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Now, moving to a new city or country can be a daunting process. Where are you going to live? Who are you going to live with? Is it financially viable? What about the legalities? And taxes? Yikes!
Don’t worry. This article will walk you through all the basics of getting your own humble abode in Luxembourg.
The real estate market in Luxembourg is very active. With an increasing number of professionals moving here, prices continuously increase.
If you are considering to buy, according to the Observatoire de l’Habitat, you should expect to spend about 7,000-10,000 euros per m2 in the center of Luxembourg city. On the other hand, if you choose to rent, you’ll be shelling out an average of 1,650 euros for a one bedroom inside the city on a monthly basis (as per 2016 data). When talking about buying or renting, it’s also important to note the average wages. As of January 1, 2021, the minimum qualified social wage is 15,27€/h or €2.642,32 gross per month.
Despite huge tax incentives for first time buyers, these prices remain too steep for many.
Whether you wish to rent or buy a house in Luxembourg, there are several websites (AtHome, Immotop) that offer a clear idea of prices. Alternatively, you can seek help from a real estate agency. Mostly, their fees cover searches and visits, as well as administrative follow-ups. An agency can be a real bonus if you would like to speed things up and they add that layer of trust to make sure that everything is legal.
Rental leases in Luxembourg usually last three years, following which it can be renewed. You’ll be required to pay a fixed deposit—three months of rent for a furnished flat, and two for an unfurnished one.
The cost of utilities and groceries in Luxembourg is higher than in most EU countries. As per Expatica, electricity and water can cost you anywhere between €150 and €300 on a monthly basis.
A fairly new take on an existing concept, Coliving is a modern form of housing that values sharing, openness, community and collaboration. It challenges the notion that city living is expensive.
In simple words, coliving is a bridge between living alone and sharing your home—residents typically get a bedroom to themselves, along with access to fully-equipped shared spaces such as a kitchen and a living room. It is a great choice for international professionals, digital nomads, or really anyone that wants to get more for their money while have a great time with like-minded individuals.
Coliving comes as a relief for those that fancy living in Luxembourg, but are discouraged by the high housing prices. Vauban & Fort provides quality coliving arrangements across Luxembourg—these are homes that are designed for comfort, and for members that desire a high quality of life. With over 12 years of experience in flatshares for professionals, we pour our hearts and minds into creating awesome communities where our members live in a home, not just a random room in a house.
In recent years, a growing number of Luxembourg residents with lower incomes have had to move to surrounding regions within the country, or even move across the borders. I’m a professional who recently moved here for a new job. A few months into trying coliving out, I’m convinced a possible solution to our housing paradigm is coliving.
Coliving is a new form of housing that’s been reimagined to align better with the needs of modern-day life. Nevertheless Coliving might mean different things to different people altogether.
At a physical level, residents typically have their own bedroom & bathroom but share cooking and living spaces. The focus of Coliving is on community. Usually, Coliving spaces are usually fully furnished down to the knives and forks and include utility bills, fast internet and fortnightly housekeeping essentials.
This way of living also places emphasis on community and shared experiences. Rather than just renting a single room, you are joining an active and vibrant community of like-minded individuals.
-You can’t or don’t want to commit to buying a house or renting long-term just yet (1y+).
-With Coliving collectives, your home becomes so much more than a place to rest your head at night.You are looking for something with more space and amenities than you would be able to afford alone. In well-managed Coliving communities like the one I am with, the price of rent not only gets you your space, but a guarantee that you will be with a community of like-minded people.
-Coliving creates a space that feels like a home away from home, something that’s becoming increasingly important as we currently spend most of our time indoors.
-You would like to be more sustainable in terms of energy and resources. Living as part of a collective helps you cut down on how many appliances you need to run.
-Living with others can be a big money-saver, allowing you to split costs for things like food, utilities, household items and utensils.
-When I moved here, I decided to go with Vauban&Fort as it has been one of the pioneers of Coliving since 2015. What I loved about the house hunting process was they initiated a viewing process through which I was able to share a bit about myself and what I was looking for outside of my work. This helps them to create a community of professionals who are looking to get to know other like-minded people in a new city.
I hope more people will begin to branch out and give it a try, words can’t express how grateful I am and how much I’ve felt at home during this pandemic — even more than I do in the city I am from.
