How to Get a Cheap Student Accommodation in Paris, France |  Full Guide

Finding cheap student accommodation in Paris isn’t easy. Most students deal with the shortage of student housing to the heavy cost of student accommodation in Paris, France. For such students, this article answers all questions surrounding cheap student accommodation in Paris.

In 2019-2020, more than 2,700,000 students began their graduate studies. This trend is expected to continue during the 2023 academic session. There are several reasons for this increase in student numbers. Courses like Engineering, Business, and Management are very popular.

Ultimately, studying in Paris attracts more international students, and they represent 40% of students in Paris. As a result, more than 1,600,000 students seek student accommodation in Paris each year.

Every year, more students enter the student housing market. Unfortunately, the supply of student accommodation is not progressing at the same pace. Available spots in the 1,040 public dormitories and CROUS residences are rare and quickly taken by storm.

In addition to the lack of accommodation, another phenomenon must be taken into account: almost all students start looking simultaneously. About 60% of them find accommodation in student residences.

This article aims to address these issues by offering a seamless housing experience and showing you the right time to get cheap student accommodation.

Read on to quickly find student accommodation in Paris that perfectly suits your budget.

What You Need to Know About Student Accommodation in Paris, France

Paris offers a vast diversity of quality higher education. It has almost 300 institutions for different fields and levels of study.

The most prestigious institutions in France are present there, such as ESCP Europe, Mines ParisTech, the Université Paris-Dauphine, and the Université de la Sorbonne.

Students existing in Paris come from all over France and the world. But they face the challenge of finding student accommodation in such a crowded city.

The housing supply in Paris is very low compared to the demand. Student apartments are off rent in a day, and the price of rent is well the national average.

To this effect, 52% of Parisian students live outside of Paris. While more than half of Parisian students stay with their parents or guardians during their studies.

International students mostly look for a studio or a T1 (one-room apartment). 28% of them look for shared student accommodation in Paris.

Only 11% of students are looking for a one-bedroom apartment (with a separate bedroom). 11% of the students also plan to rent a room in a private house (homestay).

Whatever your choice, this article will guide you to make the right decision.

What Kind of Accommodation Should I Choose for my Student Accommodation in Paris?

The offer of student accommodation in Paris is extensive, and students can choose from several options.

However, most of the students seeking accommodation in Paris are primarily looking for accommodation in the capital itself. Most student housing in the center of Paris is quite expensive.

Students on a budget should concentrate more on cheap student accommodation in Paris or nearby.

You can start with the student accommodation we consider cheap, such as homestays, studios, and shared apartments.

#1. Shared Student Accommodation

Shared accommodation is in high demand, especially for international students, and it is the cheapest way to get a more spacious and comfortable student apartment.

There are many advantages to sharing an apartment with someone else. Although a little is more expensive than a room in a homestay, it is still much more affordable than private student accommodation.

In cities with affordable rents, like Grenoble or Marseille, staying with the locals can be as cheap as €250. A homestay in Paris would cost around €500 while renting a whole house would cost up to €800.

Finally, the best accommodation option for students is to form a shared apartment. More than 20% of students chose to live in a shared apartment in 2019.

#2. Studio: Individual Student Accommodation

The studio apartment has become one of the most common types of student accommodation offered by owners in Paris.

In 2019, 57% of students prefer to stay in single or one-bedroom apartments. And one-bedroom apartments in student residences account for almost 70% of the rooms in Paris.

Unsurprisingly, most students prefer a furnished student studio to avoid additional purchases and additional costs.

#3. Homestays for Low Budgets

Students generally have low budget. To reduce the share of rent in their total expenses, 10% of students are happy to stay in a homestay.

With this type of accommodation, students pay almost no service charge for services such as internet or electricity.

Homestays are the best cost-effective solution. In addition to being inexpensive, renting a room in someone’s house is an opportunity for students to have social interactions since they are in regular contact with the host family, sharing meals and moments of life.

In cities with quite affordable rents, such as Grenoble or Marseille, staying in a private home can only cost €250.

#4. Private Student Accommodation for Flexible Budget

Some students may want more space in their student accommodation when your budget allows.

In general, those who choose larger places are couples or people who move with pets. In total, 12% of students choose a two-bedroom apartment. Usually, this type of accommodation is rented by private owners.

In fact, it is quite unusual to find two-bedroom apartments in student residences. They only represent 10% of the student residence offer.

#5. The CROUS 

Most rooms in public student accommodation are cheaper than in private residences. In addition, you can apply for the APL (housing assistance) when you live in a CROUS residence, which translates into great savings.

Although public residences do not offer the same level of comfort as private residences, they are much more in demand: it is very difficult to reserve a time slot, and you will have to make a specific request to request a room.

There are two types of accommodation in CROUS accommodation:

  • Individual furnished 9m2 rooms with shared kitchen and bathroom. They are quite small but practical since the rent starts at €150.
  • Furnished studios, from 21 to 31m2. They are more spacious, with a private bathroom and a kitchenette, and the rent for these is around €400

How Much Does it Cost to Get Student Accommodation in Paris?

Paris is the most expensive student city in France. Living in Paris can cost up to twice as much as in provincial cities.

