Moving to Valencia: Why is Coliving the Perfect Way to Immerse in a New City

Moving abroad is not as scary as it used to be for our ancestors. Many barriers from the past have found their solutions in the modern world making the world more open and accessible and leading to international mobility being greater than ever.

With increased access to information, advances in technology and transportation, the global economy becoming more interconnected, and new ways of working emerging, many people have found themselves in a position to choose new countries to move to as they seek cities or places that align with their values and lifestyles.

For individuals who value sustainable and healthy urban living, Valencia is often at the top of the list.

With its mild Mediterranean climate, an abundance of greenery, and commitment to eco-friendly initiatives, Valencia is becoming an increasingly popular destination for those looking for a city that prioritizes both the environment and the well-being of its residents.

However, like any other city, moving to Valencia as a foreigner can be quite challenging. With language barriers, often being treated only as a tourist, no connections or support system in the city, and the lack of access to quality local services, trying to fit off your feet in a metropolitan like Valencia can be quite daunting.

For individuals facing these challenges, coliving in Valencia is one potential solution. Coliving offers community, flexibility, insights into local culture, and other things that can aid in acclimation to the new city. Many people who want to move to Valencia first decide to explore the city through coliving so the move would be much less stressful and much more convenient.

Read below how coliving in Valencia can help you settle and immerse in the city.

How does coliving give you flexibility when you're hunting for accommodation in Valencia?

One of the most evident benefits of coliving for city newcomers is flexibility.

Many people come to Valencia as tourists and fall in love with the city. In combination with the positive experience and Valencia's reputation as one of the best cities to live in Europe, many decide to try and move there for a bit.

However, the experience of moving to a new city is quite different from visiting for a few days and filled with challenges such as finding a place to live, navigating the city, and adapting to the local culture. All these experiences can be overwhelming for newcomers, especially when you try to settle in a short time and without any support system in place.

A mere weekend is insufficient to immerse fully in Valencia's essence. To ease the move and make the experience positive rather than stressful, it is crucial to grant yourself the liberty to explore and test it. Coliving offers just that - the flexibility to leisurely get to know the city without being bound to any long-term commitment.

Coliving offers more flexibility than traditional long-term rental options

In contrast to the typical six or twelve-month lease required by most apartment owners in Valencia, coliving provides a more flexible housing option by allowing residents to stay on a month-to-month basis instead of committing to a traditional long-term lease.

Committing to a lease straight after you land in Valencia can be risky and stressful for a foreigner and lead to decisions that end up not meeting expectations.

In that sense, coliving can be a favorable middle ground that gives you flexibility and safety while you're searching for a reliable long-term solution.

On the other hand, it can also be the perfect solution for temporary moves to Valencia. For stays of a few weeks to up to a year, coliving is the best way to immerse in the city and not waste time and energy on apartment hunting in a foreign country.

It can be more cost-effective than staying in a hotel or Airbnb

In addition to providing more flexibility and less hassle than long-term rentals, coliving also proves to be a more efficient alternative to the more conventional options of hotels and Airbnb.

Hotels or Airbnbs are often a typical choice for those who decide not to jump into a long-term lease agreement right after you land. However, the search for an apartment almost always takes longer than anticipated, making you prolong your stay from one day to another. Soon enough, the accommodation cost adds up while you’re trying to navigate the moving process.

By opting for coliving, individuals can avoid the steep costs of renting a hotel room or a short-term rental for a prolonged period. The truth is it is highly unlikely you will find an apartment within the first week or even a month. That is why planning to stay for at least two weeks or a month, which is a typical stay in a coliving, will give you much more flexibility and calmness.

Additionally, you may find a range of communal facilities and amenities, such as equipped kitchens, shared spaces, working spaces, and events, in a coliving, which will help you eliminate the need to incur extra expenses on these necessities

It eliminates the need for a deposit and adds a humane touch

Another challenge of the conventional apartment search that coliving alleviates is the need for a substantial deposit and navigating the complexities of working with a rental agency.

