Renting an apartment in Paris?

Question

Does anyone know what it would cost to rent an apartment in Paris? What's the cheapest deal I can find in a NICE and SAFE area?

Answer 1

As is always the case, the cost depends on many factors, such as size, amenities, location, condition.

As the previous poster recommended, FUSAC is a good place to start. You can also look at craigslist.com, but you'll have to weed through alot of overpriced listings to find the good deals... but they DO exist.

But the first question for you is, how long do you plan to stay? If you plan to stay for less than a year, then stick with the aforementioned classifieds. The owners who post here are used to renting for less than a year and making other compromises, but in return, charge a higher rent. If you plan to stay a year or more, you will find much better deals in Particulier a Particulier (www.pap.fr). But you will need to be able to communicate in French with the apt owners (yourself or with the help of a friend), and look for the apartment after you get here. (Actually you can use PAP to sign a one-year lease, then give notice to leave before the year - but don't tell the owner you intend to do this! - but I think many foreigners would be uncomfortable doing this for their first apartment in a new country).

To give you a general idea, you can find a studio in one of the 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th arrondissements for 650-800 euro, lower end for a smaller studio (250sqft), ok condition, higher end for a larger studio (350sqft), very nice condition. For the 19th, 20th arrondissements around Pere Lachaise, Gambetta, you can get the 350sqft, nice apartment for alot less, say 650-700. These quotes are all on the assumption you will stay for at least 3-6 months. If you want to be more central, it will cost you alot more. FYI most of Paris is reasonably safe; violent crime is not what it is in the States, pickpocketing is usually the worst to expect and happens everywhere.

The Paris housing market is always tight, apartments get snatched up quickly, so to get a decent deal, you will need to give yourself some time to do the search or be very very lucky.

Answer 2

I would recommend checking FUSAC (France USA Contacts) and the Paris Voice. When in Paris, I'd also recommend checking out the bulletin board at the American Cathedral.