Inside the 'co-living' spaces where millennials pay over $1,400 a month for maid service and instant friends

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

Shared-housing startup Common is adding properties .in Chicago and Oakland to its growing real-estate portfolio

If you've ever searched for an apartment on Craigslist, Common is coming for you.

Founded in 2015, the shared-housing startup offers fully furnished apartments across New York, the Bay Area, Chicago, and Washington, DC. Common eliminates the hassle of finding an apartment and dealing with landlords.

Residents, or "members," can join these communities and instantly tap into amenities like free internet, maid service, and instant friends. But such convenience doesn't come cheap. Monthly rent at Common ranges from $1,325 to $2,600 depending on the location and type of room.

The market for communal living, or "co-living," spaces is quickly crowding. Companies like Open Door, HubHaus, and WeLive, a subsidiary of co-working giant WeWork, are competing for millennials' dollars as young people continue moving to high-priced urban areas.

In the last month, Common revealed it's adding properties in Chicago, Queens, and Oakland to its growing real-estate portfolio. Take a look inside two of its new residences to see what co-living is like.