Find Paris Student Apartments in These 4 Great Neighborhoods
It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t dreamt of studying in Paris—afterall, it is a charming place. Whatever your interests lean towards, and whatever the type of experience you’re looking for during your time abroad, Paris has it all. It’s proudly known as the city of love and light (and some even call it the city that never sleeps!). Paris has a little piece of soul for everyone, making it a clear contender as one of the most popular study abroad destinations in Europe.
Where in Paris will you call home?
But what will ultimately come to define your experience studying abroad in Paris? Your classes—yes. Your new friends. The new passport stamps you collect. But what about your housing?
It’s true; your student housing in Paris will have quite an impact on your overall experience. It’s where you’ll catch up with friends back home, rush through your homework, get ready for a fun night out. Studying in Paris will be an endless sources of entertainment and fascination; like a maze, every turn and every alley is different. And enchanting. And awaiting YOU. It’s imperative that you find student accommodations in Paris that will complement your learning and checks off the right cost and comfort for you.
What to expect in this guide
This guide has for purpose to breakdown the different neighborhoods which are fit for student residence in Paris. We looked into the accommodation pricing but not only, location and proximity to popular universities and student budget bars and restaurants but also safety and connectivity through public transport. At the end of the day, the cost of your student residence in Paris is not only composed of the price of your rent, but the additional expenses you’ll incur that are influenced by where you’re located.
Read on for a comprehensive look at finding student accommodation in Paris!
What to look for in high quality student housing in Paris
There are a few important factors to consider when finding student accommodation in Paris.
There are four major factors to consider as you start your search for your student residence in Paris.
1. Affordability
Rent prices for Paris student apartments vary a lot depending on what neighborhood you choose to live in. Typically, the price of a two bedroom apartment will start at 1400€/month but can go up to 3000€/month or more. For these prices you can expect a furnished apartment, with home and kitchen electronics, beds and mattresses, tables and chairs, furnished living room including TV, wardrobes and cupboards.
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However, keep in mind that Paris is an old city with very old buildings. You can’t always expect high speed WIFI because of the thickness of the walls and it being very hard to set up the necessary cable work within them, or a very modern kitchen, TV. Still along those lines, because attempting to modernize student apartments in Paris is quite complicated and expensive, homeowners tend to not do it (this goes for the interior design as well). Most apartments will be very clean and will contain everything you need, but will be quite old looking.
If you’d like to splurge on more modern student apartments in Paris, expect to spend more money on rent. Lastly, elevators also suffer from the lack of modernization, which means you should stay on the lookout for apartment buildings that are within the first three floors or that have an elevator, unless you feel like saving on gym expenses by going up and down the stairs with all your bags of groceries.
2. Connectivity
When taking a closer look at the metro line map of Paris, you’ll quickly figure out which lines are the most important ones. Any one of them will get from point A to point B; however, lines 1 and 6 will pass through the Marais neighborhood, the 1st arrondissement, the Louvre Museum, Champs-Elysées, Eiffel Tower, and the Arc of Triomphe—ideal for touristing during your first couple weeks or when friends and family come to visit and you want to show them around.
When determining which neighborhood to spend your efforts finding student accommodation in Paris, be sure it provides easy access to all the fun in the sun you could want.
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3. Safety
Toss mom and dad a bone and let them rest easy knowing you’re not in grave danger every day.
Statistically, Paris has a low violent crime rate, so rest assured you will be going to one of the safest European capitals. However, smaller crimes, such as pickpocketing, are omnipresent. The main target for these crimes are foreigners, so you should always keep that in mind. To prevent this from ever happening to you we suggest you always keep your belongings close to you and be aware of your surroundings especially in crowded areas such as the metro and the more touristic locations.
The next question is are there neighborhoods which you should avoid? Even if Paris is safe, there are certains places where students should not be hanging out around alone, at night and especially if you are a women. These areas include Les Halles, Chatelet, Gare du Nord, Stalingrad, and Jaure. As a general rule, north Paris is a place to keep a low profile in by not wearing much jewelry or obvious religious signs. All other neighborhoods are fine for you to walk, dress, and behave freely in.
The French are known for being extravagant and fun—this freedom is a great way for you to become more aware of yourself and live the French lifestyle to the fullest. So take advantage of this and be yourself!4. Proximity to cool stuff
No one wants to live around a bunch of grandmere’s! You don’t want to have to hop onto the Metro to experience everything, right? Ideally, you’ll find student apartments in Paris that has great stuff to do in it. Being connected to more far-flung fun is absolutely essential, but you also want to make sure that you’re delighted and entertained just as easily outside your doorstep. Having a favorite neighborhood watering hole or coffee shop is key for fighting off the study abroad blues!
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Best neighborhoods for student apartments in Paris
Without further ado, let’s dig into the the best neighborhoods in Paris for student apartments!
1. Bastille
Get your boho on in nearby neighborhood, Le Marais
The 11th arrondissement, also referred to as Bastille, is highly recommended for international students in Paris. Conveniently located on the right bank, it is close to Nation, République, and Canal Saint Martin—all cheap areas for restaurants and bars for us socialites to enjoy endless nights. But the best part of living in this arrondissement is how close it is to Le Marais, a vibrant hipster bobo neighborhood in Paris. In addition, you can find plenty of concept stores, such as Tati, where you can buy small items to decorate and equip your new pad for almost nothing.
