A look at the unconventional living spaces of 10 Gen Z and millennials, including a laundromat turned apartment in NYC and a school bus converted into a dwelling.

Across the United States and other parts of the world, young adults are devising innovative approaches to tackle the increasing cost of housing.

CNBC Make It has interviewed numerous individuals who have created dwellings in unique locations such as a former laundromat and a houseboat in London.

Explore some of the most surprising apartments we've encountered thus far.

28-year-old pays $62 a month to live in a dumpster

In 2022, after returning to London from working abroad for a year, Harrison Marshall found a one-bedroom apartment in Southwark was beyond his budget. As he searched for alternative housing options, Marshall considered living in a dumpster.

Marshall, the co-founder of CAUKIN Studio, secured a dumpster rental from a waste management company for $62 a month and was granted access to an empty lot in Southwark by an arts charity to place it.

"My living situation has become an art piece that highlights the absurdity of London's housing crisis, making people laugh and think," Marshall said in an interview with CNBC Make It.

Marshall spent approximately $5,000 to prepare his dumpster for move-in. This included constructing a raised bed, wooden storage boxes, and a kitchen with a mini fridge, small sink, and induction cooktop. However, his dumpster home is missing a bathroom. He uses a Porta Potty outside and takes showers at work or his local gym.

This couple left the U.S. to live on a houseboat in London

Maisy Dewey, a dual citizen of the U.S. and the U.K., always dreamed of residing in London. In 2022, the 25-year-old and her fiancé, Harrison Kent, had been living in Philadelphia for two years and began contemplating relocating to London. Simultaneously, Kent began investigating universities to pursue a master's degree in furniture design.

The couple sold most of their belongings through yard sales while searching for a permanent place to live in London. After flying with their belongings and dog, Dewey, Kent, and Kipper moved into a short-term rental and worked with a real estate agent to find them an apartment.

The couple finally found a place they loved after months of searching, but before they could tour it, the listing agent informed them it was no longer available.

The agent showed them a moored houseboat by the water after they mentioned that a waterfront property was beyond their budget.

The Widebeam boat, measuring 65 feet in length, has a living room, two bedrooms, a full bathroom, and a kitchen. The couple signed a two-year lease in November 2023 at a monthly rate of approximately $2,200. According to reviewed documents, their upfront costs included a security deposit of just over $2,500.

"Living on the boat has made me feel like I'm living in a children's picture book," Dewey says. "It adds such a fun element to life. I'm already such a huge homebody and this has really done me in."

34-year-old pays $4,150 a month for a 1-bedroom apartment above a Miami mall

In 2021, Rachel Koogan opted to relocate from New York City to Miami, Florida, in order to be nearer to her parents.

Koggan enlisted the help of a realtor in Florida to kick off her apartment search while simultaneously scouring online listings. It was through this process that she stumbled upon a one-bedroom and a one-and-a-half-bathroom apartment located above the Brickell City Centre, a shopping mall in Miami.

"Koggan says, "I jumped on this apartment as soon as I saw it, without even getting a chance to tour it in person. I relied solely on my research of the building and the photos to make my decision.""

Koggan secured the apartment for $3,350 a month after offering it in hopes of attracting more applicants.

Koggan's rent increased from $3,350 to $4,200 in her first year, but she was able to negotiate it back down to $4,150 for her third year.

Koggan was pleasantly surprised to discover that as a Brickell City Centre resident, she has direct access to the mall from her building.

"My backyard is my favorite feature of my apartment and a party trick to show visitors. It brings me immense entertainment and joy daily," she says.

This couple lives in a school they converted into a luxury tiny home

In 2021, Tanya Nestoruk, 31, and Arya Touserkani, 38, decided to sell their four-bedroom house in Canada and move into a van.

Nestoruk tells CNBC Make It that he loves the simplicity and versatility of being able to live and travel wherever he wants, have minimal impact, and explore new places.

Nestoruk and Touserkani, both environmental educators and photographers, resided in a van for several months before realizing they desired a larger living space. They ultimately opted for a school bus.

