Choosing between a PG (paying guest accommodation) and a rental apartment is one of the first major decisions student renters make. This decision impacts your finances, social life, academic focus, and overall college experience.
This guide provides a complete cost and lifestyle analysis to help you decide.
The Basic Difference: PG vs Apartment
What is a PG?
- Shared accommodation: 2-4 people per room
- All-inclusive package: Food, utilities, housekeeping included
- Furnished with basics: Bed, chair, table, wardrobe
- Management: Run by PG operator, fixed rules
- Community: Built-in roommates and social environment
What is a Rental Apartment?
- Can be 1 BHK, 2 BHK, or shared flat
- Unfurnished or semi-furnished
- You manage everything: Food, utilities, maintenance
- Flexible: You set the rules
- Independence: Complete control but more responsibility
Complete Cost Breakdown: PG vs 1 BHK Apartment
Monthly PG Costs (Shared Room):
Basic Package (Most Common):
- Room rent: ₹8,000-12,000
- Food (breakfast + dinner): ₹2,000-3,000
- Utilities (water, electricity): ₹500-800
- Housekeeping: ₹500 (included in some)
- WiFi/Internet: ₹400-600
- Total: ₹11,400-16,400/month
Premium PG (Better Facilities):
- Room rent: ₹12,000-16,000
- Food (better quality): ₹3,000-4,000
- Utilities: ₹800-1,000
- Housekeeping, WiFi, AC: Included
- Total: ₹15,800-21,000/month
Monthly 1 BHK Apartment Costs (Shared with 1 Roommate):
Budget 1 BHK:
- Rent: ₹12,000-16,000
- Your share utilities: ₹1,500-2,000
- Food (self-cook): ₹2,500-3,500
- Internet: ₹400-600
- Housekeeping: Optional ₹500-1,000
- Total: ₹16,900-23,100/month
Regular 1 BHK:
- Rent: ₹15,000-20,000
- Your share utilities: ₹1,500-2,000
- Food: ₹3,000-4,000
- Internet: ₹400-600
- Total: ₹19,900-26,600/month
Cost Comparison Summary:
| Item | PG (Basic) | 1 BHK (Shared) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | ₹8-12K | ₹7.5-10K (half) |
| Food | ₹2-3K | ₹2.5-3.5K |
| Utilities | ₹500-800 | ₹750-1K |
| Internet | ₹400-600 | ₹200-300 (half) |
| Housekeeping | ₹500 (inc) | ₹250-500 (half) |
| Total | ₹11-17K | ₹17-24K |
| Savings: PG 30-35% cheaper |
Bottom line: PG is 30-35% cheaper than shared 1 BHK apartment for students.
Lifestyle Comparison: PG vs Apartment
Social Life
PG Advantages:
- Instant community: 30-50 people in same PG
- Daily interaction with roommates
- Organized social events (some PGs)
- Ready-made friend group
- Less loneliness for new students
PG Disadvantages:
- Limited privacy
- Can be noisy/social pressure
- Group living dynamics issues
- Difficult to have partner visits
Apartment Advantages:
- Complete freedom and privacy
- Invite friends, family anytime
- Host parties if desired
- Personal space on demand
- Relationship privacy
Apartment Disadvantages:
- Requires effort to build social circle
- Can feel lonely if roommate compatibility is poor
- Dependent on roommate for social interaction
Verdict: PG wins for social life, especially for first-year students. Apartment wins for those seeking privacy and independence.
Academics and Study Environment
PG:
- Shared study spaces (sometimes noisy)
- Group motivation for studies
- Peer pressure can be positive
- Can distract from studies
Apartment:
- Quiet, controlled environment
- No disruptions if alone
- Better focus for serious students
- Requires discipline
Verdict: Apartment better for serious academics. PG better for balanced social-academic life.
Food and Nutrition
PG Food:
- Fixed meals (breakfast + dinner)
- Quality varies by PG operator
- No choice in meals
- Ensures regular eating
- Cost-effective
Apartment Food:
- Complete control over meals
- Can cook preferred food
- More expensive if eating out
- Requires cooking skills/time
Verdict: PG better for nutrition and cost. Apartment better for preferences.
Independence and Responsibility
PG:
- Operator manages everything
- Fixed rules and curfew (sometimes)
- Less responsibility
- Less freedom
Apartment:
- Complete responsibility
- Complete freedom
- Manage finances, bills, maintenance
- Requires maturity
Verdict: Apartment builds independence and life skills. PG for those wanting less responsibility.
Flexibility and Commitment
PG:
- Usually 12-month commitment
- Break contract: Often penalties
- Difficult to change if unhappy
Apartment:
- Usually flexible lease terms
- Can negotiate early exit (11-12 months typical)
- Can switch roommates
Verdict: Apartment more flexible. PG requires longer commitment.