In terms of prices, you should aim to spend no more than 1400-1900€ for a two bedroom apartment. It is quite an up and coming neighborhood for student housing in Paris, where many young professionals are deciding to invest. You might be lucky and find a modern place!
When it comes to connectivity, Nation and Place de la Republique serve metro lines 3, 5, 8, 9, and 11, which will get you pretty much anywhere in Paris. However, they are not the safest places, so we recommend not hanging out in the stations too long (especially at night and on your own). The rest of Bastille is safe.
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2. Montmartre
Gorgeous Montmartre has some of the best views in Paris
Montmartre is the little jewel of Paris. Situated in the 19th arrondissement, it is at the top of a hill from which you will have unbelievable views of the city and the Cathedral de Montmartre (home to a beautiful park, perfect for sunny days relaxing in Paris). It has an abundance of restaurants, cafes, and bars; however, Montmartre is quite a touristic place, so you must be careful not to fall into the traps! Most restaurants will have what they call Le plats du Jour—the dish of the day— which is usually priced between 9 and 15 euros for a main course, drink, and coffee. Be sure to check out the Mur des je t’aime—a wall in which “I love you” is written in all the languages of the world!
Student accommodations in Montmartre are slightly cheaper than Bastille; you should not be paying more than 1200-1600€ for a two bedroom apartment. However, Montmartre is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris, so you’ll need to lower your standards a bit if you’re looking for a Tumblr-like place. Also, most of them will also not have elevators—yikes! Montmartre is where the romantics will feel most at home, a small place to yourself with a beautiful view over Paris: very inspirational!
The only real downside of Montmartre is that it is a bit far from other vibrant neighborhoods. Since it doesn’t have any big bars or lounges, you’ll have to commute to where things are happening. Lines 4, 12, 2, and 13 go through the different stations around Montmartre; however, they are not the most convenient, so you’ll likely have to switch (and be careful—they’re not the safest lines either).
3. Montparnasse
Welcome to the South Bank
Contrary of Bastille and Montmartre, Montparnasse is situated in the south bank of the Paris, which gives you access to a totally different Parisian vibe. This neighborhood has more modern buildings and is located next to a very big shopping center called Galleries Lafayette, a place filled with affordable options of clothing brands, concept stores, and restaurants. But, the biggest attraction is the Tour of Montparnasse, a dazzling experience inspired by one of the most famous French comedy movies (not surprisingly called “Tour of Montparnasse”).
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Here you are looking at a two bedroom apartment for between 1400€ and 2000€ which is slightly more expensive than Bastille and Montmartre and this is because of the close proximity with the 6eme arrondissement, one of the fanciest neighborhoods in Paris (easily walkable in 15 minutes). There, you have the Jardin de Luxembourg, a small but beautiful garden, and a bit further down by the Seine, you’ll have one of the most spectacular views of Notre Dame.
Montparnasse is where many young professionals that work in the financial district of Paris live. Why? Because it is relatively cheap and very well connected. Lines 4, 6, 7, 12, and 13 are served around the area and will get you pretty much anywhere you need to go around Paris.
4. Panthéon
This neighborhood is home to the world famous Sorbonne—and the perfect spot to find Paris student apartments.
Last but not least, the Panthéon is a local neighborhood with few international students—great if what you’re looking for student residence in Paris that gives you the real deal. Also situated on the left bank, and very much like Le Marais, this neighborhood has a very bohemian atmosphere (that’s why it’s been named the “Latin” neighborhood!). The Panthéon is really best for lounging a la Française; it’s full of brasseries and small cafe for the hipsters, vegans, and vegetarians to enjoy homemade / almond / chia / soy everything!
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This idyllic Parisian context does come with a price though; here, you’ll be looking to pay 1600-2000€ for a two bedroom apartment. As the oldest neighborhood in Paris, dating back to the Romans, don’t come here expecting to find modern student flats. But then again, if you like to idea of immersing yourself completely in the Parisian experience, this is just the cerise on top of the gâteau!
The Panthéon is also home to “La Sorbonne,” one of the oldest universities in Paris. It was first established in 1253 and perfectly located in the middle of the Latin neighborhood. It has evolved with its time and now welcomes thousands of students from all over the world every year, meaning that you would still be able to meet internationals during your Parisian immersion in the latin neighborhood. Lastly, we recommend you visit “La Rue saint andre des arts” one of the oldest and most iconic streets in Paris just a couple blocks away from La Sorbonne.
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Pro Tip
In case your budget is particularly restricted, don’t worry! The French government in particularly well prepared to help students in situations like these. There are many housing aids you can apply for, such as La Caff, which helps many Erasmus students every year. Additionally, if you’re no longer a student, but you are a young traveler (less than 25), you can take advantage of the Cnous, Gnous & Crous program to sustain long-term travel in Paris. Keep in mind that France is known as being a place that likes it’s paperwork, so get ready for a hefty amount of appointments and photocopying.
Next steps to booking student apartments in Paris
You’ll never tire of sunsets in the City of Love & Light.
Now that you know the inside scoop on finding your dream student resident in Paris, it’s time to start your search for the *actual* maison away from maison. Here are some steps to get you started:
Secure fun & safe Paris student apartments now!
Paris is calling
Now that you’ve picked your Paris study abroad program (hopefully one of the best out there) and know when you’ve leaving, now it’s time to figure out where you’re LIVING. Use this guide to find the right student housing in Paris to fit your needs. We got you!
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