In Medan, Indonesia, shop houses are famous buildings, though they have spatial and thermal comfort limitations. This investigation aims to find out the essence of shop house women residents' quality of life. This research is a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. The collection of data used in-depth interviews with seven women dwellers. The research indicates that the quality of life in women's view is not determined by mere material abundance, but rather by feeling sufficient and gratitude. This research can contribute to enriching the quality of life and built environment studies of urban mixed-use living.