Is co-living good for introverts?

Yes. Co-living doesn't mean constant socializing. You have your own private room with a door that locks. Common areas are shared, but you choose when and how much you engage. Many introverts appreciate having community available without the pressure to participate.

Can couples do co-living?

Some co-living buildings allow couples in larger rooms, but most are designed for individual occupants. If you're a couple, check the specific building's policy — at Post Chicago, rooms are designed for single occupancy.

What if I don't get along with my housemates?

Reputable co-living buildings have a process for addressing conflicts and can facilitate room transfers if needed. At Post Chicago, the team works with residents to resolve issues and can reassign rooms when necessary.

Is Co-Living Right for You? 5 Signs Yes, 3 No

How Do You Know If Co-Living Is Right for You?

It depends on what you value most in your living situation. Co-living is ideal if you want convenience, community, and flexibility without the overhead of a traditional apartment. But it is not for everyone — and pretending otherwise would waste your time. Below are five honest signs it is a great fit and three equally honest signs it is not.

According to the National Multifamily Housing Council, approximately 37% of U.S. households are renters — and a growing share of those renters are choosing shared living arrangements that prioritize community alongside affordability. At Post Chicago, our resident feedback consistently shows that built-in community is one of the top reasons people choose co-living over a solo apartment.

37%

Of U.S. households are renters (NMHC)

Sign 1: You're Moving to a New City and Don't Know Anyone

This is the number one reason people choose co-living, and it is the most practical one. Moving to a city where you have zero connections is isolating. Finding an apartment, furnishing it, and then trying to build a social life from scratch — all at the same time — is overwhelming.

Co-living solves the loneliness problem on day one. You move into a shared apartment with housemates who are often in the same situation: new to the city, starting a job or school, looking for people to grab dinner with. The social barrier to entry is dramatically lower than living alone in a studio and hoping you meet someone at a coffee shop.

According to the American Psychological Association, social isolation is one of the most significant risk factors for poor mental health among young adults who relocate for work or school. Co-living does not guarantee instant friendship, but it removes the structural barriers — you share a kitchen, a living room, and a building full of people your age. Connection happens naturally when the infrastructure supports it.

At Post Chicago, most residents are between 22 and 32 and moved to Chicago for a job, internship, or graduate program. The building hosts regular community events — rooftop grills, movie nights, networking mixers — that make it easy to meet people beyond your immediate apartment. But even without organized events, sharing a kitchen with two or three other people creates the kind of casual, low-pressure interaction that builds real relationships over time.

Sign 2: You Value Convenience Over Total Control

If your priority is having everything handled so you can focus on work, school, or actually enjoying a new city, co-living is built for you. A traditional apartment requires you to source furniture, set up utility accounts, schedule internet installation, buy kitchen supplies, hire a cleaning service (or do it yourself), and manage every detail of your living situation. Co-living eliminates all of that.

At Post Chicago, your single monthly payment covers your furnished room, all utilities, high-speed WiFi, weekly professional cleaning of shared spaces, and restocked household supplies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average Chicago renter manages five to eight separate recurring housing-related payments. Co-living collapses those into one.

The tradeoff is real, though: you do not control every detail. The furniture is chosen for you. The cleaning schedule is weekly, not daily. The WiFi provider is the building's choice, not yours. If that tradeoff sounds like a relief rather than a limitation, co-living fits your personality.

Sign 3: You Want Flexible Lease Terms

Traditional apartments in Chicago almost universally require a 12-month lease. If you need housing for 4 months, 7 months, or 16 months, you are out of luck — or paying for time you do not need.

Co-living buildings like Post Chicago offer lease terms from 3 to 18 months, priced on a sliding scale. A 14-month lease on a private room starts at $1,350 per month. A 6-month lease starts at $1,971. A 3-month lease — ideal for summer interns — starts at $2,363. You pick the term that matches your actual timeline.

This flexibility matters most for people in transition: interns on summer assignments, students between semesters, professionals starting a new job and wanting to explore the city before committing to a neighborhood long-term. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans aged 20 to 34 are the most mobile demographic, with roughly 20% moving each year. If your plans might change in six months, a co-living lease gives you that freedom without penalty.

Sign 4: You'd Rather Spend Money on Experiences Than Furniture

Furnishing a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago costs $3,000 to $6,000 for decent quality. That is money you could spend on travel, dining, concerts, savings, or student loans. And when you move out — which statistically happens within 12 to 18 months for most young renters — you face the hassle and cost of selling, storing, or discarding everything you bought.

