Affordable yet constrained: Is shared housing a long-term strategy for migrants' settlement in high-cost cities?

Shared housing has become an increasingly common housing option worldwide in response to the global housing affordability crisis. It remains unclear whether shared housing, despite its acknowledged trade-offs, ultimately discourages or encourages migrants' settlement intentions. Additionally, there is an on-going debate within housing studies about whether shared housing serves as a long-term strategy or merely a temporary solution within the housing system. Using data from the 2019 Migrant Housing Survey in Guangzhou, China, this article examines the relationship between shared housing and migrants' settlement intentions while also exploring the underlying mechanisms and spatial differences in this relationship. The findings indicate that shared housing may not be effective in supporting migrants' long-term settlement goals in mega cities. Moreover, the study shows that geographic location can influence the connection between shared housing and settlement intentions. Lastly, the research reveals that although cost savings from shared housing can ease short-term financial pressures, they do not improve expectations for future homeownership. At the same time, the drawbacks of shared housing are linked to lower housing satisfaction, which can discourage migrants' settlement plans. Therefore, while shared housing is not a sustainable solution for promoting migrant settlement, it should be recognized as a transitional housing option within current housing systems. These insights offer valuable implications for policymakers and planners working toward creating inclusive housing strategies. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd.