Summary
Welcome to Nantes, the city of Jules Verne, the Cité des Ducs (Dukes’ city), and the one and only metropolis of Loire-Atlantique, captivating an ever-growing population with its dynamism and rich historical heritage. Whether you’re a young professional or a student, you’re going to love living in this city with numerous advantages, where the nice way of living and cultural diversity meet an especially affordable cost of living.
Every neighborhood in Nantes has its unique charm, and there’s bound to be a spot that suits you: the bohemian vibe of Chantenay, the student energy of Haut-Pavé, or the tranquility of Zola or Doulon neighborhoods. Whether you’re looking for a modern apartment downtown, an old house near Île de Nantes, or a cool loft in a new creative district, Nantes has a wide range of housing options to meet all your needs.
The Nantes region possesses a significant advantage: its proximity to Paris, ideal for remote work! Add to that beaches not far away, a university hub attracting a growing student population each year, and a vibrant cultural life. Not to forget the numerous green spaces and lush parks like that of Gaudinière along the Erdre River, making Nantes a true green city.
So, are you ready to settle in Nantes? Stay with us to discover the best neighborhoods to live in and why Nantes is the ideal city to realize your projects! No doubt, the Dukes’ city is bound to surprise you!
Neighborhoods in Nantes by budget
Nantes is home to over 10 neighborhoods, 11 to be exact. The prices are as diverse as the neighborhoods themselves. You’ll see, the cost of a room in a shared apartment, coliving space, private home, or individual housing can vary drastically. We leave you with our pricing guide just below:
|
Districts
|
Budget to allocate (on average) |
|||
| Coliving | Flatsharing | Private room | Rental (studio) | |
| Centre-ville | 435€ | 550€ | 497€ | |
| Hauts-Pavés / Saint-Félix | 477€ | 469€ | ||
| L’Ile de Nantes | 805€ | 511€ | 480€ | 526€ |
| Nantes Nord / Facultés | 500€ | 483€ | 489€ | |
| Nantes Sud | 496€ | 450€ | 568€ | |
| Bellevue-Chantenay | 482€ | 535€ | ||
| Dervallières-Zola | 518€ | 465€ | 489€ | |
| Breil-Barberie | 482€ | 467€ | ||
| Nantes Erdre | 590€ | 506€ | 376€ | |
| Doulon-Bottiere | 532€ | 486€ | ||
| Malakoff Saint-Donatien | 482€ | 614€ | 458€ | |
The best neighborhoods in Nantes
As mentioned just above, Nantes boasts no fewer than 11 neighborhoods, each with its unique character. Depending on your search criteria, your favorite neighborhood probably won’t be the same as your friends’. So, here is our top 5 list of our favorite Nantes neighborhoods:
Nantes Nord
Let’s start with the Nantes Nord district, and more specifically the Hippodrome subdistrict. This neighborhood perfectly combines the serenity of a village with its numerous hectares of greenery, with the dynamism of the city. Just a stone’s throw from the University of Nantes, the François Arago Vocational High School, and the Audencia Business School, Hippodrome is an ideal choice for students. The Beaujoire park and the banks of the Erdre offer relaxing spaces, while public transportation, including the tram, ensures easy connectivity to the rest of the city. Sports enthusiasts will be thrilled: runners can make use of the stadium, and swimmers, the Petit-Port swimming pool. Local shops, restaurants, and the tranquility of the area create a peaceful residential atmosphere. All these reasons have led us to establish our coliving accommodations here.
Ile de Nantes
Do you know about the famous Nantes elephant? This is where you’ll find it! Located on a former industrial wasteland, it has been at the heart of a vast rehabilitation project to transform it into one of Nantes’ most unusual and creative neighborhoods. It is now an up-and-coming area, blending modernity and tradition, with new housing standing alongside rehabilitated industrial buildings. Connected to the “mainland” by 13 bridges, Ile de Nantes has almost as many offices as residential dwellings. Its riverside lifestyle is very pleasant, with beautiful green spaces, restaurants, shops, gyms, and cultural activities like Les Machines de l’Ile. Bus and tram lines provide easy access to the rest of the city. If you choose to settle here, don’t forget to admire the view of Nantes and Rezé at dusk. Sublime.
Centre-ville
Central and urban, as its name suggests, the city center is the most dynamic part of Nantes. Located on the left bank, it’s the dream place to live if you enjoy being in a lively and energetic area. Its proximity to the University of Nantes, shops, restaurants, museums, theaters, and other venues makes it an extraordinary living area, popular with students and young professionals. The historic district, with its cobblestone streets and old buildings, hosts the large Talensac market. If you’re in the mood for a change of scenery, head to the Plant Garden for a charming walk. The district houses many cultural spots like the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Cathedral, a few meters from the Château des Ducs de Bretagne. Integral to Nantes, the last residence of the Duchy welcomes over 300,000 visitors annually on average. Restaurants, bars, clothing boutiques, public transportation – all amenities are at your feet. The area is also well served by numerous tram and bus lines to facilitate your distant commutes.