The rental budget is high and monopolizes a large chunk of a student’s overall budget. For example, a budget of €823 should be planned for a 20m2 studio in Paris, including expenses.

A two-bedroom apartment would cost €1,485 per month. But renting student accommodation in or around Paris varies a lot by location.

A student who wishes to live in Paris can expect to find a student rental in Paris for €842 all-inclusive. These amounts are reduced as the investigation spreads outside of Paris.

While a student who wishes to live outside Paris has an average student budget of €777, in the inner suburbs, the average student budget is €721. In Grand Paris, this budget is reduced to €627.

The cost of accommodation depends, of course, on the type of student accommodation they occupy. A room in a homestay is still the cheapest option, with an average rent of €393. Shared accommodation is not much more expensive, with an average rent of €435.

An individual student apartment costs around 20-30% more. The average rent for this type of student accommodation is around €501 in private homes and €571 in private accommodation for students.

For larger areas, students will need to plan for a larger budget. For a two-bedroom apartment, the average rent goes up to €650.

How to Get Cheap Student Accommodation in Paris

If you want to enjoy your time in the big city of Paris, you should focus on getting cheap student accommodation.

We’ve put together this guide to help you ensure the student accommodation you choose is safe and affordable.

Step 1: Conduct an Efficient Search

As you can see, finding student accommodation is not easy. However, some best practices can help you turn the odds in your favor.

Notable agencies can help you find your student accommodation as they assist you throughout the rental process. This is the case with sites advertised from one individual to another, such as Leboncoin.fr and SeLoger.fr.

Step 2: Communicate with the Owner

Once you’ve found a property that catches your eye, the next step is to contact the owner. Regardless of the type of owner, first impressions are the most important.

In most cases, explaining your situation, why you are moving, and showing interest in the place is a good way to convince the landlord to rent your property.

Step 3: Find a Guarantor

Landlords pay special attention to financial guarantees when renting their property. The search for a guarantor is a fundamental element in the search for student accommodation.

Most of the time, students have a relative as a guarantor. 89% of students find a guarantor in their family, while only 3% ask a friend to stand for them.

Where Can I Get Cheap Student Accommodation in Paris, France?

For a student who doesn’t reside in Paris, the best place to begin your search for cheap student accommodation is online.

The following website gives a good breakdown of all student accommodation in Paris, from the cheapest to the most expensive.

Carefully analyze the information provided for each accommodation and decide which is best for you.

#1. Erasmusu – Best Website

Finding accommodation takes a long time if you do it yourself. Erasmusu is one of the best websites to get good and cheap student accommodation in Paris.

Erasmusu acts as an intermediary between the landlord and the tenant. By supervising the search for accommodation, Erasmusu streamlines, and accelerates the paperwork to save time.

With a community of over 36,000 landlords that have experience in using the platform and can interact quickly with tenants, Erasmusu stands out from other sites.

As an Erasmus student, you will likely get several subsidies in your rental fee just by sharing your experience with them.

You also can post housing adverts yourself.

Visit Website

#2. Studapart – Get Cheap Student Accommodation

Due to the high increase in student population in Paris, it’s always difficult getting cheap student accommodation.

Studapart can easily help you find student accommodation in Paris. Studapart allows you to book your student apartment in Paris online, with or without an on-site visit.

For over 5 years, Studapart has been a student rental specialist, offering students an online accommodation platform dedicated to them. The platform offers studios, shared apartments, rooms in private homes, and apartments in student residences in Paris.

Sometimes Parisian students may change cities several times during their studies due to internships. Studapart offers you a fast, smart, and smooth rental experience.

With Studapart, they can quickly book turnkey accommodation from thousands of verified student accommodation offers. Studapart also offers them transparent assistance before and after the booking process.

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#3. Lodgis.com

Lodgis is a real estate agency offering properties for rent or sale in Paris since 1999.

Lodgis specializes in furnished rentals in Paris and aims to help international students looking for cheap student accommodation in Paris.

Their multilingual consultants will help you find the best cheap student accommodation in Paris that suits your needs.

Visit Website

#4. Paris Attitude

Paris Attitude offers comfortable accommodation to expatriate families, housing students near their universities, or helping owners make their Parisian properties profitable.

Above all, Paris Attitude is the essential agency for those who live moving lives.

Visit Website

#5. Paristay

Paristay provides a selection of the finest Paris apartment rentals. Enter your dates and select only available apartments. You can choose from our wide catalog of furnished apartments the appropriate apartment to spend a comfortable stay in Paris.

On the website, you can choose your apartment in Paris, from studio to family apartments, from short stays to long-term rentals, and from affordable to luxury apartments.

Visit Website

Student Accommodation in Paris FAQs

How can I rent student housing in pairs?

To rent student housing in Paris, you can look at our listings, connect with your university to find out about your options, or even look for rooms for rent in Paris.

What is the price range of student apartments in Paris?

If you want to rent a student residence or apartment in Paris, you can expect rent prices between € 437 and €1,450.

What is the measurement of a student apartment in pairs?

Student apartments or student flats in Paris are usually around 11m² to 176m².

Conclusion

Cheap student accommodation brings a new perspective to students living in Paris. To get cheap student accommodation that suits your budget, the above guide will help you better navigate how to get cheap student accommodation in Paris.

Reference

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