Your city is expensive. How do you balance its cost of living?
Divide expenses to defray with peers, or defray expenses divided among peers?
A subtle difference, no less for the reason the cost would appear the same. By way of example:
You seek housing. Meaning a room.
So you search for roommates on the internet. Or, for a coliving service on the internet.
Reply to an ad for a vacancy. Schedule a time to meet. Interview.
Be invited to move in. Or, receive offer to move in.
You agree to split the unit’s rent, utilities and items of common use. Otherwise adding what you already have. Enacting a network of cooperation. In which your contributions affirm a mutual obligation. That what you own is what you share.
Or, contract only to pay the room’s rent, utilities and items of common use included therein. Obviating any additions. Establishing a network of transaction. In which your liability reskills your sense of obligation. That what you do not own is what you share.
So you don’t expend more than you can bear.
Networks are how you make them. A difference of investment.