Co-living in Hungary: The Rise of Shared Real Estate

Published on October 4, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Hungary’s real estate market is undergoing a bold transformation with the rise of co-living spaces, a trend merging innovation and community to meet the needs of a new generation of urban residents.

With growing urban populations, these shared spaces are gaining popularity, offering a flexible and economical solution amid skyrocketing traditional real estate prices.

The collaborative environments they provide don’t just reinvent community living—they also foster a crucial sense of belonging in a society seeking connection.

Exploring this phenomenon in Hungary means entering a world where the boundary between private and shared living is constantly being redrawn.

The Co-Living Spaces Concept: A New Trend in Hungary

Definition and Distinction of Co-Living Spaces

Co-living spaces are modern forms of shared housing where multiple unrelated individuals live together in the same building or apartment. Each resident has private space (typically a bedroom with private bathroom), while common areas (living room, kitchen, workspaces, gyms, terraces, etc.) are shared and designed to encourage social interaction and community building. This model differs from traditional shared housing through professional management, integrated services (cleaning, internet, events, etc.), and a strong emphasis on creating a collaborative community spirit.

Co-living Space	Traditional Shared Housing	Student Housing
Professional management	Self-organized management	Institutional management
Included services	Few or no services	Basic services
Varied common spaces	Often limited	Simple common areas
Curated community	Informal community	Student community
Contract flexibility	Rigid contracts	Annual contracts

Socio-economic Factors Driving Demand in Hungary

• Rising rents and shortage of affordable housing in major cities, particularly Budapest.
• Increased mobility among young professionals, students, remote workers, and expatriates.
• Demand for rental flexibility (short-term contracts, all-inclusive, no long-term commitment).
• Post-pandemic social isolation, creating need for community and mutual support.
• Budapest’s appeal as a technological and cultural hub attracting international talent.

Evolution of Popularity in Hungary

The first co-living spaces appeared in Budapest in the early 2020s, inspired by Western models.

Demand grew rapidly, driven by workplace digitalization, remote work development, and the arrival of international startups.

The COVID-19 pandemic enhanced co-living’s appeal through the combination of private spaces and common areas suited for remote work and social life.

By 2025, the Hungarian market continues growing, with diversified offerings catering to different profiles (young professionals, single-parent families, active seniors).

Notable Co-Living Space Examples in Hungary

Name	Location	Unique Features	Main Attractions
KAPTÁR Coliving	Budapest	Integrated coworking spaces, professional events, international community	Flexibility, networking, urban centrality
Urban Lobby	Budapest	Designer rooms, gym, creative workshops, shared garden	Cultural activities, wellness, modern environment
Millenáris Coliving	Budapest	Eco-friendly building, green spaces, sustainability workshops	Sustainability, environmental commitment, innovation

Advantages and Disadvantages for Residents

Advantages:

• Cost reduction: Shared expenses, included services, competitive rents for premium amenities.
• Community: Easy integration, mutual support, group activities, expanded professional network.
• Flexibility: Short-term contracts, no large security deposit, easy relocation options.
• Comfort and services: Access to modern facilities, relaxation and work areas, maintenance included.

Disadvantages:

• Limited privacy: Sometimes overcrowded common areas, need to accommodate others’ habits.
• Community rules: Requirement to follow collective rules and maintain certain discipline.
• Resident turnover: Frequent changes that can affect community stability.
• Potentially higher cost than traditional shared housing if prioritizing independence.

Future Prospects for Co-Living in Hungary

The Hungarian co-living market should continue growing, supported by urban mobility, remote work expansion, and Budapest’s international appeal.

Demographic forecasts indicate increasing urban young professionals and an aging population, paving the way for intergenerational co-living models.

Economic uncertainty could boost demand for flexible, affordable housing, while innovation (hybrid spaces, eco-friendly housing) should diversify offerings.

Main challenges remain regulation, competition with traditional housing, and maintaining high service and community standards.

Co-living thus establishes itself as an innovative, flexible, and community-oriented solution perfectly suited to new urban lifestyles in Hungary.

Benefits of Premium Shared Housing for Young Professionals

Premium shared housing in Hungary is becoming the preferred housing solution for young professionals seeking flexibility, comfort, and dynamic social life.

Flexibility and Mobility

• Short-term lease options suitable for temporary work assignments or changing circumstances.
• Easy moves with fully furnished housing, allowing quick move-in or departure without complex procedures.
• Often individualized contracts offering freedom to choose ideal stay duration according to needs.

Modern Infrastructure and Included Services

• Access to shared workspaces (coworking), meeting rooms, and quality IT equipment.
• On-site gyms, fitness areas, and relaxation zones integrated into the residence.
• Common areas designed for interaction: equipped kitchens, lounges, terraces, rooftops, game rooms.

Infrastructure & Services	Description
Shared workspaces	Offices, meeting rooms, high-speed wifi
Gyms	Fitness equipment, group classes
Common areas	Kitchens, lounges, terraces, rooftops, game rooms
Included services	Cleaning, maintenance, subscriptions (internet, electricity)

Balanced Lifestyle and Networking Opportunities

• Common areas and organized events facilitate networking, professional and friendly encounters.
• Environment promoting work-life balance: ability to work, relax, and socialize in the same location.
• Opportunities to expand networks through diverse profiles and regular workshops, after-work events, or themed parties.

Economic and Practical Advantages

• Shared rent, utilities, and subscription costs significantly reducing expenses compared to traditional rentals.
• Budapest shared room prices start around €200 monthly, an attractive alternative to studios or individual apartments with higher rents.
• No hidden fees: most services (internet, electricity, cleaning) included in rent, simplifying budget management.