Instead, coliving presents a more human, personalized experience for urban newcomers, mitigating the stress of finding a place to reside.

By doing away with these obstacles, coliving fosters a welcoming and supportive environment that eases the adaptation to a new city and fosters a sense of community and support.

How can coliving bring community to you?

Next to the flexibility as a practical aspect of coliving, community represents another crucial layer to improve the experience of moving to Valencia.

The community-focused approach, often found in colivings, helps foster human connections and provides access to a wide network of residents, ex-residents, their networks, and the locals, creating a supportive environment for those settling in the city.

The social aspect of coliving is the key factor in enhancing the experience of residing in Valencia, whether for a few months or permanently. In the following sections, we will look into how coliving facilitates a smooth and enriching transition into Valencia, making it a compelling option for those looking to immerse in the city.

Effortless Social Interactions

Coliving provides an effortless opportunity for residents to meet new people and form meaningful connections.

With a diverse group of residents from different backgrounds and experiences, coliving often creates a vibrant and inclusive community.

Sense of Belonging

Coliving fosters a sense of community and belonging from day one, making the transition into a new city much smoother. Residents feel at home instantly, surrounded by like-minded people who share common interests and who will make part of your new support system.

Expanded Network

The community aspect of coliving can be leveraged to expand your network and gain insights about the city. Residents can learn from the experiences of others which can be incredibly valuable for navigating a new city.

Coliving should nurture the relationships in such a manner that residents stay in contact and are connected to the coliving even after they leave. For example, some people who lived in the city before sometimes share their contacts with reliable apartment owners, good language schools, tax or legal advisors, etc., with newcomers.

Being surrounded by people who have done similar things in Valencia before you can be one of the most valuable things you can get and something that can save you time, energy, money, and mental health.

How coliving can help you experience the Valencia local way of life

Finally, an added advantage of choosing a local coliving in Valencia is that it can enhance your overall experience as a newcomer. By having a local host and being up to date with local initiatives, you will be able to immerse in the local community, which can provide invaluable support that often eludes foreigners.

Choosing a local coliving, like Vivarium, will allow you a sense of community with both international and local residents, but also help to mitigate challenges often faced by newcomers to the city.

Benefits of having a local host

A local host can offer a wealth of information about Valencia that is often not accessible to tourists or newcomers.

By having a Valencia-born-and-raised host in Vivarium, we like to think that we’re able to provide an insider's view of the city to our residents. These can be anything from undiscovered cultural hotspots and hidden gems to practical tips and advice on navigating daily life. All of which can add to the experience and help minimize uncomfortable surprises.

Access to local communities and initiatives

Access to local communities and initiatives can undoubtedly enhance the experience of landing in Valencia.

For example, a local network can assist in finding reliable resources for buying or renting an apartment, starting a business, or finding volunteer opportunities.

With a local network, you can also more easily access quality local products such as food or clothes and generally have more insights into where to spend your money and how to save by not spending on typical tourist traps.

A perfect example from Vivarium is the situation of two ex-residents who decided to purchase a property in Valencia after living in the coliving. To make the process less intimidating for them as foreigners, they leveraged their relationship with Pablo and his local network to receive help with bureaucracy, explore their options, etc.

Having the local lens of looking at the city

Lastly, choosing a local coliving in Valencia allows residents to look at the city from a more authentic perspective.

This local lens on the city can provide a more nuanced and realistic view rather than a purely touristy or short-term outlook. Living amongst locals and being exposed to the local community can facilitate a more in-depth and lasting connection with the city.

In Vivarium, we put a lot of our focus on being a local project. We want to show our residents the real face of Valencia, help them settle in a city, and explore its best features that are often hidden below the most popular tourist information.

Apart from that, we also want to be a local business that supports Valencia and its local initiatives by buying from small Valencian businesses, promoting local products and green initiatives, and encouraging our residents to live in tune with the city rather than just take from it.