Giving up privacy to live in America's most expensive cities

2019-07-06T18:10:00-04:00

Housing costs have become so expensive in some cities that people are renting bunk beds in a communal home for $1,200 a month. Not a bedroom. A bed. PodShare is trying to help make up for the shortage of affordable housing in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles by renting dormitory-style lodging and providing tenants a co-living experience.

In the last few years, we have written stories on recent trends in compromised living situations designed in response to severe economic conditions, such as tiny homes and micro-apartments. While these living types are challengingly small - some as compact as 100 square feet - they still offer privacy, an amenity that most would find a basic necessity.

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Co-living habitations, however, are quickly becoming a third alternative to the increasingly high cost-of-living in some of the world's most expensive cities. While companies like WeLive have tossed around the idea, a recently developed company has developed a much more extreme version. For $1,200 a month, PodShare will provide renters little more than a twin-sized mattress with as many as 220 other guests. According to CNN, the amenities are limited to "a bed, a locker, access to wifi and the chance to meet fellow 'pod-estrians.'" The concept is quickly picking up steam, as there are now six locations between L...

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Giving up privacy to live in America's most expensive cities