Decision guide
Coliving vs Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA)
Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) is what most international students get pitched first — Scape, Iglu, Y Suites, UniLodge. Coliving (CDA, UKO, Together) is the alternative. The right answer depends on whether you want a building full of students or a home full of mixed-stage adults.
Coliving vs PBSA
Detail
Coliving
PBSA
Building type
Residential homes / small share-houses
High-rise purpose-built towers near campus
Population
Students, WHV, young professionals, couples — mixed
95%+ undergraduate and postgraduate students
Price floor (Sydney)
From $180/week (CDA)
From ~$420/week (twin-share); ~$550+/wk (private)
Lease length
12-week minimum is typical
Semester or full-year (44–51 weeks)
Bills inclusion
All bills included
All bills included
On-site amenity
Shared kitchen + lounge in each home
Gym, study rooms, cinema, rooftop, cafes in some buildings
Distance from campus
Per suburb — varies
5–15 minute walk to a partnered university
International friendly
Yes — passport + CoE accepted by CDA
Yes — heavily marketed to international students
Summer break
You keep your room — no semester gap
Many PBSA contracts are semester-only; pay for summer separately
Social scene
Small household, deeper relationships
Wide social pool, building-scale events
Coliving is the better pick when…
- Postgraduate students or older undergrads who want adult roommates, not 17-year-olds
- Students whose campus is not near a Scape/Iglu (Western Sydney, Macquarie, regional unis)
- Anyone whose budget caps below ~$420/week
- Students who want to live in a neighbourhood, not a tower
PBSA is the better pick when…
- First-year undergrads who want maximum social density and immediate friends
- Students who specifically want a building gym, study rooms, and 24/7 reception
- Anyone whose campus has a partnered PBSA tower next door
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