Co-living refers to a modern housing model where individuals rent private bedrooms within a larger shared property, and share communal spaces (kitchen, lounge, work areas) and amenities. Unlike a traditional rental apartment, co-living emphasises three core features: flexibility, community, and all-inclusive convenience (furnishings, utilities, services).
In Singapore, co-living has transitioned from a niche workaround into a mature, growing segment of the rental market.
Singapore faces certain housing and rental pressures that make co-living especially relevant:
Here’s what typically makes up a co-living offering in Singapore:
To understand how strong the case for co-living is in Singapore, these numbers paint a clear picture:
According to a report by JLL Singapore, the co-living sector in Singapore has attracted more than S$1.4 billion in transaction volume since 2022.
Occupancy rates in the co-living market remain strong at around 85-95%, despite increasing supply and softening traditional rental growth.
For some operators, foreign students make up 25-40% of residents.
As of 2023, there were roughly 9,000 co-living rooms in Singapore across various providers.
Room inventory grew by approximately 17% between 2023 and 2025.
These numbers reflect that co-living isn’t just a trendy alternative — it’s a viable, resilient housing segment in Singapore.
Here are specific reasons why co-living is compelling in the Singapore market:
Affordability & Transparency: Rent often includes Wi-Fi, utilities and cleaning. No surprise bills.
Flexibility: Shorter leases cater to students, interns, expats or young professionals who may not want long contracts.
Prime Locations: Many co-living properties are in central or well-connected areas (near MRTs, business hubs), making commuting and lifestyle easier.
Community & Lifestyle: Especially for newcomers (international students, expats) co-living helps with networking, social connections and settling in.
Maintenance & Services: For example, regular air-conditioning servicing and general area cleaning are part of many co-living offers — removing operational burdens for tenants.
Resilience in Downturns: The sector has held up well even as conventional rentals had slower growth, demonstrating strong demand for the model.
In Singapore, co-living can appeal to multiple segments:
Students & Exchange Students: Flexible stay durations, furnished rooms, community environment.
Young Professionals & Expats: Those relocating or wanting flexible housing without long-term commitment.
Digital Nomads / Short-Term Stays: People working remotely, on project-based stays, or opting for a non-traditional rental model.
Landlords / Property Investors: On the flip side, property owners are increasingly looking at co-living as a model to maximise yield and reduce vacancy risk. (Although this is more for a “for landlords” piece.)
Move-in ready, often single bill covering utilities and services.
Flexibility in lease terms.
A social living environment and built-in community.
Often located in desirable or well-connected areas.
Potential cost savings compared to renting entire private units.
Less privacy compared to fully independent apartments (shared common areas).
Lease terms, rules and shared responsibilities may differ from traditional rentals.
Standards vary between operators — need to check quality of furnishings, services, contract terms.
Some may still prefer full control over property (kitchen, living spaces) rather than sharing.
Legal and regulatory frameworks are still evolving; make sure tenancy, services and provider are transparent.
Here are key questions to ask when evaluating a co-living property:
What’s included in the monthly rent? (Utilities, Wi-Fi, cleaning, air-conditioning servicing?)
What is the lease term? Are shorter stays possible?
What is the room size, furnishing, and what shared amenities are available?
What’s the location like? Proximity to transport (MRT), work or study, lifestyle amenities.
What’s the community like? Who are the other tenants (students, professionals, expats)?
What are the house or community rules? Guests, noise, pets, cleaning responsibilities?
What is the operator’s reputation and how is maintenance handled?
Are there reviews from current or past tenants? What is the occupancy rate?
Looking ahead:
The co-living sector is moving from niche to mainstream in Singapore, increasingly recognised as a distinct residential option.
With strong demand — especially from international students and mobile workforces — plus institutional interest (S$1.4 billion+ investments since 2022) the growth outlook is positive.
Lease models may evolve: more flexible stays, tailored services, purpose-built properties for co-living rather than simple conversion.
Operators may focus more on differentiators: community events, wellness amenities, co-working spaces, tech-enabled services.
For tenants, expect more choice, quality, and transparent pricing. For landlords/investors, expect greater professionalism and yield optimisation in the co-living space.
In short: co-living is more than just shared housing — it’s a lifestyle-centric, service-rich rental model that fits the evolving demands of Singapore’s urban rental market. With strong local demand (students, expats, young professionals), a growing stock (approx. 9,000 rooms), high occupancy (85-95 %), and significant institutional investment (S$1.4 billion+ since 2022), co-living is firmly establishing itself as a durable part of Singapore’s housing ecosystem.
If you’re looking for flexibility, community, convenience and affordability — co-living might just be the smarter way to live in Singapore’s vibrant city-state.