Is Co-Living in Singapore Cheaper Than Renting a Condo Room?

So you’re tired of living under the same roof of your parents or you’re simply looking for a new swanky place with nice facilities at your doorstep, but you don’t want a HDB flat. 

Your options? Renting a condo or a condo room is the first thought that comes to mind. But there’s something else that you could also consider—renting a room in a co-living apartment. 

Both options come with a monthly rental bill. However, when you factor in furnishings, utilities, Wi-Fi, cleaning and access to shared facilities, the cheaper option may not be as obvious as it first seems.

So, when it comes to co-living vs condo rooms in Singapore, which offers better value for money?

We compare the headline rental prices, what is included in the monthly rent and the additional costs you should budget for.

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Co-living cost vs a condo room rental cost difference in Singapore

*For basis of comparison, we are comparing the prices for a 1-bedroom unit, rather than an entire multi-bedroom condo. Prices are accurate at time of publishing. Actual rental prices vary according to location, room type, lease duration and availability. Sources: PropertyGuru and colivingSG.com.

We know condos cost a lot. A search on PropertyGuru can show results ranging from relatively affordable common rooms to much more expensive master bedrooms in prime districts or luxury developments.

The cost depends on: 

• The condo’s location
• Whether you are renting a common room or master bedroom
• Whether the room has a private bathroom
• The age and facilities of the development
• Whether the unit is shared with the owner or other tenants
• The length of the lease
• Whether utilities, Wi-Fi and cleaning are included

Co-living rooms can appear expensive at first glance. After all, you are often paying for a furnished room in a central location, sometimes with access to shared lounges, kitchens, gyms and other communal spaces.

However, the rental gap between a co-living room and a condo room may be smaller than expected once you account for the costs of setting up and maintaining a room. 

We did a search on some co-living rental companies and here’s what we found: 

That brings us to the main difference: what you get for the monthly rent.

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What's bundled into co-living rent that a condo room rental doesn't include? 

The biggest appeal of co-living is convenience. Instead of arranging everything separately, you generally pay one monthly fee for a furnished room and access to shared facilities.

Depending on the operator and property, co-living rent usually includes the following: furniture and household essentials, wifi, utilities, cleaning and maintenance. 

A co-living room usually comes furnished with essentials such as bed and mattress, wardrobe, lighting, aircon or fans. Shared spaces also come with sofas, dining tables, kitchen appliances, cooking equipment and washing machines.

Utilities are usually included although some places charge a fixed fee. Although you should always check if there are additional charges. 

With a conventional condo room rental, the room may be fully furnished, partially furnished or completely unfurnished. You will need to check the tenancy listing and agreement carefully rather than assume that everything shown in the photographs is included.

The key difference is that co-living packages may combine accommodation, household services and community spaces into one arrangement. With a condo room, these benefits may be available, but they are not necessarily bundled into the rent.

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ALSO READ: 10 Best Credit Cards for Buying Furniture and Electronics

The hidden cost condo room renters forget—utility bills

When comparing a condo room with a co-living room, it is easy to focus only on the monthly rental figure.

But utilities can make a noticeable difference to your actual housing costs.

Unless you have a separate arrangement with your landlord, for a conventional condo room rental, electricity, water and gas are generally separate from the advertised rent. Depending on the arrangement, the bills may be:

1. Sent directly to the tenant by the utility provider;
2. Paid by one tenant and divided among the household; or
3. Reimbursed to the landlord based on the household’s usage.

Air-conditioning is likely to be one of the biggest variables. A room with an air-conditioning unit that runs throughout the night may cost more to operate than a room where the tenant uses a fan or limits air-conditioning hours. 

This means a condo room advertised at $1,500 a month may not really cost $1,500. You may also need to budget for:

There is no single utility bill that applies to every condo room. Your actual cost depends on the size of the household, the appliances used, the air-conditioning habits and how the landlord handles billing.

Before signing a lease, ask to see recent utility bills if possible. This gives you a more realistic idea of what you may be paying each month.

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ALSO READ: Compare the Best Electricity Price Plans: Open Electricity Market (2026)

So, is co-living actually cheaper than a condo room?

The answer is: it depends on the room, location and what is included. But co-living can offer better overall value even when its advertised rent is higher.

A condo room may be cheaper if you are comfortable arranging your own Wi-Fi, splitting utilities with housemates and handling cleaning and household chores yourself.

Co-living may be more suitable for you if you:

• Want to move in with minimal setup
• Do not own furniture
• Prefer a shorter or more flexible lease
• Work long hours
• Want a furnished room in a central location
• Prefer one monthly payment instead of several separate bills
• Do not want to negotiate household chores with housemates

On the other hand, a condo room may make more sense if you:

• Want access to a specific condo development
• Prefer more control over your living arrangements
• Are happy to manage utilities and internet yourself
• Have a longer-term lease
• Want a larger room or private bathroom
• Are willing to furnish or personalise the space

Before comparing prices, check whether you are comparing like with like. A furnished co-living room with utilities, Wi-Fi and cleaning included should not be compared directly with an unfurnished condo room whose additional costs have not yet been added.

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Best credit cards for utility bills in Singapore

If you decide to rent a condo room, you may be able to soften the cost of utilities by paying eligible bills with a cashback credit card. With each monthly payment, you get a certain sum back depending on card benefits. 

It also helps automate recurring payments, so there’s no hassle of making monthly payments or danger of forgetting to pay and getting a late fee. You can also easily see your expenses in one credit card bill.

Here are some cards worth considering to pay for your utilities:

OCBC 365 Credit Card

Best for those who can maximise everyday spending, the OCBC 365 Card requires a minimum spend of $800 per month to get up to $80 cashback across all its cashback categories. Or, hit a monthly spend of $1,600 and get up to $160 cashback. 

The highest cashback tiers are on petrol (6%) and dining (5%), worth it for those who travel and eat out frequently. For utilities, you get 3% cashback. 

UOB One Card

A popular cashback card, UOB One is best for those who can hit a monthly minimum spend to unlock the highest cashback rates. 

If you spend a minimum of $600 per month, you get a total of up to $60 in cashback; spend $1,000 and get up to $100 cash back, or spend $2,000 and get up to $200 cash back. 

For utilities, you get an additional 1% cashback. 

There’s also additional cashback if you pay with the card at specific partners such as Grab, McDonald’s, Shopee or SimplyGo. 

Citi PremierMiles Card

Not a cashback card but a miles card, the Citi PremierMiles Card lets you earn 1.2 miles for every $1 spent. This goes towards your miles accumulation.

Citi also has a Citi PayAll function which you can use to pay electricity bills, along with other big expenses, to earn Citi Miles or Points. However, you’ll need to pay a fee for each transaction. IMO, it’s most worth it to use Citi PayAll when you have many recurring large expenses such as renovation, wedding, or insurance premiums, and when there’s a promotion. 

Besides these cards, there are also other credit cards you might find more suitable to pay your electricity bills with. Compare them easily on MoneySmart.

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