Finding a place to live in Paris can feel like as big a challenge as finding a job, especially for international professionals arriving in 2025 and 2026. The city is beautiful and full of opportunity, but the housing market is highly competitive. Fortunately, a wide range of estate agents, housing platforms, and official resources make it easier to secure accommodation. With careful preparation, knowledge of the best websites, and some French paperwork from service-public.fr, expatriates can settle into Paris smoothly. Having a CV adapted for French recruiters by proresume.fr helps you find work, while the following resources help you find a home.
The City of Paris provides official guidance on tenancy rules, housing assistance, and local resources at paris.fr. It also connects newcomers with information on neighbourhoods, schools, and local amenities. For rental contracts, deposits, and tenant rights, service-public.fr is the national authority. Expatriates should review this site to understand French tenancy laws before signing a lease.
Estate agents in Paris play a major role in helping expats find apartments. National networks such as century21.fr, laforet.com, and guy-hoquet.com all have strong coverage across the city. fnaim.fr is the official federation of estate agents in France, and its website lists verified agencies across Paris. For furnished rentals, parisattitude.com and book-a-flat.com specialise in apartments for professionals and expatriates. These agencies understand the needs of international tenants and often provide English-speaking staff.
Online platforms are extremely popular for apartment hunting. seloger.com is one of the largest French property portals, with thousands of listings daily. leboncoin.fr also publishes private rental ads and sublets. For students and young professionals, studapart.com and locatme.fr are good options. Another reliable source is logic-immo.com, which covers both rentals and sales. Using these platforms in combination with estate agents gives you the best overview of what is available in Paris.
Specialist agencies cater to expatriates who prefer furnished, short-term, or high-end apartments. parisperfect.com offers luxury rentals in central Paris, while sabbaticalhomes.com is popular with academics on temporary contracts. For shared housing and flatshares, appartager.com connects tenants looking for roommates. Platforms such as lodgis.com focus on furnished rentals, and their teams often speak English to help international tenants.
Some employers in Paris provide relocation support, but many expats use relocation agencies. paris-housing.com and expatriates.com publish listings and relocation services. Chambers of commerce, such as the Franco-British Chamber at francobritishchamber.com, often share housing contacts as part of their support for international professionals.
Understanding the cost of living is vital. Rents vary by district: central arrondissements like the 1st, 6th, and 7th are the most expensive, while areas in the 19th or 20th are more affordable. Official cost of living and housing market reports are sometimes published by insee.fr, the French statistics agency. The SMIC, France’s minimum wage, is updated annually on travail-emploi.gouv.fr and helps tenants understand affordability. Utilities, insurance, and agency fees must also be budgeted.
When renting in Paris, tenants are typically asked for a dossier including ID, proof of income, and sometimes a guarantor. Details on these requirements are explained on service-public.fr. For international tenants without French payslips, some agencies accept a financial guarantee from companies like visale.fr, a government-backed rental guarantee service. This makes it easier for newcomers to secure an apartment without a traditional French guarantor.
Neighbourhood choice is another factor for expats. La Défense (parisladefense.com) appeals to professionals working in finance and corporate offices. Families often prefer the western suburbs such as Neuilly-sur-Seine, Boulogne-Billancourt, or Levallois. Students and younger professionals may look to the 10th, 11th, or 18th arrondissements for affordable options and vibrant communities. The official City of Paris portal at paris.fr provides information about schools, safety, and public services in each area.
For short-term stays, especially during the first months of job hunting, platforms like airbnb.fr or booking.com provide flexible options. However, long-term leases require contracts governed by French rental law, and service-public.fr remains the best source for legal details.
In 2025 and 2026, the Paris rental market remains competitive but manageable with the right preparation. Estate agents such as century21.fr, laforet.com, guy-hoquet.com, and relocation specialists like parisattitude.com remain reliable choices. Platforms including seloger.com, logic-immo.com, and studapart.com provide constant listings. By combining these tools with guidance from service-public.fr and city resources at paris.fr, and by securing employment with a strong CV from proresume.fr, international newcomers can confidently establish their new lives in Paris.