Singapore is one of those very few countries in Asia that many people aspire to live in. It has high standards of living, numerous career and educational opportunities, and offers many in the way of national attractions and more. However, not everything is sunshine and roses for those who want to live in the country. The city-state is also one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in, which means that people must work hard to live here. One of the biggest hurdles to living in Singapore is the high home ownership and living costs. Even renting a home can seem like a far-off dream to some people who wish to settle down in the country. It’s a good thing there’s a solution for these people— coliving in Singapore.
What is Communal Living?
One can attempt coliving or communal living in Singapore. Communal living is what you think it is. Communal living means cohabitating with someone else in the same abode, often sharing expenses in food, electricity bills, water bills, and most importantly, rent. Communal living is a living arrangement in which all parties work together to contribute toward their living arrangements. The way that communal living arrangements can happen may vary.
When you are living in pricy Singapore, there are many reasons to use communal living arrangements instead of living alone. Living alone is so pricy, and hardly anyone can afford to live on their own these days. If you have your own family, perhaps a living arrangement like that is necessary, but more often than not, younger people with fewer belongings and no relatives to turn to may benefit from this living arrangement.
Who Benefits From Communal Living?
Here are a few examples of people who may benefit from coliving in Singapore. If you fall under one of these types, you might want to consider communal living arrangements.
1) Short-term stays
By short-term, we mean those who intend to stay only a few years or shorter. The short duration of your stay means that you do not need to buy a home in Singapore. Home rentals are fine, but if you want to cut down on costs the entire time you stay in the country, communal living is your best option. Not only do you get to make new friends while you are staying in the country, but you are also taking advantage of the cheaper overall costs of staying in a communal home. You can stay for a while and contribute money to the monthly bills with fewer worries about racking up gigantic expenses. Your costs are not yours alone to bear.
2) People readjusting to life in Singapore
New people who come to Singapore may notice that the country is unforgiving to newcomers. Initial bills for your stay may look daunting. Owning your first home may look out of reach for people who come to seek better livelihoods. Unless you come from a well-off family, going to Singapore to make a living is not for the faint of heart. You should start from a point which makes your living expenses not burdensome for yourself. You can choose to rent a small yet inadequate home, or you can choose to live with other people and share expenses so you may live in greater comfort and stability.
3) Single people
Those who are married or have a family are already cohabitating with other people in a sense. You have no one to share the expenses when you are on your own. That is why coliving with other people is such a powerful option for those with no other options. They are free to live with their friends, move in with trusted people, or make acquaintances share rooms or homes with. In 2022, when housing prices are set to become higher and higher, renting or buying with other people is an attractive option.
4) Business people
Starting a business or embarking on a business venture means that all your expenses should go into your new investment. You may find it more prudent to live by yourself, but people with less funding may find it more pragmatic to try communal living. It can relieve you from the pressure of finding suitable living arrangements and also help you cut down on costs.
5) People wishing to cut down on costs.
Speaking of cutting down on costs, those who simply want to have fewer expenses for living can try communal living in Singapore. You can have all forms of agreements with your cohabitants and arrive at the one which benefits your situation the most. How you divide labour, time, and resources is up to you and the people cohabitating with you.
How Do People Benefit From Communal Living?
Coliving isn’t just affordable; you can also find tons of benefits as to why people would choose to cohabitate. Even when you can afford single bedrooms or apartments, sometimes communal living is a natural first step in helping you gain independence. For example, many single people desire to live with their friends away from their families to ease the burdens of living alone. Living alone is daunting when you are too young to be completely cut off from your parents but old enough to know what it is like to be away.
Other times, it is simply more convenient. You can share a bigger home with more amenities when there are more heads to contribute to the expenses. That is why many people cohabitate with others— they can reduce costs considerably while still enjoying many of the perks. They can do this because they can share the expenses according to their agreements.
Coliwoo is affordable living at its finest. For more information on co living rental services in Singapore, reach out to them via their website.
