India, June 29 -- Bengaluru's paying guest accommodation market is in crisis, battered by IT sector layoffs and stringent Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) regulations. Many operators have reported losses of up to 30%, with areas like Mahadevapura and Marathahalli seeing widespread shutdowns. As a result, students and professionals are left scrambling for affordable housing in a city where conventional rents continue to rise.

Yet, Bengaluru continues to draw students and working professionals from across the country, all in need of budget-friendly accommodation. Increasingly, the choice comes down to traditional standalone PGs versus modern coliving spaces.

For Kishan Sharma, a student who recently moved to Bengaluru, renting an...