Best Neighborhoods for Student Housing
Near COEP (College of Engineering Pune):
COEP Location: Shivajinagar area
Best PG Areas:
- Shivajinagar (walkable): ₹10-15K
- Kalyani Nagar (10 min): ₹12-18K
- Viman Nagar (15 min): ₹12-16K
- Near Pune University: ₹8-12K
Best Apartment Areas:
- Shivajinagar: ₹15-20K
- Kalyani Nagar: ₹18-25K
Near Symbiosis (Multiple Campuses):
Symbiosis Pune (Lavale): Rural area, PG essential
- PG options (on-campus, nearby): ₹12-18K
- Hostels: ₹5-10K (available for some)
Symbiosis Lavale (Main Campus): On-campus housing preferred
- Check hostel availability first (cheapest: ₹5-8K)
- If off-campus: PG required (15-20K)
Near Symbiosis Viman Nagar:
Best PG Areas:
- Viman Nagar: ₹12-16K (closest)
- Hadapsar: ₹10-14K
- Kharadi: ₹12-15K
Best Apartment Areas:
- Viman Nagar: ₹16-22K
- Hadapsar: ₹14-18K
Detailed PG Analysis
What’s Included in Most PGs:
✓ Furnished room (bed, table, chair, wardrobe) ✓ Sharing bathroom (usually 2-3 people per bathroom) ✓ Food (breakfast + dinner, mostly vegetarian) ✓ Housekeeping (usually 2-3 times/week) ✓ Water and electricity ✓ Internet/WiFi ✓ Community areas (sometimes)
What’s NOT Included:
✗ Lunch ✗ Afternoon snacks ✗ Laundry service (some places offer paid) ✗ Private bathroom ✗ Cooking facilities (usually not) ✗ Entertainment services
PG Quality Indicators:
Good PG Signs:
- Clean common areas
- Responsive management
- Good food quality
- Reasonable rules (not oppressive)
- Other students seem happy
- Well-maintained rooms
Red Flag PGs:
- Dirty or smelly common areas
- Dismissive management
- Poor food quality or hygiene
- Unreasonable curfews/rules
- Student complaints
- Visible maintenance issues
Detailed Apartment Analysis
Apartment Pros:
- Complete freedom
- Better for long-term studies (2-4 years)
- Can personalize space
- Develop life skills
- Better for couples/partners
- Quieter (depends on roommate)
Apartment Cons:
- More expensive
- Requires roommate harmony
- Utility bills responsibility
- Cooking/cleaning burden
- Lonely if roommate incompatible
- Initial setup costs (furniture, deposits)
Apartment Setup Costs (One-time):
- Deposit: 2 months rent (₹24-40K refundable)
- Furniture: ₹15-30K (bed, chair, basic)
- Utensils/kitchenware: ₹5-10K
- Laundry/storage: ₹2-5K
- Total initial: ₹46-85K
Depreciation: Furniture lasts 4-5 years, so cost amortizes over time.
Decision Making Framework
Choose PG if:
- First-year student (want instant community)
- Budget conscious (<₹13K/month available)
- Don’t want responsibility for bills/maintenance
- Want to avoid roommate compatibility issues
- Short-term stay (1-2 years)
- Prefer fixed meal times and nutrition
Choose Apartment if:
- Have higher budget (₹18-25K/month)
- Want complete privacy and independence
- Planning 3-4 year stay (break-even on setup costs)
- Comfortable with roommate management
- Need flexibility in meals and lifestyle
- Want to develop life skills
Cost Recovery Analysis: When Does Apartment Make Sense?
For apartments to make financial sense (setup costs amortized):
1 Year Stay:
- Monthly excess cost: ₹2,000-5,000
- Annual excess: ₹24-60K
- Plus setup costs: ₹46-85K
- Total excess: ₹70-145K (apartment worse)
2 Year Stay:
- Monthly excess: ₹2,000-5,000
- 2-year excess: ₹48-120K
- Setup cost: ₹46-85K (amortized over 2 years)
- Total excess: ₹70-140K (still worse)
3 Year Stay:
- Monthly excess: ₹2,000-5,000
- 3-year excess: ₹72-180K
- Setup cost: ₹46-85K (amortized over 3 years)
- Rough parity at 3 years
4 Year Stay:
- Monthly excess: ₹2,000-5,000
- 4-year excess: ₹96-240K
- Setup cost: ₹46-85K (well amortized)
- Apartment becomes financially better after 3-4 years
Conclusion: For <2 year stays, PG is cheaper. For 3+ year stays, apartment becomes financially competitive (especially if you resell furniture).
Final Verdict
Choose PG if:
- Budget is primary concern
- Staying 1-2 years
- Want instant social community
- Don’t want to manage bills/maintenance
Choose Apartment if:
- Staying 3+ years
- Want privacy and independence
- Have ₹18-25K/month budget
- Need flexibility for lifestyle/meals
For most first-year students: PG wins on cost and community. For senior students or long-term: Apartment wins on independence and overall experience.
