The home page of James R Salazar

If you are looking to get an apartment in a crowded but popular place like Paris, you may have to adjust your expectations. My primary home is in Houston – a new city with plenty of space and a lower cost of living. That means I can get a great apartment with plenty of amenities and a great location for a reasonable price.

Finding an apartment in Paris that is similar to what I have in Houston is almost impossible. First off, you have to come to expect that you will not get the same square footage in Paris that you will get in Houston for the same dollar amount (and I live in a very expensive place in Houston). My apartment in Houston is almost 1300 square feet while my place in Paris is less than 500 square feet. Also, finding a one-bedroom apartment with more than one bathroom is a challenge – I gave up on trying to duplicate the one bedroom, 1.5 bathroom arrangement I had in Houston.

Although my apartment in Paris is much more compact than what I have in Houston, it does not feel crowded thanks to its efficient layout. What’s more, since I spend a lot of time enjoying the city, I really don’t notice the smaller size. Instead of being at home, I am enjoying the café lifestyle or a quiet evening with the neighbors at the park across the street from my home.

When you are looking for an apartment in Paris, don’t focus too much on the size but on whether it will be large enough for you to live comfortably. For me, it was more important to find and apartment that was secure and had a great location and that is what I have.