With co-living spaces taking Singapore by storm, you may be wondering if you should consider it, how it became so popular, and, perhaps, what co-living means in the first place. This article will tell you all about co-living, including what it is, its history, its popularity in Singapore, 3 benefits of co-living, and additional considerations of co-living.

Table of Contents

• • • What is Co-Living?
    • A Brief History of Co-Living
    • Co-Living in Singapore
    • The Top 3 Benefits of Singapore Co-living
      • #1: Convenience
      • #2: Community
      • #3: Cost-Effectiveness
    • Farrer Park Housing Comparison
    • Additional Considerations
    • Co-Living in Singapore: A Smart Choice
    • MetroResidences Singapore Serviced Apartments—Your Home Base for Travels Beyond

What is Co-Living?

With co-living spaces taking Singapore by storm, you may be wondering if you should consider it, how it became so popular, and, perhaps, what co-living means in the first place. This article will tell you all about co-living, including what it is, its history, its popularity in Singapore, 3 benefits of co-living, and additional considerations of co-living.

A Brief History of Co-Living

People have had shared spaces for a longer period than you may think. In a way, people have been living communally since we were hunter-gatherers. In those times, it was impossible to live by yourself. People had to rely not only on their families but also on families in their communities. Everyone pitched in and supported each other, and there was less distinction between one person’s space and another’s.

This continued into the Middle Ages where widows, orphans, unrelated elders, servants, friends, and relatives lived together. And with the Industrial Revolution, co-living became convenient for people who moved to cities for work, and boarding houses became quite popular.

These boarding houses offered accommodation for all kinds of people during the World Wars: women working away from home, men stationed far from home, immigrants, and travelers. Often in unfamiliar places, these people found community in these shared spaces.

Even with the popularity of the nuclear family in recent years, co-living has evolved into a great option for many people.

Co-Living in Singapore

In Singapore, co-living has become quite common for international students, digital nomads, and working professionals alike. It’s a popular choice for many reasons, including the benefits we’ll get into (convenience, community, and cost-effectiveness). It’s also a more flexible option than permanent housing, and it eliminates the financial liability of roommates with individual room leases. Plus, some co-living providers in Singapore offer weekly housekeeping services, in addition to the regular maintenance of the amenities. 

The Top 3 Benefits of Singapore Co-living

#1: Convenience

Unlike many housing options, co-living is convenient and hassle-free. Many co-living apartments in Singapore are in great locations near public transportation, with necessary amenities and services right there for you too. 

Your co-living space in Singapore will likely have utilities and other monthly bills like Wi-Fi already set up for you. There are plenty of cheap co-living in Singapore that is fully furnished so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of moving your furniture, and that makes changing your location after your short-term rental lease easy too.

MetroResidences Farrer Park is a great example of this. The serviced apartments here are just a 5-minute walk from Farrer Park MRT, making travel to nearby attractions and working spaces easy. The apartments are charming and simple, with comfortable, carefully curated furnishings that create a relaxing environment.

#2: Community

Living with people who are in similar situations automatically creates a sense of community. Instead of trying to search for friends, co-living gives you a network of people who live with or near you. It’s one of the best ways to get to know people and make close connections.

With so many like-minded individuals nearby, there are always things going on, whether they’re spontaneous outings or organized community events. It’s perfect for people who are always on the go or for those who want to get outside their comfort zone.

Sharing spaces also makes upkeep much easier as you can divide chores, household duties, and even cooking meals with the people you live with. Communal spaces, such as those at MetroResidences Farrer Park, include amenities like induction stoves, ovens, and refrigerators, and with roommates, you’ll be able to share the responsibility of using and cleaning these amenities.

#3: Cost-Effectiveness

Living with people who are in similar situations automatically creates a sense of community. Instead of trying to search for friends, co-living gives you a network of people who live with or near you. It’s one of the best ways to get to know people and make close connections.

With so many like-minded individuals nearby, there are always things going on, whether they’re spontaneous outings or organized community events. It’s perfect for people who are always on the go or for those who want to get outside their comfort zone.

Sharing spaces also makes upkeep much easier as you can divide chores, household duties, and even cooking meals with the people you live with. Communal spaces, such as those at MetroResidences Farrer Park, include amenities like induction stoves, ovens, and refrigerators, and with roommates, you’ll be able to share the responsibility of using and cleaning these amenities.

Farrer Park Housing Comparison

Let’s take a look at some examples comparing traditional housing options to co-living in a place like Farrer Park, an eclectic city-fringe neighbourhood with plenty of hidden gems.

A studio for rent in Singapore near the Farrer Park station can be anywhere from S$2,000 to S$4,200 per month and that often doesn’t include amenities and utilities. A 1-bedroom Singapore condo rental in the same area is often upwards of S$3,500.

In contrast, MetroResidences Farrer Park provides housing options starting as little as S$1,400, and that’s still for a private room!

Additional Considerations

Maybe you’ve heard some drawbacks to co-living such as a lack of privacy or long-term stability.

While some co-living spaces don’t have as much privacy, most do. MetroResidences Singapore has no shared beds, and all rooms are single occupancy—meaning you’ll have that space all to yourself (though pairs can rent the single rooms if they desire). Not to mention, our in-house housekeeping team provides weekly cleaning for this co-living property.

MetroResidences is also committed to the long-term comfort of its residents. It isn’t a transient living arrangement. Instead, MetroResidences offers flexible lease options where residents can choose the duration of their stay, and if their needs change, accommodations can be made. 

Co-Living in Singapore: A Smart Choice

Co-living offers convenience, community, cost-effectiveness, and many other benefits for those who decide to do it. If you think co-living might be for you, explore co-living options nearby and experience the advantages firsthand!

MetroResidences Singapore Serviced Apartments—Your Home Base for Travels Beyond