What Is Coliving? Pros and Cons of This Travel Accommodation
The
digital nomad movement and the increase of remote workers have led to the rise of different methods of travel. More and more travel ‘buzz’ words seem to pop up every month. One of those buzzwords is ‘
coliving
’.
What is coliving?!
It’s a relatively new accommodation style that appeals to many long-term travellers. I’ve tried a few different coliving experiences over the last few years. They’re a
great alternative to hostels and can be a good way to meet like-minded people
, but they aren’t for everyone!
This guide will break down the coliving meaning, the pros and cons, and how to find a coliving community that suits your travel style.
So, What Is Coliving Exactly?
Coliving is a modern housing arrangement where residents share living space but have private rooms. It’s also called ‘communal living’ or ‘collective living’. Usually, people staying in a coliving space have a shared purpose e.g. digital nomads, long-term travellers, surfers, skiers, etc.
Coliving spaces can be apartments, houses, compounds, or even dorms for adults. As long as there are communal living spaces (living room, kitchen, and workspaces) and private or semi-private bedrooms, it counts as coliving.
Most travel-focused coliving communities are for couples or solo travellers. However, plenty of spaces cater for families and people with pets too. Coliving spaces can be anywhere from cities to small towns, boats, and treehouses. Any type of home can be used for coliving!
What’s the Difference Between Coliving and Shared Housing?
‘This sounds like a fancy term for living in a shared home!’, you might be thinking. If you are, you would be completely valid, but there are differences.
Shared homes are usually long-term rental properties for students and young professionals. They’re (often) for people who can’t afford to buy a house or don’t want to. People living in a shared house might be living with friends or people they found via an advert.
Coliving spaces are designed to welcome new guests every few months. Not many people live in these communal homes for a year or more!
That’s why coliving spaces are usually designed with long-term travellers in mind. Guests can immerse themselves in a destination for a few months and move on before their visa runs out.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Coliving?
There is a huge variety of coliving spaces out there. It’s difficult to make generalisations about what they offer and how they’re run. However, this pros and cons list focuses on how coliving spaces usually operate to help you figure out if they’re right for you!
Pro: Built-in Community
One of the main reasons why solo travellers, in particular, love coliving spaces is because they come with a built-in community. Most cohousing opportunities have a minimum of three guests, so you’re guaranteed to meet people.
But you can meet people travelling anywhere, right? Yes, but most hostel guests move on after a couple of days. People living in a community space usually stay for a month or longer, so you can make deeper connections.
Related blog post:
How to Become a Full-time Traveller and Workawayer
Con: Difficult to Leave Early
Once you’ve agreed to stay in a coliving space for a specific amount of time, it’s difficult to leave early and get your money back if your plans change. It’s not a flexible arrangement for spontaneous travellers. There’s often a contract involved, although not always.
If flexibility is important to you, take note of those cancellation policies! Maybe contact the coliving and see if they will agree to a week-long trial before you commit to (and pay for) a longer stay.
Pro: All Bills Are Included
Unlike shared housing, you do not need to pay electricity, water, and gas bills, WiFi, or tax. You won’t need to send passive-aggressive WhatsApp messages to your flatmates asking for their share! In shared community living, you only need to pay one monthly fee and everything is included.
Many shared community living spaces have a manager who handles the day-to-day operations, so you have a go-to person for issues. There are many opportunities to
work in a coliving space on Workaway.
Con: Payment Upfront
The most popular coliving spaces get booked up months in advance. So, you often have to book and pay in advance too.
This might not be a big deal if you’re only staying for one month. But if you’re staying for three months, that can soon get expensive! Plus, you might need to pay for your current accommodation.
Many coliving spaces offer payment plans, so utilise them when available. Often there’s a non-refundable deposit system. If there isn’t an option to pay in installments via the online form, it never hurts to ask.
Pro: Move-in-Ready Spaces
One of the benefits of staying in coliving spaces is that they are fully furnished and usually have everything you need to live there. We’re talking bedding, kitchen utensils, and the works. You only need to bring your clothes, toiletries, and electronics.
Some even provide housekeeping in the common living spaces, so you often don’t need to worry about cleaning!
Con: Move in Sight Unseen
Let’s say you are currently in Morocco and want to book a coliving space in Hong Kong. You’re unlikely to have the time and money to jet off to another continent for a night to check out the space. Not to mention it would be environmentally irresponsible!
Most of the time you are putting down a lot of money to stay in a place sight unseen. This is why reviews are so important! Search for independent reviews to find out if the coliving space is as described and looks like the photos.
