No matter what neighborhood you reside in, Boston is an expensive city. With so many awesome things to offer, it makes sense that this city is one of the most expensive in the country to live in. Median rent in Boston in 2012 was $1,881 according to a Boston.com article. Finding affordable housing in Boston can be tough, but it’s far from impossible.

Finding affordable housing in Boston definitely takes some time and effort, but it is definitely doable. Just like any city, Boston has affordable apartments, and if you make some living adjustments you can live in many neighborhoods while on a budget. Check out these tips to live affordably in Boston and find affordable housing in the first place.

Search, Search, Search!

In order to find an affordable apartment for your budget, you will need to do a lot of searching. It may take weeks, even months, to find a perfect Bostonian apartment, so start well before your deadline. Check tons of apartment websites like www.bostonpads.com and compare apartment prices in order to find a diamond in the rough.

The more time you spend searching, the better chance you have of finding a good, affordable apartment. Start your search as early as possible for the best results!

Go Neighborhood Specific

If you’re looking for affordable housing in Boston, you’ll need to narrow your search down to neighborhoods you can actually afford. If you spend time looking for an apartment in the Back Bay or Beacon Hill, you’ll likely be wasting your time as you won’t be able to find an apartment you can afford. According to that previously mentioned Boston.com article, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the Back Bay rents for $2,857 a month, which is outrageous for many people on a budget.

Focus your search on neighborhoods that are affordable with your budget, which you can figure out by determining how much you can spend. If you’re absolutely set on living in a specific neighborhood but feel like you can’t afford it, you might be able to afford it if you get some roommates. Regardless, you should focus only on places you can afford, so you aren’t wasting a ton of your time.

Try to Live Like a Student

If you’re looking for affordable housing in Boston, you might want to try living like a student. If you live in neighborhoods that are traditionally dominated by students, you will no doubt save money. Allston-Brighton is a gorgeous neighborhood located along the Charles River that caters to students of Boston College, Harvard, and Boston University.

Traditional student neighborhoods also typically have great public transportation options, which means you could save money by not driving a car and instead using public transportation whenever you go out. In some cases, you might find that these traditional student neighborhoods are loud on Friday and Saturday nights because of parties, but if you can handle that then you can save money on an apartment.