Gap Year? Here’s How to Find the Best Housing in Copenhagen

If you ever find yourself relocating from Wales to one of the world’s most expensive cities, even for a gap year, you need to learn a few tips to find a place to live. You may anticipate paying for expensive homes. But to maximize your budget, you may also look for more cost-effective housing.

You could rent an apartment to help you save during your first years of stay in the city. You can also look for furnished rentals to minimize your cost in buying a new home. You can do this later once you have earned enough and have settled for a long time.

Short-term to long-term housing

The average rent for an apartment in Copenhagen is around $1,200 per month. So if you’re looking for a place to live that’s cheaper than that, you’ll need to look further. 

Here is a tip. You can first decide if you need a house for a long-term stay or a for a short term only. 

With this fact in mind, you will be able to narrow down your search. A good deal of housing can be a little challenging to find in Copenhagen. 

You can’t simply show up at a rental agency and expect them to give you the best you want. Instead, it would be best to look at the apartments on your own. Then compare prices to pick what is suitable for you.

Tips to find the best housing deal in Copenhagen

So if you know what to look for, you can find the best deals and save costs. Here are some tips to help you find the best housing in Copenhagen:

Learn about your housing options

You may either plan to stay in an apartment. Or, if you plan to live in the city for a long time, then a fully furnished home is your best option. Still, an apartment may not be ideal if you only plan to stay for a few days or weeks. 

There are short-term rentals that you can easily find in Copenhagen. So this is your best option if you will only be here for a few days or a week. 

Apartments are the best choice if you cannot decide how long you will stay. In Copenhagen, they fall into two categories: rental apartments and condominiums.

Rental apartments are private properties rented out. But, condos are part of an apartment building owned by investors who rent out individual units. Condos would usually offer lower prices per square meter than rental apartments. But they do not allow pets or any associated maintenance costs. 

Some are furnished or unfurnished, depending on the owner. They may also include ovens, refrigerators, and washing machines. Again, however, this will vary between owners.

Location

The next step in finding the best housing in Copenhagen is choosing where you want to live.

Do you want to live in a quiet area or near all the action? Are you willing to sacrifice space for proximity? 

Consider how close you want to be to work or school if you have one. If the apartment is too far from everything else, it might not be worth it.

Once you’ve decided what areas appeal most to you, it’s time to start looking for spaces online or in person. You can also check real estate agencies around town. But the best housing in Copenhagen is located in the centre of town. This can be anywhere from Vesterbro to Islands Brygge, so don’t limit yourself just because you want to live near the water. 

You can find the best apartments in Frederiksberg and Østerbro, but they are more expensive than in other areas of Copenhagen.

Expenses

Your choice may also be based on your current earnings. It would be best to look into how much money you make each month and what expenses you regularly have. If you are spending a lot more than usual, looking for housing within your budget would be best.

Size

The average size of an apartment in Copenhagen is 70 to 90 square meters (750 to 990 square feet). The larger an apartment is, the more expensive it will be. It is because as the size of an apartment increases, so do its maintenance costs. 

Most people will not want to pay too much for their rent and utilities. So they will typically look for smaller studios and apartments with one or two bedrooms.

Some people choose to live in shared units rather than rent an entire place alone. Those new to Copenhagen and who do not know anyone in the city would often do this.

In this case, they might find that they do not need such ample space just yet, especially if they plan on moving around a lot before settling down with family or friends long-term.

Availability of public transportation

It’s essential to consider how easy it will be to get around town. Thus, your place should be close enough to public transportation so you do not have to spend too much time traveling.

You will save more time for work or other activities you enjoy during your spare time.

You will want to avoid living somewhere that is far away from public transportation options or major highways because this could make it difficult for you to get around during rush hour or when traffic is terrible.

Final Thoughts

Finally, you can ask friends or family who already live in Copenhagen. They may be able to recommend places that they like or warn against sites that have specific problems like noise or crime.

Another way people find their ideal home is by going on walks around the city. You can also check out websites like Yelp or TripAdvisor for reviews from other travelers. 

Remember to consider location, size, amenities, and price. For best results, use the guide above.