Shared Apartments & Co-Living Hacks: How to Save ₦100k/Month Without Downgrading

byNedutech - 0

“Discover smart co-living and shared apartment hacks that help you save over ₦100k monthly in Nigeria—without downgrading your lifestyle or comfort.”

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Housing costs in Nigeria — especially in cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt — continue to rise faster than most people’s salaries. Between rent, service charges, power bills, internet, and transportation, living alone can quickly drain ₦300k–₦600k monthly, depending on your lifestyle.

That’s why shared apartments and modern co-living arrangements have become some of the smartest money-saving solutions for young professionals, students, remote workers, and anyone tired of spending all their income on bills.

If you do it right, you can save up to ₦100,000 (or more) every month — without lowering your quality of life.

Below is a practical guide showing you exactly how.

Why Shared Apartments Are Becoming the New Normal

Co-living used to be seen as a “student thing,” but not anymore. With rising rent prices and the desire for convenience, more people are choosing shared spaces because:

  • It reduces cost massively
  • You get better locations for less money
  • You enjoy shared utilities and faster internet
  • You don’t have to worry about full rent or furnishing alone
  • Some co-living spaces come fully serviced

Instead of paying ₦1.5m yearly rent by yourself, you can split that in half and still live in a good neighborhood.

How to Save ₦100k/Month With Shared Apartments

Below are practical, tested strategies that people already use to cut massive costs while maintaining comfort.

1. Split Rent Strategically (Your Biggest Savings)

Instead of living alone in a 1-bedroom for ₦1.3m/year, consider:

A well-managed 2-bedroom for ₦1.8m/year

Shared by two people → ₦900k each

Estimated savings: ₦400k–₦600k yearly (₦33k–₦50k monthly)

If you add service charges, security fees, and waste collection costs, the savings grow even more.

2. Use “Shared Utilities” to Slash Bills

In a shared apartment, you divide:

  • Electricity bills
  • Generator fuel or inverter maintenance
  • Internet subscription
  • Water charges and estate levies

A ₦30k–₦40k monthly burden becomes ₦10k–₦15k each.

Estimated savings: ₦20k–₦25k monthly

3. Choose a Co-Living Space With “All-In Rent”

Some modern co-living properties offer:

  • Power
  • Water
  • Security
  • Cleaning
  • Internet
  • Waste disposal

…all included in your monthly rent.

You may pay ₦180k/month, but you avoid extra ₦70k–₦100k in surprise bills.

This gives you predictable spending and long-term savings.

4. Buy Household Items as a Group

Instead of buying duplicates:

  • One person buys a blender
  • The other buys a microwave
  • Someone buys pots
  • Everyone buys in bulk food items

No need for 3 versions of the same thing.

Estimated savings: ₦10k–₦20k monthly (or more).

5. Leverage Bulk Food Shopping and Meal Planning

Food costs can quietly consume half your budget.

Instead, try:

  • Bulk rice/beans/garri purchases
  • Shared groceries (oil, tomatoes, pepper, spices)
  • Cooking in batches
  • Meal rotating
  • Shared kitchen duties

This is guaranteed to slash spending.

Estimated savings: ₦15k–₦30k monthly.

6. Share Internet & Streaming Subscriptions

Many Nigerians now split:

  • Unlimited fiber internet (₦20–₦30k/month)
  • Netflix Premium (up to 4 users)
  • Showmax
  • YouTube Premium family plan
  • Spotify Premium family plan

With 2 or 3 roommates, this becomes extremely cheap.

Estimated savings: ₦5k–₦10k monthly.

7. Live in a Better Location With Less Transport Cost

A well-located shared apartment means:

  • Shorter commute
  • Cheaper bolt rides
  • Lower fuel consumption
  • More walkable distances

Reducing daily transport by ₦1,000 saves ₦30,000/month immediately.

8. Create a "Co-Living Budget Agreement"

This is the secret most people ignore.

A simple written plan covers:

  • Who pays what
  • How much each person contributes monthly
  • Cleaning rota
  • Visitor rules
  • Quiet hours
  • How to handle repairs
  • Shared expenses (fuel, cleaning, internet)

This avoids misunderstandings and keeps the arrangement peaceful.

How Your Total Savings Add Up

Here’s a quick breakdown of how co-living can save you ₦100,000+ every month:

Expense Type       Solo Cost   Shared Cost   Money Saved Monthly

Rent + Service Charge:    ₦150k   ₦80k     ₦70k

Internet:                         ₦25k    ₦10k     ₦15k

Electricity + Fuel:             ₦40k    ₦20k     ₦20k

Food.                              ₦60k    ₦40k     ₦20k

Total Savings — — ₦125,000

This doesn’t require “managing life” — just smarter living.

Best Practices for a Stress-Free Shared Apartment Experience

To enjoy co-living without stress:

✔ Choose compatible roommates

Lifestyle, work schedule, cleanliness, personality — they all matter.

✔ Agree on cleaning & hygiene standards

Nobody likes a dirty house.

✔ Use apps for expense splitting

Splitwise, Tricount, or WhatsApp reminders help.

✔ Keep communication open & honest

Small issues grow when ignored.

✔ Respect personal space and boundaries

Privacy is key.

Who Is Co-Living Perfect For?

Shared apartments work best for:

  • Young professionals
  • Tech workers
  • Remote workers
  • NYSC members
  • Single people trying to save aggressively
  • Students
  • Anyone relocating to a new city
  • People who want lifestyle upgrades but lower costs

Conclusion: Co-Living Is Smart Living. Saving ₦100k every month might sound impossible, but co-living makes it realistic without sacrificing comfort, privacy, or lifestyle. You get:

  1. A better neighborhood
  2. Better amenities
  3. Lower monthly bills
  4. Reduced stress
  5. More disposable income for savings, investing, and personal growth

Shared living isn't a downgrade — it's a strategic money move.

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