Co-living eliminates the furniture equation entirely. Every room at Post Chicago comes furnished with premium pieces from Floyd and Article — real furniture designed to last, not the disposable particleboard you find in most furnished apartments. Your bed, desk, chair, and linens are waiting when you arrive. When you leave, you walk out the same way you walked in: with a suitcase.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, furniture and bedding prices have risen 8.5% since 2020. For anyone on a budget — especially interns and recent graduates — not spending $4,000 on furniture is not just convenient. It is financially smart.

Sign 5: You Like Having People Around but Need Your Own Space

This is the nuance that makes co-living work for a surprisingly wide range of personalities, including introverts. Co-living is not a commune. You are not sharing a bedroom. You have your own private room with a lock on the door, and you decide when to engage with your housemates and when to close your door and be alone.

The shared spaces — kitchen, living room, rooftop terrace — are available when you want company. Your room is available when you do not. This opt-in model is fundamentally different from living with roommates you found on Craigslist, where boundaries are negotiated (and often violated) rather than built into the structure.

At Post Chicago, Premium rooms include a private en-suite bathroom for an additional $200 per month, which adds another layer of personal space for residents who want it. Even in standard private rooms with shared bathrooms, the building is designed so that personal and communal spaces are clearly separated.

The people who love co-living are not the most extroverted people in the room. They are the people who want the option of company without the obligation.

Sign 1 It's NOT Right: You Need Total Privacy and Quiet at All Times

This is the most important honest disclaimer about co-living. Your bedroom is private. But the kitchen, living room, and sometimes bathrooms are shared. That means you will hear your housemates cooking at 10 PM. You may encounter dishes in the sink that are not yours. Someone might be watching TV in the living room when you want silence.

Co-living buildings have community guidelines and quiet hours, and shared spaces are professionally cleaned weekly. But between cleanings, shared spaces reflect the habits of everyone who uses them. If the sound of someone else's morning coffee routine or the sight of a roommate's leftovers in the fridge would genuinely bother you, a studio apartment or one-bedroom is a better fit.

This is not a flaw in co-living — it is the nature of shared space. The question is whether the benefits (cost savings, community, convenience) outweigh the reality of sharing a kitchen with other adults. For most people, they do. For some, they do not. Know yourself.

Sign 2 It's NOT Right: You Have a Partner, Kids, or Pets That Need Space

Most co-living rooms are designed for single occupancy. At Post Chicago, rooms are built for one person. If you are a couple, you will need to look elsewhere — or check whether the building has any units that accommodate two residents (most do not).

The same applies if you have children. Co-living is structurally designed for independent adults, and the shared spaces, community norms, and room sizes reflect that.

Pets are a partial exception. Post Chicago is pet-friendly — dogs and cats are welcome with a pet deposit — but the shared living arrangement means your pet will encounter other residents in common areas. If your dog is not comfortable around strangers or your cat requires a specific environment, consider whether a shared apartment is realistic.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, approximately 57% of U.S. households own a pet. Co-living can work with a well-behaved pet, but it requires honest self-assessment about your animal's temperament in a shared environment.

Sign 3 It's NOT Right: You're Very Particular About How Shared Spaces Are Maintained

Professional cleaning happens weekly at most co-living buildings, including Post Chicago. Household supplies are restocked at every cleaning visit. But between cleanings, shared spaces are maintained by the people who use them — your housemates.

If you are the kind of person who needs the kitchen spotless at all times, who notices when a dish is left in the sink for more than an hour, or who has very specific standards for how a living room should look, co-living will test your patience. The building sets the baseline with weekly professional cleaning and clear community guidelines, but daily maintenance is a shared responsibility.

This is not about cleanliness — most co-living residents are perfectly reasonable adults. It is about tolerance for different standards. Your housemate's "clean enough" might not match your "clean enough." If that gap would cause you daily stress, a solo apartment eliminates the variable entirely.

Still Not Sure? Ask Yourself These Three Questions

Would I rather have convenience and community, or total control over my space? If convenience wins, co-living fits.
Am I comfortable sharing a kitchen and living room with 2-3 other adults? If yes — even with some compromises — co-living works. If that thought makes you anxious, it probably does not.
Is my housing situation temporary or in transition? If you are new to Chicago, between life stages, or not ready to commit to a neighborhood, co-living's flexibility is a genuine advantage.

The best housing decision is the one that matches your actual life — not the one that looks best on paper. Co-living is exceptional for the right person. But being honest about whether you are that person saves everyone time.

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Read the complete co-living guide