Saint Étienne, in the eastern central part of France, was traditionally an industrial city with a focus on industries likes arms manufacture and coal mining. The city suffered after the decline of these industries and was in economic decline for some time. But, today it is well recovered from this dip in its history, placing a focus on the design and technological industries.
With this refocus, many new jobs have been created in Saint Étienne, especially in the two industries mentioned above. This has drawn many expats to the city to enjoy the city’s newfound prosperity and experience its culture. In 2010, it was labelled as a City of Design to reflect this economic and industrial shift.
One benefit to expats and students relocating to Saint Étienne is that it is not a very touristic city. This means you can experience the authentic culture and lifestyle of Saint Étienne locals without having to fight through crowds of tourists. Still, there are plenty of attractive sights for you to see and explore when experiencing this city for the first time.
There are a variety of homes and apartments for rent in Saint Étienne, whether you are looking for a temporary solution or are moving in permanently. Saint Étienne apartments are good quality at reasonable prices, and you can rent rooms in Saint Étienne for even lower monthly rates. Start your search on Nestpick to see what apartments in Saint Étienne are available right now.
Rooms for Rent in Saint Étienne
Student Accommodation in Saint Étienne
Apartments in Saint Étienne by districts
Saint Étienne is not one of the largest cities in France, so it is relatively easy to get around between its various districts to see what they all have to offer. The landscape of the city varies greatly depending on where you go. You’ve got the buzz of the city centre contrasted with more peaceful suburbs on the outskirts, although the city is generally quieter than France’s major cities.
The south of Saint Étienne is contained within the Pilat Natural Regional Park, so you can enjoy the incredible surroundings that this provides if you prefer nature over the city life. Most of the districts of Saint Étienne are largely residential, meaning there is plenty of choice when it comes to finding a house or apartment to rent in the city.
Best areas for Apartments in Saint Étienne
Apartments in Saint Étienne Centre Ville
The city centre of Saint Étienne, or Centre Ville, is filled with the typical fare of shops, cafés, restaurants, and bars, providing residents with plenty of choice of where to eat, drink, and shop. It has a much more laid back and peaceful atmosphere compared to many city centres as is not a huge tourist hub. This makes it much easier to enjoy Saint Étienne’s Centre Ville at your own pace. The centre also contains various hotels if you need a short-term place to stay while looking for somewhere to live in Saint Étienne.
A metro line runs down the middle of Centre Ville, so it is easy to get in and out of the city via public transport. The centre is also home to some small parks and other points of attraction like the Cathédrale Saint-Charles-Borromée de Saint-Étienne and the museum Meubles et Décorations.
Apartments are scattered around Saint Étienne’s Centre Ville, many of which are located above shops or in dedicated apartment blocks. Centre Ville is popular among people working in the city centre or studying nearby. Centre Ville is home to a secondary school and a private middle school, so you will also find local and international families living in the area for its proximity to these schools and other essential amenities. Apartments in the city centre are reasonably priced, ranging from averages of €370 for a one-bedroom apartment to around €625 for three bedrooms.
Apartments in Centre Deux
To the south of Saint Étienne’s Centre Ville is an area called Centre Deux. This is primarily the commercial centre of the Saint Étienne with a large shopping mall also known as Centre Deux. This contains shops offering clothing, technology, cosmetics, and more. Outside of the shopping mall, amenities include hairdressers, gyms, and other desirable facilities.
Centre Deux is also home to the city’s main university, Jean Monnet University. As a result, it is an area that is popular among students, with many student residences found in the area. As well as the university campus, there are other essentials for students like copy shops and affordable student bars and restaurants. It is also within walking distance or in easy reach of public transport routes to Centre Ville, providing more entertainment outlets for them to enjoy.
The university campus takes up a large portion of this district, along with the commercial areas of Centre Deux. The rest of the district is primarily residential, with houses and apartments interspersed with local shops and other amenities for residents. You’ll find pharmacies and doctors surgeries for your family needs, plus a primary school just outside of this district.
Flats for rent in Villeboeuf
The district of Villeboeuf can be found to the east of the city centre, closely linked to the neighbourhoods of Fauriel and Vivaraize. One of this district’s main features is the large botanical garden at the north end of Villeboeuf, which provides wonderful, natural sights and also contains the Opera House of Saint Étienne. Within this parkland are various sporting facilities including a gym and a swimming pool.
Outside of the Jardin les Plantes, Villeboeuf is primarily a residential district with a range of housing and apartments available to rent and buy. It is a desirable place to live thanks to its attractive environment, essential local amenities, and its proximity to both Centre Ville and Centre Deux. The area features schools and healthcare, making it attractive to families moving to Saint Étienne with children.
Bordering on the neighbourhood of Fauriel, Villeboeuf is also attractive to businesspeople who want access to the local Chamber of Commerce and School of Commerce, both of which are located in Fauriel. This area also contains a Planetarium, which makes a nice trip for families with their children.
Apartments in Villeboeuf are available at affordable prices, either to rent or buy depending on your circumstances. The quality of accommodation in this area is high and puts you at a prime spot close to the centre of Saint Étienne.
Student accommodation in Saint Étienne
As previously mentioned, the Jean Monnet University is located in Centre Deux, and this is where the largest portion of the cities students are in attendance. There is a lot of formal student accommodation in this area, as well as private housing rented specifically to the city’s students. Student housing and apartments are highly affordable in Saint Étienne, providing lower overall living costs than larger French cities.
The local and international students boost Saint Étienne’s nightlife during term times, although they are also known to visit nearby cities such as Lyon for a livelier nightlife, which is less than one hour away. Other examples of student accommodation are scattered around the rest of the city, including around Centre Ville and its neighbouring districts.
Saint Étienne public transport
Public transport in Saint Étienne is mainly provided by its tramway and trolleybus systems. The light rail network goes directly through the centre of Saint Étienne, passing through both Centre Ville and Centre Deux. In total, 71 public transport routes help residents and visitors get around the city and its wider metropolitan area. The city’s main railway station, Gare de Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux, is located just outside of Centre Ville in the Châteaucreux district. It serves the wider Saint Étienne region as well as nearby cities such as Paris and Lyon.
Saint Étienne’s public transport systems are reasonably priced, too. A single journey will cost you just €1.30 while a monthly travel pass costs around €43. Discounted travel prices are also available for students and other groups of residents.