Studio Apartments vs. Living with Roommates: 5 Things You Need to Know

By Ian Donnelly

Studio apartments vs. living with roommates—it’s the age-old dilemma for every student renter. Are studio apartments a viable option, or is sharing an apartment with roommates the better way to go?

There’s a lot to unpack from that question, and before you pack up and move into whatever living situation comes your way, it’s a good idea to weigh all your options. There are advantages and disadvantages to solo studio living and co-signing a lease with friends, and uCribs is happy to lay them all on the table. Here’s the most important pros and cons to consider when deciding if a studio apartment is right for you.

1. Your Space, Your Style

Whether your motto is “the more stuff the better” or you’re all about the minimalist look, you can style your home however you’d like with a studio apartment. Every corner of your living space is all yours, so whatever you’ve pinned to your dream home Pinterest board, you can make it a reality—and there’s tons of apartment inspiration out there. The only limits to your stylistic choices are your space limitations and your landlord’s rules, of course, but that’s the bottom line with any rental.

If you choose to live with roommates, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you will have to make compromises on your ideal home décor ideas. Even if you are attached at the hip to the person you’re sharing a home with, you are still sharing, and that means your first choice isn’t always the final one. Your roomie’s thrift store chair might not be your ideal addition to the living room, but it may be easier to pick your battles and keep the peace, which is a factor you’ll need to keep in mind when you move in with housemates.

2. Your Bills, Your Problem

Finances are often the number one reason why folks decide to get roommates. When you live by yourself in a studio apartment, all the bills land in your lap, and there’s no one to help cover the costs. Money isn’t everything, but taking a realistic look at your finances is an important step when deciding where, how, and with whom you want to live.

Simply put, living with a roommate can save you money on just about all your living expenses. Not only will your rent be cheaper, but you can also split the cost of utilities, the cable bill, and even the food bill—as long as you all practice good roommate etiquette and talk it out first. Plus, you will most likely be able to afford a larger apartment when you split the rent with other people, and who doesn’t want a bigger place?

3. Your Location, Your Cost of Living

Remember that “number one reason for getting roommates” that we just talked about?

Well, it turns out that combining financial forces with roommates won’t always save you money—according to Forbes, where you live is a big determining factor in how cost-effective roommates can be, and uCribs’ comprehensive marketplace data backs that idea up.

For instance, if you happen to live in Little Rock, Arkansas, where the average two-bedroom apartment is actually more expensive when split with a roommate, making solo living your most budget-friendly option.

On the other hand, there are parts of the country where you’d have to be crazy not to live with roommates. If you’re going to college in New York City, getting a place with roommates can save you thousands of dollars on rent each year, and the same goes for major cities like Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Plus, no matter where you live, more bedrooms almost always means more living space than a studio apartment, so your dollar to square-footage ratio improves with roommates.

For a clear picture of what you can expect to pay in rent, a quick uCribs search will lay out the average rent costs for apartments near your university. All you have to do is visit our homepage and type in your school’s name to find the info you need!

4. Your Needs, Your Choice

Living alone isn’t for everyone, but if you covet your solo time and need distance to truly relax and recharge, a studio apartment all to yourself can be a godsend. There’s no need to discuss privacy barriers or house rules when your home is yours, and yours alone. If you get a midnight urge to eat ice cream right out of the container, you can march right over to the fridge in your most embarrassing pair of pajamas without a care in the world. The freedom of a studio apartment is its most attractive feature—you can do whatever, whenever.

But the same doesn’t hold true for sharing a place with roommates. If you live with others, you can’t necessarily do what you want, when you want. You have to respect your roommates and accommodate their needs by being mindful of their schedule, keeping the common areas clean and doing a fair share of house chores, and recognizing their privacy. If your roommate is having company over, for instance, it might be best to put that ice cream in a bowl at the very least.

5. Ultimately, You’re the Expert

Ultimately, you are the only person who can decide whether living in a studio apartment on your own is a good option. Your personality, needs, and financial situation are all important factors to weigh when contemplating roommates vs. a solo space, but only you can determine how important each factor is to your particular idea of the perfect humble abode.

The good news is there are benefits to both options, so whether you decide to live with roommates or start searching for studio apartments, your choice is always the right choice!

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