Pro: No Long Term Contracts
One of the main reasons coliving grew in popularity was due to the gap in the market. Travellers wanted to spend longer in destinations, but not long enough to sign a year-long lease. And they didn’t want to buy furniture and sign up for an internet service only to leave two months later!
You’ll never have to sign up for lengthy agreements living in a collective space.
Con: Few Short Term Options
However, ‘short-term’ and ‘long-term’ are subjective. Most coliving spaces don’t allow guests to stay for less than one month. Some ‘pop-up’ coliving opportunities or coliving retreats/workations run for less than a month, but they will only run on specific dates.
Your short-term stay alternatives are hostel dorm-style living options or apartment rentals via companies like Airbnb or Vrbo. Hostels are cheaper but don’t offer any private spaces. Apartment rentals are much more expensive than coliving spaces and don’t have a built-in community.
Related blog post:
How Travelling Has Been Different in My 20s vs My 30s
Pro: Usually Extra Amenities
I stayed in a coliving space in Switzerland during a winter ski season. They offered cheap ski resort passes, ski gear rentals, transportation, and a sauna during our stay. It was so affordable and an incredible experience!
Many coliving spaces provide extra amenities to attract you to stay there. You’ll find an abundance of extras in cities like New York City or San Francisco where there are loads to choose from! Some have pools, gyms, terraces, views, cooking classes, and social events.
Con: High Community Expectations
This might be a ‘pro’ depending on how extroverted you are or how well you can cook!
There are certain expectations when you are living in a communal space. Cleaning up after yourself is a given, but what if everyone in the house likes to eat communal dinners and you hate cooking? What if everyone else likes to party until three in the morning every night and you’re an early bird?
Although I love making friends abroad, I’m fairly introverted. And I could not tell you the last time I cooked for more than two people, let alone a household of five or more.
You have to be a team player when staying in a coliving space. You won’t know to what extent until you get there, unfortunately!
Pro: Makes a Travel Lifestyle More Sustainable
There’s no denying that coliving spaces make travelling cheaper, more comfortable, and more fulfilling for many long-term adventurers.
Booking month-long stays in hostels, hotels, or full apartments wouldn’t be sustainable for many people, myself included. Coliving allows me to be immersed in a destination while meeting like-minded digital nomads. I have comfy, quiet spaces to switch off and work, and I can leave at the end of my stay without any hassle.
Related blog post:
How To Look After Your Mental Health While Travelling
Different Types of Coliving Options
There are lots of independent coliving spaces all over the world. However, established companies that offer several coliving locations are a great place to start your research.
These are some of my favourite coliving spaces. I’ve included a mix of shared dorms and houses/apartments to suit different budgets:
- Coliving Frilingue: Coliving spaces and workations in Switzerland, Montenegro, and Bulgaria with both private rooms and dorms
- Selina: Hostels and coliving spaces in dozens of cities around the world
- Outpost: Coliving spaces in Bali and Sri Lanka
- Outsite: Coliving spaces around the world (there is a membership fee)
- WiFi Tribe: Workations in various locations around the world
- Popup Coliving: Month-long coliving experiences around the world
Coliving has a directory of both independent and chain coliving spaces so you can find coliving spaces in your chosen destination.
Would You Try Coliving on Your Travels?
So, what is coliving? It’s a sustainable and affordable accommodation option for long-term travellers.
Workaway
is also a sustainable and affordable option for long-term travellers. By signing up for a work exchange, you can get meals and accommodation in exchange for volunteering. Find out more about
how Workaway works and can help you realize your travel dreams.
About Rebecca
Rebecca caught the travel bug when she spent a summer as a camp counsellor in the USA during university. She quit her job in 2017 and started volunteering with Workaway as she grew her remote freelanc
Share the Workaway idea
7 comments
Your next adventure begins today
Join the Workaway community today to unlock unique volunteer experiences and free accommodation with over 50,000 opportunities around the globe.
Join Now
Categories
Travel PhotosWorkaway NewsTravel StoriesHost of the MonthWorkawayer of the MonthInspirationTravelling TipsUsing WorkawayWorkaway AmbassadorWorkaway Foodie Latest Posts
Volunteering & Working Opportunities: Crew / sail around the world for free
The Beginner’s Guide to Workawaying with Animals
How To Be A Good Workaway Guest and Always Get Invited Back
Travel photography - "Living near Una River, the most beautiful river I have seen" (Bihać, Bosnia)
10 Reasons To Travel In Your Own Country & Why You’ll Love Every Minute
