Quick answer
Coliving is shared housing where you rent a furnished private room in a managed home and share kitchens, lounges and often workspaces, usually with bills bundled into one monthly price. The terms below explain the formats, costs and contract details you will compare.
- All-inclusive rent
- A single monthly price that bundles rent with some or all of the bills, such as electricity, water, internet and cleaning. The label is not standardised: always ask which bills are included and whether any are capped. Work out the true cost →
- Aparthotel
- A building of serviced apartments run like a hotel, usually with a reception and a kitchenette in each unit, bookable by the night, week or month.
- Cohousing
- A community of private homes, often owned by the residents, clustered around shared facilities such as a common house or garden. Unlike coliving, cohousing is usually long-term and self-governed.
- Coliving
- Shared housing where you rent a furnished private room or studio in a professionally managed home and share kitchens, lounges and often workspaces with other residents. Bills are frequently bundled, stays are flexible and many operators add a community element. What is coliving? →
- Coliving residence
- A purpose-built or fully converted building of private rooms or compact studios, often with private bathrooms, plus larger shared lounges, kitchens and work areas run by one operator.
- Coliving retreat
- A short, themed coliving stay, often one to four weeks, organised around a group, an activity such as surfing or a particular location. Retreats usually include accommodation, workspace and planned activities.
- Community manager
- The staff member in a coliving home who welcomes new residents, organises events, enforces house rules and is the first contact for problems.
- Coworking
- Shared office space rented by the day or month as a hot desk, fixed desk or private office. Some coliving homes include coworking access; others offer only a shared table. Coliving vs coworking →
- Deposit
- A refundable sum held against damage or unpaid rent. Ask how much it is, where it is held, what can be deducted and how long it takes to be returned after you leave.
- Digital nomad
- Someone who works remotely, usually online, while living in different places for weeks or months at a time. Coliving for digital nomads →
- Digital nomad visa
- A residence permit some countries offer to people who work remotely for employers or clients abroad. Eligibility, income thresholds, length of stay and tax treatment vary by country; always check the official government source before you travel.
- Ensuite
- A bathroom attached to your bedroom that you do not share with other residents. In coliving, ensuite rooms usually cost more than rooms with a shared bathroom.
- Guest policy
- House rules on visitors, especially overnight guests: whether they are allowed, how many nights, whether you must register them and whether a fee applies.
- HMO (house in multiple occupation)
- A UK term for a property rented by three or more people who form more than one household and share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. In England, larger HMOs need a licence from the local council. GOV.UK: HMO licences ↗
- Hostel
- Budget accommodation with dormitory beds and shared facilities, sometimes with private rooms. Hostels suit short, sociable stays better than focused work. Coliving vs Airbnb vs hostels →
- Hot desk
- A coworking desk you do not reserve in advance: you take any free seat. A fixed or dedicated desk is reserved for you and usually costs more.
- Kost
- An Indonesian boarding-house room rented by the month, with a shared or private bathroom. Kost range from basic rooms to upmarket managed homes, and some operators brand them as coliving. Jakarta coliving vs kost →
- Minimum stay
- The shortest booking an operator accepts, from a few nights to several months. Longer commitments often come with a lower monthly rate. Booking a monthly stay →
- Notice period
- How far in advance you must tell the operator that you are leaving or extending. Missing it can mean paying for extra weeks or losing part of the deposit.
- Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA)
- Student halls and residences built and run by private operators or universities, usually let for an academic year. Some operators also offer shorter stays for interns and graduates. Coliving for students and interns →
- Serviced apartment
- A furnished apartment with its own kitchen and bathroom plus hotel-style services such as cleaning, bookable for short or long stays.
- Utilities
- Household services such as electricity, water, gas and heating, and often internet. In coliving they may be bundled, capped or charged by usage.
Definitions describe typical usage. A specific operator's contract decides what applies to your stay.