provides an enriching environment. For those with dynamic lifestyles, flex living offers the flexibility needed to keep pace with changing demands. And if affordability and independence are your main goals, shared living is a practical and accessible option.
Looking to learn more about the coliving concept?