Furnished or unfurnished studio: which should you choose?
A furnished studio comes with the essential furniture: bed, table, storage, cooktop, and refrigerator. The lease is generally for one year, or nine months for a student — practical when returning home for the summer. You move in without having to buy anything.
An unfurnished studio is rented empty, with a three-year lease. The listed rent is often a bit lower, but you need to furnish the place: expect to spend several hundred euros on furniture, a move, and then reselling everything when you leave.
For one or two years of study, renting a furnished studio in Paris remains the simplest choice. In fact, this is the layout offered by YouFirst Campus accommodations.
What budget should you plan for a student studio in Paris?
Paris is the tightest real estate market in France. According to the LocService.fr study published in May 2026, the average rent for a student studio there reaches €923 including charges, compared to €583 nationally. Studapart reports a similar figure close to €974. The average housing budget for a student in Paris proper stands at €962 per month.
Additional expenses to plan for upon signing include: the security deposit, home insurance, and, depending on the case, agency fees. In student residences, included services limit unexpected costs: you know what you are paying from the start.
APL, Visale: financial aid to know about
Housing subsidies from the CAF (APL or ALS depending on the accommodation) reduce your actual rent. The amount depends on your income, the rent, and the type of housing. The application is done online at caf.fr as soon as you move in. Depending on the residence, a YouFirst Campus accommodation may be eligible: check the residence's detail page.
The Visale guarantee by Action Logement replaces a personal guarantor for free. It is open to everyone aged 18 to 30, with no income requirements. Since January 6, 2026, the maximum guaranteed rent cap for a student is €1,000 including charges in the Île-de-France region. The request is made on visale.fr, and the issued visa is valid for six months: plan ahead, but not too early.
Good to know: the guarantee covers the first three years of the lease, and the guaranteed rent cannot exceed 50% of your income.
Step-by-step rental procedure
- Prepare your application in advance: ID, proof of enrollment (student certificate), proof of guarantor or Visale visa, bank details (RIB). In Paris, apartments go fast: a complete file makes all the difference.
- Target your neighborhoods: Proximity to your campus, commute time, budget: these three criteria are enough to narrow down your choice.
- Visit: Check the natural light, condition, quietness, and transport links.
- Sign the lease and complete the move-in inventory check (état des lieux), taking the time to write down everything.
- Take out home insurance — it is mandatory — and submit your application for housing aid.
Why choose a student residence in Paris?
Compared to the private market, a student residence simplifies everything. The apartment is furnished and connected, the residence is secure, and services are included. No furniture to buy, no utility contracts to set up one by one.
There is also community life: shared spaces, neighbors your age, and opportunities to build connections. When starting out in life, that matters.
And at YouFirst Campus, there is your YouFirst Manager. Present on-site, they answer your administrative questions, assist you with your customer account, and take care of small everyday issues. Rent with reliable support.
Find your student studio with YouFirst Campus
YouFirst Campus offers student studios in Paris and the Île-de-France region, in residences designed for those who want to live, study, and work in great conditions.
Explore our properties by arrondissement: the 13th, between Butte-aux-Cailles and the Left Bank campuses; the 15th and the Lecourbe residence, between Convention and Vaugirard; the 16th and the Paris Rémusat residence, near Auteuil and Passy. Each residence page details the available accommodations.