Nestoruk says that we wanted to do something more adventurous and thought a retired school bus would be a fun way to give it a second life.

CNBC Make It reported that Nestoruk purchased the retired school bus for $7,200, as evidenced by reviewed documents.

The couple spent approximately $30,000 and one year transforming a school bus into their home. The bus features a bedroom with a king-sized bed, a living room with a custom pullout couch, a kitchen with a three-burner stovetop and oven, and a bathroom. Additionally, they discovered an RV washer and dryer on Facebook Marketplace.

Nestoruk and Touserkani are currently taking a break from their daily routine on their school bus and are planning to sell it and explore other tiny living options. Additionally, they aspire to construct their dream home on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

"Nestoruk says, "We hope to enjoy the bus as long as possible and we hope the next owners will take it on new adventures. It still has a lot of life left.""

24-year-old lived in an apartment the size of an average parking spot

At the age of 21, Alex Verhaeg relocated to a 95 sq. ft. apartment in Manhattan's East Village.

The apartment, despite being small, was larger than a typical parking spot, which is about 150 square feet, and did not have a bathroom. In contrast, the five-story building has three bathrooms and two showers on each floor for the tenants' shared use.

In 2022, when CNBC Make It interviewed Verhaeg, he was paying $1,100 in rent and stated that he planned to leave the apartment after a third year.

""Having my own apartment was a source of joy for me because I could have my own space, even though I had to share the restroom with others," he explains."

In 2023, Verhaeg left his small apartment and moved into a spacious three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Midtown with two roommates. He pays $1,300 a month for his share of the rent, as per CNBC Make It's review of the documents.

Verhaeg quickly adapted to living in a larger space with a full-size stove, as there was little time for reflection due to the rapid pace of the transition.

He says, "I'm excited to cook more and become more comfortable with living with others."

For five years, a 28-year-old has resided in an aged NYC laundromat and shells out $1,900 monthly.

In 2019, Sampson Dahl, 28, discovered a former laundromat in Maspeth, Queens on an online forum and did not realize how much it would change his life.

Last year, CNBC Make It discovered Dahl after his apartment went viral on TikTok. At the time, he was paying $1,850 a month; his rent has since increased to $1,900.

In early 2023, Dahl was employed in TV and film set design, giving him access to a wide range of furniture and decor in his apartment. However, the Writers Guild of America strike halted any new work, prompting Dahl to reevaluate his unique living space.

"Dahl has been hosting events and gatherings almost weekly at the space, which has allowed him to focus on it and explore it more deeply, he tells CNBC Make It."

Dahl earns enough from the door charge to cover his monthly rent and live alone, despite not making much money from the events.

Dahl, who has resided in the laundromat for five years, is now considering relocating.

He states that he doesn't want to remain in that place indefinitely. In his ideal situation, he departs and forgets about it for some time before returning after 10 years to discover something unexpected.

Living in micro apartments in NYC for less than $700 a month

In 2023, Aliana Randazzo and J.R. Wills both became enamored with micro studio apartments in midtown Manhattan while planning their moves to New York City. Randazzo discovered her rent-stabilized 80 square-feet micro-studio on StreetEasy and moved into the space in August 2021, paying $650 in rent each month.

"Randazzo shared with CNBC Make It that he wanted to spend less on rent so he could travel more and have more experiences. He said, "Living in this place has been quite the adventure. It's great because I was in Manhattan, so I didn't miss out on anything.""

Randazzo relocated from a small apartment to a spacious townhouse in the East Village, which costs $6,750 per month and is shared with four other individuals.

Wills, a 27-year-old barista trainer at Starbucks Reserve Roastery, found his micro apartment on StreetEasy and now lives in an 85 square-feet space that costs him $687 a month.

""I stumbled upon the micro-studio while browsing. I was immediately drawn to the natural light and decided to take it," Wills says."

Sign up for CNBC's online course to learn how to manage your money effectively and boost your savings, investments, and confidence. Use code EARLYBIRD for a 30% discount through September 2, 2024.

Sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to receive expert advice on work, money, and life.