{"id":4895,"date":"2014-10-20T19:57:19","date_gmt":"2014-10-20T19:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.studyabroad101.com\/?p=4895"},"modified":"2026-10-08T03:58:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T07:58:37","slug":"how-to-find-the-perfect-apartment-when-studying-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.studyabroad101.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/how-to-find-the-perfect-apartment-when-studying-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"How to find the perfect apartment when studying abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Exploring local neighborhoods before choosing accommodation is an important step in planning your study abroad experience.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Millions of students leave home every year heading for colleges and universities around the world. Almost every one of them goes through a difficult ordeal in searching for accommodations far from home. Some exchange programs include housing, whereas others do not, leaving you to find a place independently. Well that\u2019s a great thing, because it gives you freedom to choose where you want to live and with whom. Let\u2019s go through all the ins and outs (and what have you\u2019s<\/em>) of finding the perfect flat when studying abroad!<\/p>\n

Why live off campus?<\/h4>\n

The first decision to take. The advantage of living on campus is that you don\u2019t have to commute, you always have your buddies around, hopefully there\u2019s a great student vibe with lots of activities going on and sometimes it\u2019s cheaper than renting your own place. However, some campuses are located outside the city center, the dorms aren\u2019t always in such great shape, you don\u2019t get the same freedom as living by yourself and on occasion you might get matched up with unpleasant roommates.<\/p>\n

But! if you rent a place by yourself, you really get a taste of grown-up life. If you\u2019re still living on campus in the US, it\u2019s a great experience to have this trial of living on your own. You also have the perk of renting a place together with friends or your future classmates, thus avoiding nightmare roommates. You can choose any location you want, whether it\u2019s a cool hipster neighborhood or if you\u2019re looking for a more exclusive and quiet area, it\u2019s all up to your preferences (and budget of course).<\/p>\n

Getting started on your flat hunt<\/h4>\n

First of all, do your research about the different neighborhoods of the city. Either buy a city guide, borrow one from your college library, or search for your destination on WikiTravel<\/a>. They have free neighborhood guides for many cities around the world, giving you a rough idea of what\u2019s your best fit.<\/p>\n

Make a budget to determine how much you can spend on rent. Don\u2019t forget to consider factors such as transport: even if you spend less on your flat, you might end up paying more in the end if you must buy a bus pass or frequently must cab it home after rowdy late nights out.<\/p>\n

Next, start looking at what\u2019s available in your new home town. Here are a few options:<\/p>\n