Not all furnished rooms are equal. From HDB flats to condos, coliving spaces to serviced apartments — each comes with different costs, rules, and trade-offs. Here's an honest breakdown to help you choose.
HDB Room Rental — Government housing, the cheapest option at S$600–S$1,000/month. Basic furnishing, shared bathroom, no condo facilities. Minimum 6-month stay per HDB rules. Often older buildings, limited amenities.
Private Condo Room (Direct Landlord) — Higher quality, S$1,200–S$2,500/month. Pool, gym, security. But: agent fee (half month rent), 12–24 month lease, furniture quality varies wildly.
Serviced Apartment — Hotel-like, S$4,000–S$8,000/month. Fully serviced, flexible stay from 1 week. But: expensive, tiny kitchenette, no real community.
Coliving in Condo — Professionally managed rooms in condos, S$800–S$2,000/month. Fully furnished, no agent fee, flexible from 3 months. Full kitchen, pool, gym. Operator handles maintenance.
| HDB Room | Condo (Landlord) | Serviced Apt | Coliving (Colivs) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Rent | S$600–S$1,000 | S$1,200–S$2,500 | S$4,000–S$8,000 | S$800–S$2,000 |
| Agent Fee | Usually none | Half month rent | None | None |
| Minimum Stay | 6 months (HDB rule) | 12–24 months | 1 week–3 months | 3 months |
| Furnishing | Basic/varies | Varies by landlord | Fully furnished | Fully furnished |
| Kitchen | Shared (may restrict) | Full kitchen | Kitchenette only | Full shared kitchen |
| Pool & Gym | No | Yes | Some properties | Yes (all properties) |
| Security | No | 24-hour condo | Building security | 24-hour condo |
| Wifi & Utilities | Usually extra | Usually extra | Included | Included |
| Maintenance | Landlord (slow) | Landlord (varies) | Hotel team | Operator (fast) |
| Deposit | 1 month | 1–2 months | 1–2 months | 1 month |
The Colivs column speaks for itself — you get premium condo amenities at HDB-level prices, with none of the hidden costs or lease lock-in.
The listed rent price is almost never the real cost. Here's what gets added on:
With a professional operator like Colivs, these issues don't exist. What you see on the video tour is what you get. Maintenance is handled within 48 hours. Pricing is all-inclusive.
Need a quiet, clean space near MRT. Don't want to deal with landlord drama or furnishing hassles. You want reliable maintenance and a straightforward rental process.
New to Singapore, need flexibility, don't know how long you'll stay. Want to avoid 2-year lease lock-in. Check out our Expat Housing Guide for more insights on settling into Singapore.
University students who want privacy and quiet. Not a party hostel — a proper room with desk, wifi, aircon. A space to focus on your studies.
Between homes, going through a life change, need a temporary but comfortable base for 3–6 months. No need to commit long-term.
Colivs isn't a listing platform. We're an operator. We manage every property ourselves — from maintenance to tenant coordination. When you book with us, you're dealing directly with our team.
Tell us your budget, preferred area, and move-in date. We'll send you available rooms within 24 hours — with photos, pricing, and the option for a live video tour.