Paris at a Glance

Paris: Accommodation and Neighborhoods

Paris is divided in neighborhoods left and right of the River Seine.

If you are thinking about a move to Paris, you will not only settle in the famous “City of Lights”, but also in one of the three European Cities of the Future! The InterNations guide on moving to Paris helps you learn more about visa requirements and neighborhoods popular among expats who move to Paris.

City vs. Suburbs

There are three options for people moving to Paris: the city itself, the suburbs of Paris, or the vast metropolitan area, which extends to the borders of the Île-de-France region and beyond. Deciding where to settle obviously depends on various factors, such as income, period of stay, place of work, requirements in terms of space, travel arrangements, etc. The following guidelines should give you a rough idea of what to expect when moving to Paris.

Living in the center of Paris certainly has its attractions, but finding accommodation there is difficult. Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements and, more generally speaking, into the neighborhoods left and right of the river Seine - Rive Gauche and Rive Droite.

Rive Gauche vs. Rive Droite

While the Right Bank is famous for its major shopping streets, luxury hotels, and tourist attractions, the Left Bank has a more bohemian feel. Its reputation as the quarter of intellectuals and artists stems mainly from the Quartier Latin, home to the Sorbonne University. Today, the Quartier Latin is still a major higher education center with many Parisian university campuses.

In general, the Left Bank is a charming place to live, especially for singles, young couples, and families with little kids. The 5^th, 6^th and 15^tharrondissements are especially recommended. On the Right Bank, the 16^th and 17^tharrondissements are popular with families, while Le Marais and Montmartre should be avoided. The 8^tharrondissement is dominated by office buildings – not a particularly cozy place to live.

The Suburbs

Living in the Parisian suburbs is like living in the suburbs of any other big city: There are pleasant areas as well as not so pleasant ones. The latter tend to be in the northeast. Formerly thriving cités, the northeastern suburbs deteriorated in the 1970s in the course of deindustrialization. They are now stricken by unemployment and impoverishment of their mainly immigrant population. Although ambitious government plans envisage a huge regeneration for these areas, improvements might take a while.

The western suburbs, on the other hand, are probably the most prestigious residential area in the whole of France. For centuries, Paris Ouest has been the stronghold of French high society. Neuilly, for example, is known as the home of the upper middle classes. Metropolitan Paris extends much further than this, though. For instance, the Île-de-France has countless little towns offering a quieter lifestyle than the big city.

How to Find Accommodation

While there are no restrictions on foreigners buying property in France, most expats in Paris decide to rent an apartment. If you are planning to stay in Paris for several years, though, buying might be cheaper in the long run, especially if you decide to keep the property and rent it out after your departure. While property prices in Paris are unlikely to fall, a high capital gains tax for reselling property keeps profits relatively low.

Finding Accommodation through an Agent

If you are looking to rent, allow an absolute minimum of two weeks for the property hunt and keep your weekends free for apartment viewings. The absence of a central listings service complicates the business of searching for a flat.

If you go through an estate agent, this automatically limits your choice to what the agent has on offer. Estate agents fees are usually around 10% of the annual rent, and the cost is often split between tenant and landlord. As opposed to some other countries, commission is strictly regulated in France, so there shouldn't be any unsolicited charges.

Finding Accommodation on Your Own

People who want to try their luck without enlisting an agent's help should consult the classified ads in newspapers, such as De Particulier À Particulier. The actual paper is issued every Thursday and can be purchased at any local newsagent's or tobacco shop. Another good website is Seloger, but there is a small fee for accessing landlords’ contact information.

If French is not one of your strong points, try FUSAC, a free bilingual magazine distributed fortnightly at various points throughout the city, or take a look at the notice board of the American Church on Quai d’Orsay.