Shared Living vs. Private Apartments: What Suits You Best?

Understanding Shared Living & Private Apartments

In accommodation, you will find many types of housing options, but shared living and private apartments are the most common and often chosen ones. Both of them provide top-notch facilities and amenities according to individual requirements. However, everything has its benefits and drawbacks, and these two accommodations also have pros and cons that should be considered before making an informed decision. To make things crystal clear, in this section, you are going to explore an overview of shared living and private apartments, along with their pros and cons.

Shared Living

Shared living or sharing a room is one of the most chosen student accommodations abroad. In this, you have to share your living space with your tenants or roommates. You get your own bedroom, but have to share common areas like the kitchen, the living room and sometimes the bathrooms. Shared living helps you save money by splitting the rent with your roomies. Also, it is affordable, encourages exploring new cultures, and helps get to know about different lifestyles. Allowing students to live freely while benefiting the community and sharing costs. Besides, it ranges from modern to traditional flat sharing, fully furnished co-living spaces encompassing amenities like bills, rent, and communal events. So if you enjoy having company, being social and cost-effective, then shared living accommodation is the best option for you.

Here is the table of the Pros & Cons of Shared Living

Private Apartments

Private apartments or rooms are another popular choice of student accommodation abroad. It is a fully furnished living space for those who want to live independently rather than sharing with any other individual. Many students chose private flats or rooms to get privacy, freedom and personalised living facilities compared to shared living. It is flexible, convenient, and you can organise it on your own. However, it’s a bit on the costly side, but a cheap purchase will cost you more in the long run than an expensive expenditure. Thus, it’s a good choice if you don’t want another’s control over your living situation and don’t mind paying extra rather than shared living. Apart from this, these apartments are often located off-campus or in the proximity of the university, include various amenities, and have inverse responsibilities of the students to manage the bills, cooking, cleaning, or managing their own utilities. So, if you prefer to live alone rather than living under someone else's lifestyle, then this is the perfect student accommodation option for you.

Here Is the Table of the Pros & Cons of Private Apartments.

Difference between Shared Living vs. Private Apartments 

Shared living vs. private apartments, both are the best student accommodations to live in abroad. Offering various facilities at a budget-friendly price. However, if you still have any doubts related to these two housing options, then let's have a look at the table below showing the differences between shared living and private apartments. So, have a look.

Key Factors to Consider Before Choosing

After exploring almost everything about the shared living and a private apartment, it's time to decide which one to choose. Both options provide all-purpose facilities, which might create confusion in selecting one accommodation. Before you choose any option, make sure to adhere to these key factors to choose the right option.

• Budget & Cost

Shared Living – More budget-friendly, rent, utilities and other spending get split between the flatmates.

Private Apartment – Costly and requires managing separate expenses for rent, bills, furniture and maintenance.

• Privacy and Independence

Shared Living – Involves sharing space and other resources with others, offering less privacy.

Private Apartment – Get complete personal space, privacy, and control over all things, making this place perfect for quiet and solitude.

• Amenities & Furnishing

Shared Living – Offered fully furnished spaces, access to amenities such as a gym, cooking areas, and services like cleaning and internet.

Private Apartment – In a private room, amenities are limited, and you will need to organise the room or apartment by yourself.

• Lifestyle & Flexibility

Shared Living – Flexible for short-term agreement or for those who are new to this city. In this, you get less hassle and communal support.

Private Apartment – Appropriate for longer-term stays, such as for professionals or students.

Conclusion

Here we have come to the end of this blog. Shared living and private apartments are two of the most commonly chosen student accommodations abroad. Flexible, accessible, cost-effective and fully furnished. It depends on you which one you will choose, solitude spaces offer privacy or co-living spaces shared with other individuals. Apart from these options, you can choose Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), which is getting popular nowadays and available both in sharing and private options. Thus, if you are looking for any of the options and need help, you can reach out to GraddingHomes.com. Experts will help you choose the suitable option. So get connected to us now.

FAQs

1. Which is better, Shared Living vs. Private Apartments?

Both are best in their own way, shared living is better for those who prioritise lower costs, social interaction, give communal support and cost-sharing. On the other hand, a private apartment is superior for those who value privacy, control over their space and independence. You will find this in higher financial prices as well. 

2. What are the disadvantages of shared living?

The disadvantage of shared living is less privacy, personal space and more compromises. Also, have a higher chance of conflicts with the roommates due to different lifestyles, schedules, habits, and cleanliness standards. Other drawbacks of sharing a room are noise disturbances, relying on others for paying the bills and sometimes denying for not compromising on anything.

3. Can I switch from shared living to a private apartment mid-year?

Yes, you can switch from shared living to a private apartment in mid-year abroad, but it requires careful planning, potential financial penalties, and also depends on your current lease agreement. So first, review your current contract to check the policies on breaking the lease or giving notice. If you have paid the advanced pavement or security deposit, then you might not receive a refund if you break the contract.

4. Are Co-Living spaces safe for international students?

Yes, co-living space can be a safe option for the international student. This accommodation option is a modern take on shared living. This space is more organised, convenient, flexible and often fully-furnished. You may get a home-like vibe, but the security of any students will depend on the co-living providers and the location they choose. Also, it requires thorough research for checking the security features, such as a secure entry system, surveillance cameras, and more.

5. Which is better for privacy: Shared Living vs. Private Apartments

A private apartment would be better to get privacy than living in a shared apartment. You have your own control over everything and don’t need to live according to someone else's lifestyle that might not be liked by you. On the other hand, shared living can provide community, affordability and sharing rent. However, you can get reasonable options in private apartments that come within your budget, offering all the amenities.