A fresher on a first job, a developer on a six-month project and a couple moving in together need very different things. PGs, co-living and flats each solve a different problem.
Here is how they compare on what actually matters, with Bangalore as the example.
Side by side
| PG | Co-living | Flat (shared or your own) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit | Low: 1 to 2 months or a fixed amount | Usually 1 to 2 months | In Bangalore often 6 to 10 months |
| Food | Usually included | Sometimes, often extra | You cook or order |
| Furnished | Basic | Yes | Depends: unfurnished to fully furnished |
| Rules | Often strict: entry times, no guests | Fewer, but read them | What the owner and flatmates agree |
| Privacy | Often a shared room | Private or shared room | Your own room or the whole flat |
| Lock-in | Short | Short to medium | Usually an 11-month agreement |
| Admin | None | None | Bills, maid, cook, repairs |
| Best for | Students, interns, first weeks in a city | New to the city, short projects, living alone | Stays of a year or more, couples, friends sharing |
PG (paying guest)
- Good: meals, cleaning and laundry handled; low deposit; easy to move in and out.
- Not so good: shared rooms, fixed meal times, entry timings and visitor rules, little space of your own.
- Ask: what time the gate closes, how many share a room and bathroom, the notice period, and the refund date for the deposit.
Co-living
- Good: a furnished room, one bill for rent, Wi-Fi and cleaning, short terms, other people to meet.
- Not so good: usually more per month than a room in a shared flat; lock-in and exit charges to read carefully.
- Cost in Bangalore: operators publish roughly ₹18,000 to ₹30,000 for a single room and ₹10,000 to ₹18,000 for a bed in a double room in 2026.
More in our guides to what co-living is and co-living in Bangalore.
A flat, shared or your own
- Good: the most freedom and privacy, your own kitchen, and usually the lowest cost per person over a year or more.
- Not so good: the deposit (often 6 to 10 months' rent in Bangalore), setting up, and running a household: bills, a maid, repairs.
- Ask: what is included in the furnishing, the maintenance charge, the water supply, and the house rules.
Compare the real monthly cost
The rent on the listing is not what you pay. Add it up for each option before you decide:
- PG: rent (food included) plus anything extra you order or spend on laundry.
- Co-living: rent plus food if not included, plus electricity above the included limit.
- Shared flat: your share of rent, maintenance, electricity, water, Wi-Fi, maid and cook, plus your share of the furniture you buy.
Then look at the deposit. Money locked up for a year has a cost too, especially in your first job.
Published 11 July 2025, last updated 3 October 2026. General information for renters, not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Write to hello@flatscanner.ai.