Cheap areas near Boston? (Waltham, Malden: cheap apartments, to rent, how much)

[jayuso]

Hi all, I'm a college aged student thinking about possibly relocating to Boston. In terms of a 1 bedroom apartment or a studio for $ 750 max is there anything affordable near Boston where I can still commute to the city via public transportation? thanks in advance!

[Cantabridgienne]

Not really, unless you want a crappy place in a bad/very far out area. Do what the vast majority of people your age do and live wuth a roomate(s). Your budget is too low to live alone.

[Bostonmania]

yes, basically do the above. any apartment for that much in the boston area is likely a ****hole. get a roomate. if you do end up looking for 750$, look at malden or somerville, possibly cambridge- actually not cambridge-, because there tends to be crappier cheap apartments with easy access to subway in malden and somerville, unless you find a really nice couple with a duplex that they're looking to rent part of for very cheap.. i've lived in crappy apartments in these areas and its not very fun. get a roomate. i did after a few months of this and my standard of life increased greatly.

[charolastra00]

Honestly, it is difficult even with roommates to find someplace for under $750 without utilities and almost impossible without. My friends who do it live way out in the surburban areas of Malden, Waltham, or Watertown. They're doable without a car, but much more difficult.

When I lived in Waltham, I looked for a studio. Cheapest I could find wast $800 a month which did not include heat or hot water.

[LocalType]

I would be shocked to see an apartment going for that that wasn't the size of a postage stamp. Still, it's a place to hang your coat, do your business and lay your head down and that's what counts since you're just there temporarily.

Please don't fall for any ads that list 3br places or the like for $500 a month.

You don't say what school so that could affect where you want to be and how much you want to be on the T every day.

If I were you I'd just start by looking on Craigslist at the rooms/shared section and see what's available for $750 and under. Just be warned, if you've never had a roommate, you need to be specific when asking them not only about the apartment but about noise levels, smoking, alcohol, visitors, household chores, groceries, use of kitchen, use of bathroom, their pets, dividing up bills, etc. But I'm sure you know all this - it's just my older sibling, been-there-done-that, instinct kickin' in!

One other thing you might look into is a youth hostel system or the local YMCA in whatever town you're going to be in.

Lastly, at the school you're going to go to, contact their student housing office. Most of the time they keep up with listings of other students needing roommates, or people who have cheap apartments for students, or cheap/safe places where students can rent temporarily.