Hey tribe 👋, I need some inputs for a stay + co-work plan that I am considering again in Temi, Sikkim. Looking for mid or long-term guests, remote working folks. There will be dorms and a couple private rooms. Workplace will be like a typical co-work space, overlooking the valley. Internet will not be city-like but will have multiple backups. Kitchen will be for self cooking and bazaar is about 1 Km away from the spot. Temi is a tea estate, so lots of hiking area. About 600 families reside in the village. Gangtok is about 2 hours drive. Airports nearby: Pakyong (3 hours) and Bagdogra (5 hours). Train station nearby: New Jalpaiguri (5 hours). What I would like to know is what is a comfortable weekly budget for folks with work (consider self cooking)? How many weeks/months do you stay outside city at the moment or plan to (with work)?

I travel quite a bit and stay for anywhere between 1 to 2.5 months depending on the place. I usually pay in betweek 20k - 25k for a private room with a kitchen. (among other facilities like a washing machine which are extremely important). Also being a woman, security is a also a top priority which is I end up paying more too. Nothing that wifi is key and usually a make it or break it deal for me though because of work.

Thanks @gray-morning-17166, helps a lot. The kitchen would be shared. Rooms will have attached toilets. I don't think I will be able to manage more than 3 total rooms, perhaps 2 dorms and 1 private. There are many home stays nearby too.

Makes sense! I personally not to share due to cleanliness reasons - but generally this seems fine. Would definitely re-check about common washroom though, that seems like. a bit much. Especially if's co-ed.

I definitely intend to have attached private toilets. But this is my first try so I'm trying to lower the initial expense from my end.

I am geniunely curious, why is that the rent for all these places is 12k to 15k or even higher? I thought in rural-ish locations with low population density, the rent would be cheaper. But that doesn't seem to be the case. Are they any other costs involved in maintaining these properties?

Pricing of remote co-work/live: This is a very valid point @faint-energy-11966 and something that has been on my mind as a consumer. I had floated the idea of remote working community to invest into co-living spaces but it seems very few people are actually working remote with enough conviction to invest. Thus whoever invests has to calculate enough buffer to recoup the money sunk in. For anyone interested, here is the cost structure I am going with: • Rent for a 3 BHK and a 2 BHK in the same building is 5K + 4K = 9K / month • Toilets are common and Indian style as is common in remote areas • Reconstruction cost for Kitchen (not city style modular, but well fitted) comes to about Rs. 100K • I am joining 5 small bedrooms into 2 large ones with attached toilets, well fitted to city tastes, approx cost is Rs. 200K • Top load Washing Machine, Dishwasher, ~300L Fridge, 3 burner gas oven, Mixer/grinder, utensils, storage for kitchen/toilets, lighting and electrical: Rs. 200K • Working desks, high back chairs x 4: Rs. 60K • Beds, good mattresses, wardrobes, coffee tables for 2 bedrooms: Rs. 70K • Leased Internet from Airtel: Rs. 85K annual for 4 Mbps, up to Rs. 120K annual for 10 Mbps • House keeping will be provided by a family which stays in the same building and will include daily cleaning of rooms and toilets and work space at Rs. 6K / month Total initial cost: about Rs. 600K Total running cost: about Rs. 25-30K Now, if I ask for Rs. 15 K / bedroom (2 bedrooms) which include cost of Internet and working space, even at full tenancy all year round, I am actually making a full loss. And I am still trying to keep the budget at this point. In reality the only reason I can afford to do this is because I have a very well paying software job. I wish more remote workers invest and we have more places to work from. But I thought there is no other way than to sink in the money and try it myself.

15k/month for a private room is super affordable considering all the amenities you mentioned

but still he may incur losses if people dont show and occupancy is not met

Yes that is a risk. I debated this for a year while staying in Sikkim. I think India has a lot to offer to us folks when almost everyone wants to be somewhere outside India in the blink of a eye. I am one of those myself. So the pandemic gave me a chance to think if we can build some of these places to work remotely, perhaps we can venture deeper into India and work from. It is a passion project at the end of the day, if I can recoup my investment then great. I am very confident that everyone will enjoy working from a chilled village. And perhaps more local folks here will venture into hosting remote workers.