If you’re relocating to Singapore for work, one of the most important things you’ll need to do is to find a place to live. Should you rent a room or a whole apartment? For new arrivals in Singapore, renting a room in a co-living space can be a far more convenient, affordable and hassle-free option to get your accommodation settled.
Here are 5 good reasons why you should rent a room in Singapore:
Room rental is far more affordable than renting the whole apartment
The number one reason for renting a room instead of an entire apartment in Singapore is affordability. If you’re on a tight budget, this is the obvious choice for you. A room rental may cost anywhere between S$1,200 to S$1,600 on average each month. But renting a 2-to-3 bedroom apartment can set you back at least S$3,500 each month.
What’s more, you still have to account for other living expenses such as food, transport and entertainment. It would be wise not to have your housing expenses take up a big chunk of your salary. Therefore, it’s much more prudent to rent a single room as it’s cheaper.
Renting a room makes more sense if you want to live in a prime area
Let’s face it. Singapore is not exactly the cheapest place to be. But what if you’ve got your heart set on a premium or more prestigious location such as the Bukit Timah, Orchard or CBD areas? You may have your reasons for choosing such locations. Perhaps you want to stay nearer to work for a shorter commute. Or you may want to be in a place where there’s more buzz, nightlife or F&B options.
Prime locations near the CBD or city fringes are typically more expensive. If you really want to stay in these areas, it may make more sense to rent a room instead of an entire apartment.
A move-in ready room rental is hassle-free
Renting a room in a condo that has already been thoughtfully furnished for co-living is a super convenient option. Just bring your luggage and you’re ready to move in. Landlords of such co-living spaces would have already ensured that the apartment is fully furnished, has adequate storage spaces and is equipped with essential appliances such as a fridge, microwave and washing machine.
Such co-living apartments are also most likely to have wifi included in your rent. And that’s certainly a must-have! After all, you need internet access to be able to check your social medial, stream Netflix or even work from home. In addition, condo facilities are literally right at your doorstep. So you get to enjoy the benefits of condo living as a tenant too.
You don’t have to worry about maintenance and other problems
With a room rental, you won’t have to deal with maintenance issues for the entire apartment. Faulty locks, a leaky tap, an air-conditioner that’s not blowing cold air, a clogged or a water heater that won’t dispense hot water? These are some maintenance issues which could occasionally arise.
But thankfully, you’re not responsible for these issues. All you need to do is to call your landlord and he or she will come to the rescue to resolve those problems.
You have the chance to make new friends
Being new to Singapore, you may not have any friends. Renting a room in a co-living space works similar to a flatshare because you’ll flatmates living in the same apartment. Communal areas such as the living room and kitchenette give you the opportunity to interact with other working professionals who have also relocated to Singapore for work. This enables you to widen your social circle.
You’ll get to network and meet other people who may come from various backgrounds, professions and nationalities. You can share tips on how to settle down to expat life in Singapore and possibly hang out together. This is a great way to start your life here and make new friends.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Now that we’ve given you five good reasons on why room rental beats renting an entire apartment, you’ll be ready to make that leap and start exploring room rental spaces. Happy hunting!
