Why Flexible Living Is More Affordable Than You Think

For those looking to have more control over their living situation, traditional housing options consistently fall short. Since most renters these days are still required to sign a 12-month lease, those looking to live more flexibly wind up paying exorbitant prices to stay long-term in a vacation rental or hotel.

Unlocking a more flexible lifestyle no longer requires compromise. Our recent research has shown that living with Landing—a membership-based network of furnished apartments with flexible leases—is significantly more affordable when compared to its more conventional counterparts. 

In fact, renting from Landing is a whopping 89% more affordable than hotels, 64% more affordable than short-term vacation rentals, and 30% more affordable than traditional apartment rentals.

The rise of flexible work—and living

It’s no secret that working arrangements have become far more flexible as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether they have a hybrid or 100% remote job, professionals these days are enjoying the opportunity to infuse some level of flexibility into their schedule. 

According to Deloitte, 49% of Gen Zers and 45% of millennials now work remotely some of the time. Three-quarters said this would be their preferred way of working, citing such benefits as saving money, freeing up time to do things they care about, and spending more time with family.

This increase in workplace flexibility has caused people to take more advantage of their newfound freedom to travel, spend a season somewhere else, or even travel full-time as digital nomads.

In fact, the MBO Partners 2022 State of Independence research study found that 16.9 million American workers currently describe themselves as digital nomads, increasing 9% from 2021 and a staggering 131% from the pre-pandemic year 2019. This lifestyle clearly isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, with 69% of digital nomads in 2022 reporting they planned on continuing their journey for at least the next two to three years.

While it’s clear this type of lifestyle is in demand, renters looking for more flexibility have traditionally faced many challenges, including: 

• High costs: The price of vacation housing and hotels are based on traveling, not living, so they can add up fast when you stay long-term. 
• Extra fees: Standard apartments come with a variety of costs beyond your monthly rent.
• Strict schedules: Breaking a 12-month lease early or finding a subletter can be difficult and costly, and it’s unusual to be able to stay indefinitely in a hotel or vacation home.

By living with Landing, renters can avoid these common pitfalls and introduce additional benefits into their living situation in the following key ways:

1. Renting from Landing is more affordable

Living flexibly with Landing is far more affordable than staying in a hotel, vacation rental, or traditional apartment when you factor in the average nightly cost per stay, the cost of moving, and the cost of investing in household items like housewares and furniture. 

For example, the average daily rate of a vacation rental and hotel in Austin, Texas, is roughly $245 per night, according to data from  AirDNA and CheapHotels.org. That means utilizing this type of arrangement for even just one month nets out to a whopping $7,595 in monthly “rent” (and—gulp—around $91,140 a year).

Meanwhile, Zumper reports the cost of an unfurnished two-bedroom apartment in Austin stands around $37,030 a year when factoring in the cost of rent, extra fees, movers, furnishings, and housewares. While significantly less expensive than the cost of a vacation rental, traditional apartments still represent a 46% increase in cost when compared to a flexible Landing apartment of the same size ($22,939/year). 

Even in popular U.S. cities with lower average rates, your monthly rental costs still remain on the higher end when compared to flexible living arrangements through Landing. For instance, AirDNA reports that Denver vacation rentals charge an average of $180 a night, which still adds up to over $5,580 across a single month and $66,960 for a year. How much is the average two-bedroom Landing in Denver? Just $2,239 per month.

Other costs to consider include: 

The cost of moving

Another major bill that comes into play when renting a traditional apartment is paying for your actual move. According to Movers.com, renters can expect to pay between $1,000 and $6,000 to transport their belongings from one place to another, factoring in costs like packing supplies, transportation, movers, and storage. 

By renting a fully furnished apartment with Landing, you’ll need far less effort (and cash) to bring your belongings to your new home. While you may be responsible for the cost of a plane ticket or a road trip to get to your new destination, the expense is minimal compared to a full-blown haul. 

The cost of furniture and housewares

If you are starting from scratch with living in an apartment or don’t want to transport your belongings long-distance, you’re going to need to spend some money to appropriately outfit your home once you arrive. While an air mattress on the floor technically gets the job done, your new home (and your back health) will require more of an investment.

While furnishing costs can definitely vary depending on your tastes, you can expect to pay around $6,500 on average to fill your space with living room and bedroom furniture. This doesn’t even take into account the cost of investing in housewares—think everything from smaller wares such as can openers and cutlery to bigger appliances such as toasters and blenders. 

All Landing apartments come fully furnished, which means all furniture and housewares are included in your monthly rent costs. Not only is your apartment fully equipped with everything you need right off the bat (no frantic trips to Target needed!), but you’ll also be able to travel light when you’re ready to move on to your next home.

2. Fewer extra fees

In addition to your monthly rent, landlords typically charge additional fees that can add up quickly, including: 

• Application fees: Roughly $30 per apartment application
• Brokerage fees: Ranges from one month’s rent to ​​12%–15% of annual rent cost
• Security deposits: Typically equal to one month’s rent
• First and last month’s rent: Equal to two month’s worth of rent 
• Lease break fee: Typically equal to two to four month’s rent

For instance, Zumper reports the average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in Miami is $3,450 a month. Taking into account all of the extra fees above, you’d be looking at handing over nearly $14,000 before even jumping into your monthly rent costs (along with thousands in additional fees if you had to break a lease to get this new apartment in the first place). 

Sure, you’ll get some of that money back eventually, but that’s a lot of cash to be trapped in the ether—particularly when you have a brand-new city you want to explore.

This is also assuming that you don’t do something like accidentally take a chunk out of your wall while moving your couch inside, in which case your landlord may withhold some of your security deposit to pay for the damage.

3. More adaptability and consistency

Another benefit of living with Landing is having far more agility than you would with a standard 12-month lease. For example, say that you were a remote worker interested in living in a new city every three months. With a yearlong lease, you’d be forced to pay an extra fee or find a subletter each time you wanted to leave your apartment. 

Flexible leases, on the other hand, let you leave your home on shorter notice—and with no punitive costs. With Landing, you can select the exact beginning and end dates you need as you make your reservation, or provide just two weeks’ notice when you decide to transfer somewhere new.

What if your plans change or you don’t like making plans at all? While vacation rentals and hotels definitely let you stay for shorter periods of time, you still have to decide at the outset when you’re planning to leave, leaving you with little control over the future of your stay if your itinerary changes. 

Landing members have the option to select exact dates or keep their reservations completely open-ended so that they can go with the flow and not have to plan out every single detail of their schedule months in advance.

Landing’s network of apartments also offers renters more consistency than a vacation rental. From your couch and bed to the items in your kitchen drawers, you’ll be able to easily adjust to your new home as you traverse the Landing network. 

Additionally, you may be able to take advantage of amenities such as pools and onsite gyms in your apartment complex, providing you with additional savings (and just a plain ol’ good time!).

Broaden your horizons with flexible living

While many renters have certainly gravitated toward flexible living to better manage their housing budget, this type of lifestyle offers far more beyond cost savings. Many people have found that ditching their rigid lease has provided them with greater autonomy and a more fulfilling lifestyle, allowing them to explore new places and seize opportunities as they arise. 

If you want to learn more about the benefits of flexible living—and get some travel inspiration along the way!—check out our additional resources below: 

• Why I Decided to Finally Embrace the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
• What Is an Apartment Subscription, and How Does It Work? 
• The Best U.S. Cities for Digital Nomads
• The Great Cost of Living Swap: How to Find the Affordable City of Your Dreams