Renting a Room Vs. Whole Apartment? Which Suits You?

Renting a Room Vs. Whole Apartment Which Suits You? So, you decided to move out of your parents’ house? Good job in taking the first step to adulthood! You are filled with the excitement of youth, finally having the freedom that you have longed for all this while. But, what do you do now? Where do you go? Where should you stay? And you’re stuck with the thought of renting a room vs a whole apartment.

These are the type of questions that overwhelm if not all young adults once we realize that we are not able to depend on anyone but ourselves. These are the few major factors that you should be considering:

• Rental Cost
• Privacy
• Utility Bill
• Amenities and Extras

SPEEDHOME is the best property platform to get affordable house rentals. Each rental option has its own perks and drawbacks. We will see the pros and cons of both housing options in advance, so that we can help you choose the right one for you.

If you are looking for a new place to live, there are a few things that you need to consider before you start looking.

Rental Cost

Renting a room is usually significantly cheaper than getting an apartment. As of May 2020, renting a furnished private room in Klang Valley costs about RM800 monthly. A fully-furnished 500 sqft studio apartment in Kuala Lumpur costs from RM2,000 per month.

If you are a student or fresh graduate, renting a room is the most ideal option. Alternatively, if you really like the apartment unit what you can do is opt-out to be a master tenant.

Privacy

When you rent an apartment, the entire place is yours from wall to wall. You are able to play music as loud as you want at any time of the day without annoying anyone. Basically, there are no house rules to follow when it comes to living in an apartment.

If you live in a shared house, you will have to share the living room and kitchen. If you rent a room without a private bathroom attached, you may even need to share a bathroom with other people. The only space where you can put all your stuff freely is in your bedroom.

Utility Bills

There is no way for landlords to know how much portion of the utility bill belongs to you. This means you don’t have to pay extra if you spend more time playing on your laptop or watching TV while you’re sleeping, studying, working, or working out.

If you rent a whole apartment, the utility bill is separate to your rental. But, problems may arise if you rent an apartment with a couple of friends. What’s worst is that you might end up paying for or subsidizing someone else’s excessive air conditioner use.

Amenities and Extras

Apartment complexes often have a lot of amenities that a landed house doesn’t. These buildings are often located near public transportation hubs like LRT/MRT stations. This might not be a problem to someone who has their own transportation, but it might be inconvenient if you have to take a Grab everywhere you go.

A room rental usually already come with a bed, a dresser, and a study table. Plus the kitchen is stocked with all that you need to prepare a meal. Yet, if you rent an unfurnished apartment unit, you have to buy all these furniture and stock up your kitchen.

In summary…

Bottom line is, you have to decide whether you want to rent a room or apartment based on these factors above. To make it even simpler, we will make a short comparison and also a list on why you should rent an apartment or a room:

Apartment	Room
More privacy	Rent is cheaper
No house rules	Able to learn to tolerate others
Utility bill is dependent on yourself	Room is move-in ready
Better amenities	Share common areas
Better accessibility	Might subsidize other people’s bills
Quite expensive	Transportation hubs are far

Apartments are great because:

• You will have your own personal space.
• There are no house rules to follow.
• You only have to pay for the utility bill based on how much you personally use.
• Better amenities.
• Better accessibility to transportation hubs.

But, the downside is:

• They are hella expensive for a student or a fresh graduate!

On the other hand, room rental should be your number one choice because:

• The rent is significantly cheaper.
• You’re able to learn how to tolerate other people.
• Your room is move-in ready. Furniture is there and the kitchen is stocked!

But, it’s bad because:

• You have to share common areas.
• You might have to subsidize your housemate’s share of the bill.
• If you’re in a landed house, transportation hubs are far.

Do you agree with this article? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!

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