TEFL / TESOL Blog
Research states that currently there are 35 million digital nomads in the entire world, and they contribute to the global economic value of $787 billion per year.
As a digital nomad, your life is full of choices. You can either decide to work from the mountains or go to the beach to spend your weekend away. However, on a serious note digital nomads do need to make some important decisions, one of them being accommodation choices in their selected destinations. With so many options available around you, it might be tricky to know which one is right for you. Do you live in a hostel or rent an Airbnb? While these are some mainstream choices, there is still one option most globetrotters seem to miss out on.
What Is A Coliving Space?
Before you are ready to take out your card and book an accommodation, halt your choices for a second and read this.
A co-living space is specially designed for mobile digital nomads. It is the perfect blend of a hostel, coworking space, and an Airbnb all at once. These spaces are owned by independent individuals who offer packages to digital nomads like you who pop up as and when the popularity of the place grows.
These coliving spaces are villas converted into boutique-style apartment buildings or hotels and can be found in both rural and urban areas alike. These spaces are available for every price point from budget accommodation to luxury spaces.
The most common types of coliving spaces include:
Due to the list of varied amenities, the cost can be anywhere from $100 to $500 per week. Regardless of the price, all the coliving spaces are fully furnished and have everything you need.
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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Staying In A Coliving Space?
With the rise of digital nomads, coliving spaces are now available all around the world. If you want to experience your stay in one, here are some pros and cons you must consider.
Pros:
1. Cost Effective
Since coliving spaces are shared spaces, the overall expenses also get shared among the residents. The members can have their own beds and private bathrooms but the living room and communal areas like the kitchen, balcony, etc are shared.
As a result, the members share expenses like water, electricity, and other expenses recurring in the space. Millennial digital nomads are mostly attracted to these spaces as they don't have to move in with furniture. They get every facility at a very affordable price.
2. Enhanced Productivity
Coliving is similar to coworking space as people can openly collaborate to build a strong sense of community. It can be a great way to meet other digital nomads from all around the world and make some potentially good friends.
You can find like-minded people and engage in weekend getaways, and brainstorming sessions, or even find your business partners. These places are also known to plan events and might include walking tours, meals out, and excursions. These plans can allow you to expand your social circle.
3. Flexible Living Arrangements
Coliving spaces stand out mostly to youngsters because of their flexible terms of living duration. For such spaces, members do not normally pay a deposit or sign a contract for their rental. They offer both short and long-term contracts for tenants even if they are only staying for a few days.
Some places even allow you to check in and check out like a hotel. This arrangement is especially an arrangement for those digital nomads who do not want to stay limited to one place and are always exploring freedom from one place to another.
4. Easy Networking Opportunities
Another big perk of staying at coliving spaces is that you can get plenty of networking opportunities. As mentioned you can connect with like-minded people and share your values and interests and might even support each other’s work as and when possible.
This helps you to hit it off with the right people and thus creates new working or business opportunities allowing you to explore a whole new career altogether. Moreover, since these places are mostly owned by independent individuals you can network with a lot of people from different backgrounds.
Cons:
1. Lack Of Privacy
These spaces mostly generate the idea of open spaces and hence it can sometimes be hard to be your own self. You will meet and greet a lot of people throughout the day and it might get tricky to always have an open mind and welcoming gesture.
You might have a private room or share a dormitory, but you will still be buzzing with social energy, and reciprocating which can sometimes can get exhausting. Furthermore, such spaces can be hard to navigate for introverts.
2. Safety And Security Issues
Since you will be sharing your place with a lot of people, it can give rise to safety issues. You might wonder how to keep yourself and your furniture safe. Living with a bunch of strangers can give rise to trust issues.
Therefore, while selecting your coliving space, you need to decide very carefully and read reviews and testimonials to address any such safety and security concerns. You should also be aware of who to contact if anything like this happens to you.
3. Can Be Expensive Than Local Rents
Since these spaces are always fully furnished with varied amenities they tend to be a little expensive than local landlords. Depending on the country you select and the lifestyle you lead, you need to think twice before renting your place.
Thus, stay calm, make a budget, list out the properties, review the place, think about your expenses, and then decide. Decide what is best for you in that situation.
4. Might Prevent You From Engaging Culturally
Since you have traveled the world quite a few times now, you are pretty aware that expat groups can be insular. But when you have a lot of people staying with you with whom you can hang out and have fun, you are less likely to meet new people and be culturally diverse.
However, if you are going to a foreign land and are not interacting with the locals, you can miss out on something, you might regret later. Thus, keep your options open and keep the bigger picture in mind, like what are you here for?
Embark On Your First Coliving Journey
If you are considering co-living as an option for your accommodation, you should bear the above-mentioned factors in mind. Whether you are looking for affordable options, or are you comfortable in being a social bee is all up to you. However, if you have recently graduated with an offline or Online TEFL Course, you can give coliving a try. Since you will be experiencing all your firsts in a new land, this can be a great area to explore.
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