Shelling Out

Everyone wants a good deal; cost is definitely an important factor when looking for accommodation.

"Hostels are a lot cheaper than living as a paying guest," says Nidhi Singh, a mass media student who lived in at Kalyan Kendra, well-known hostel  in Mumbai for two years. She now shares an apartment with four of her hostel friends.

Nidhi explains that she had to pay approximately Rs.42, 000 for the year upfront.

"Rent for paying guests could vary from Rs.2,000 to Rs.15,000 depending on the place you choose," says Francis Pereira, a Mumbai broker. He adds that there is a deposit fee too. It is usually equal to one month's rent.

Food Factor

Most hostels offer at least breakfast and dinner to their inmates and do not allow them to bring in outside food.

Dr. Dhanya Shaji, who lives in the campus hostel in Mangalore, says, "There is no choice when it comes to food. You know exactly what is going to be served on each day". If you don't like the food, then you have to eat out. This is an expensive proposition because you have to pay for the hostel food anyway!

Meryl Braganza, who lives as a paying guest  in Mumbai, says that her landlady provides her with tea in the morning but nothing else. "I generally eat outside. But my roomie Narene Vaz has a dabba  (tiffin) service, which is a very viable option," she says.

Getting Along

Dr. Dhanya says her hostel gave her the option of having a separate room with an attached bathroom. Nidhi, on the other hand, was not as lucky. She shared a room with bunk beds with three other girls.

If you are living as a paying guest you can find a few friends to share the place with you like Sabina Lama did. "We share the rent and it works out to about Rs.3,500 per head," explains Sabina, who works in Mumbai as a PR associate.

Your Own Space

"If a person has a large budget, he could opt for paying guest accommodation with a separate entrance and key," advises Francis Pereira. This way you can walk in at your convenience.

Freedom Unlimited?

Whether you live as a paying guest or in a hostel there will be certain restrictions. Timings are a major issue.

"We had to be back by 9:30 pm," says Nidhi, who found the curfew too rigid as she has project work that would end rather late. "I usually landed up staying at a friend's place or had to beg the warden to take me in," she informs. "The worst part was that we even had cameras in the lobby to keep a watch on us," she laughs.

Meryl doesn't have any complaints about living as a paying guest. She says that she has a curfew of 12:30 am on weekdays and 1:30 am on weekends.

So there you have it. Now all you have to do is weigh the pros and cons and find out what's best for you.