Testimonials and Growing Popularity

• Specialized platforms report significant demand increase for this housing type among international young professionals.
• Young professional testimonials highlight friendly atmosphere, easy integration, and quality infrastructure.
• Premium co-living offerings multiplying in Budapest and major university cities, illustrating growing appeal of this housing model.

Premium shared housing thus perfectly meets Hungarian and international young professionals’ expectations: flexible, modern, economical housing, and above all, a genuine living environment facilitating both personal fulfillment and career development.

Shared Spaces and Digital Community: An Innovative Lifestyle

Shared spaces in Hungary, supported by digitalization and online platforms, strengthen community bonds among residents by facilitating continuous, structured exchanges. Through high-speed networks (gigabit and 5G), digital connectivity enables seamless access to collaborative and social tools.

Examples of digital applications or services promoting these interactions:

• Private discussion groups on Slack or Discord dedicated to residents exchanging advice, organizing mutual aid, or sharing news.
• Event platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite integrated into daily life for planning video game nights, virtual cooking workshops, or professional webinars.
• Internal applications (e.g., Resident App) enabling common space reservations, technical issue reporting, quick local event organization.
• Community forums hosted on space websites for seeking feedback on collective projects, requesting logistical help, or posting announcements.

Comparison Table — Digital Tools & Uses

Tool / Platform	Primary Use	Community Impact
Slack/Discord	Thematic discussions	Strengthening social bonds
Meetup/Eventbrite	Event organization	Creating shared moments
Internal Resident App	Daily management	Facilitating communal living
Local forum	Expression space	Inclusion & participation

This innovative model strongly attracts young professionals and students seeking:

• Expanded professional networks through cultural diversity (European digital nomads).
• Mentorship opportunities via hubs like EIT Community Hub Budapest connecting local talent with global resources.
• Work organization flexibility and quick adaptation to new collaborative modes.

Observed positive effects:

• Enhanced well-being, through reduced isolation feelings often associated with traditional urban housing; each resident can easily request help or social interaction as needed.
• Personal social network development: Daily exchanges with varied profiles open unexpected collaborations (spontaneous entrepreneurial projects during virtual hackathons).
• Simplified access to digital training, hybrid community workshops blending in-person/virtual participation.

Future perspectives:

• Possible deployment of personalized AI solutions for forum moderation, facilitating connections between complementary skills;
• Growing integration with smart home devices, logistical automation via mobile applications;
• Progressive creation of locally interconnected communities at European level through Hungarian national strategies aiming for near-universal gigabit coverage.

Digitalization thus transforms Hungarian co-living into an innovative lifestyle where community spirit aligns with professional efficiency.

Impact of Co-Living Space Growth on Hungarian Real Estate Market

The rise of co-living spaces in Hungary, particularly Budapest, is redefining the real estate market and transforming urban dynamics.

Effects on Real Estate Prices

• Growing co-living demand exerts upward pressure on prices in certain central neighborhoods, where housing supply is already limited due to strict regulations protecting historical heritage.
• Despite relatively affordable absolute prices, they remain high compared to local purchasing power. Co-living development attracts more foreign investors, contributing to this disconnect between local wages and property values.
• By limiting new construction and renovating existing buildings for co-living, traditional supply remains constrained, thus supporting land valuation.

Impact on Rental Demand

• Co-living meets strong rental demand among Hungarian young professionals and especially expatriates (digital nomads, Erasmus students), who prioritize flexibility and included services (cleaning, community events).
• This model also appeals to those deterred by traditional rents or seeking more social lifestyles. Rapid occupant turnover supports high occupancy rates for these residences.

Urban Trends & Development

• Developers invest in transforming existing buildings rather than new construction—a choice driven by local urban constraints but also by desire to revitalize certain neighborhoods.
• Co-living contributes to urban renewal: it introduces more social diversity and generates new forms of common spaces focused on community and social innovation.

Effect	Hungarian Market	Other European Markets
Prices	Moderate increase in center	More marked increase (Berlin)
Supply	Very limited	More flexible elsewhere
Investors	Mostly foreign	Mixed by country
Local reaction	Cautious but growing	Already well-established

Reception by Local Population & Investors

• Hungarian young professionals show growing interest in this innovative housing model; however, their participation remains limited by financial means. For many, it’s mainly a temporary or transitional solution before traditional purchase or rental.
• European institutional investors show strong enthusiasm: nearly 51% consider investing in this sector soon.

Implications for Traditional Property Owners

1. Advantages:
   • Opportunity to convert unattractive older properties into profitable shared residences
2. Disadvantages:
   • Increased competition against models offering more services
   • Potential risk if regulations evolve against these structures

Economic & Social Aspects

Economic: Offerings adapted to tight budgets of young workers/students while ensuring higher profitability than traditional rentals through cost sharing.

Social:

• Facilitates rapid expatriate integration
• Strengthens community feeling through shared spaces (common kitchen, lounges)
• May indirectly help limit urban isolation

Broader European Comparison

Throughout Western Europe—particularly Berlin or Lisbon—similar dynamics are observed:

• Phenomenon acceleration under combined effects of post-COVID mass remote work,
• Growing difficulties with traditional home ownership,
• Leading role for mobile/international populations.

However:

In Budapest, the movement is hindered by:

• Limited stock,
• Conservative legislation protecting old buildings,
• Less enthusiastic local reception than Berlin or Amsterdam where this offering became dominant solution for all demographics.

Co-living thus represents major innovation still selective in scope: it energizes certain segments while remaining dependent on local economic context—particularly visible in Hungarian market where its growth navigates between strong heritage traditions and emerging needs linked to new urban lifestyles.