Haut-Pavé - Saint-Félix
Particularly favored by students for its dynamic, lively atmosphere, the cosmopolitan district of Haut-Pavé – Saint-Félix stands out with its technology campus and easy access to the University of Nantes and schools in the Nantes Nord district. The proximity of the city center, accessible by tram or bike, will make your daily life easier. If you need a quiet moment, head to the Chantrerie Park where the Erdre River flows, providing moments of relaxation in an urban zone.
Dervallières-Zola
Finally, let’s go to the Dervallières-Zola district, located west of Nantes’ city center. If you’re looking for a pleasant residential environment with only houses, this is the perfect spot. It’s like a touch of countryside within the city. Popular with families, this district is known for its local shops and market, offering a peaceful lifestyle away from the city center hustle and bustle. Close enough to enjoy the city center’s qualities, you can get there in just a few minutes thanks to public transport. Green spaces, like the Procé Park where the Chézine stream flows, are perfect for relaxing, exercising, or just appreciating nature.
Many other districts like Doulon-Bottière, a pioneer in environmental matters, close to Malakoff – Saint Donatien, offer an exceptional living environment for those who appreciate tranquility. A bit further south of Nantes, head to the Bellevue sector. A neighborhood in full transformation, it’s not short on leisure activities: check out the planetarium, invigorating walks along the Loire, the Jean-Macé market, and so on.
Living in Nantes to work
If Nantes has experienced spectacular population growth, its job market is not lagging behind. Indeed, a ranking conducted by Hellowork, in partnership with Hays firm, placed Nantes as the top French city offering interesting career development possibilities. Yes, it’s much more than a small city in the west of France. Nantes is a land with real job opportunities.
The maritime industry is one of the main sources of jobs in the region. If you’ve got sea legs, head to the Port of Nantes – Saint Nazaire which houses one of the most beautiful and largest shipbuilding yards in France and Europe. Are you more into new technologies?! The Loire-Atlantique department has chosen to invest in this sector and hosts a major development hub with infrastructure designed for attractive and innovative companies and start-ups, operating in the health, digital, and industrial sectors. And let’s not forget the airport located south of Nantes, the sixth most important in France.
The city of Nantes also has many advances in the environmental sector. That’s why a transformation of the city has been initiated. It offers its residents numerous environmentally friendly housing projects. If you’re looking for a job in this area, this is the place to settle.
Do you have a big heart and love helping others? Nantes is among the metropolises with a highly developed associative life. Whether you’re into sports, culture, or creativity, you’ll have plenty to rejoice after a busy workday.
Let’s not forget that Nantes is easily accessible from other French metropolises. If you live there and have the ability to work remotely, all you’ll have to do is get to the train station, take the train to Paris, Bordeaux, or Rennes. This will greatly facilitate your trips as well as your weekends and days off!
Living in Nantes to study
If Nantes is ideal for work, it is equally suitable for pursuing studies. Ranked 8th in the top 10 of France’s student cities, its population of new students and apprentices has tripled in a decade. If you want to start or continue learning, Nantes boasts a rich higher education system. Commerce, traditional law or performing arts, culture, literature, applied languages, architecture, science, and technology: the University of Nantes is brimming with programs across its various campuses in the metropolitan area and surrounding towns like Saint-Nazaire. Audencia Business School, the École Centrale de Nantes or the École de Design Nantes Atlantique: the hundred nationally recognized institutions offer you a high number of training programs and academic curricula.
Apart from its academic aspect, the attractiveness of Nantes is acknowledged by all the youth for another point: its ambiance. As nightlife draws its inhabitants, it’s not uncommon for the city to transform into a giant dance floor (or nearly so). Its small bars, restaurants, and gardens become meeting points for the youth. Indeed, the party goes full swing every evening. It will therefore be very easy for you to find a student party near your home or on the banks of the Loire. If you also enjoy going out during the day, the cultural and social life in Nantes is just like you: young and dynamic. Festivals, jazz or rock concerts, exhibitions, sporting events – there’s something for everyone!
In terms of cost, Nantes is much more affordable than Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. This factor is not negligible given the cost of student life. Accommodation, fixed expenses, rental charges, food, and daily life: all of this represents a certain budget. That’s why its real estate market is one of the best in France. Student residences, studios, flat-sharing, and coliving: among all these types of accommodation, there is surely one that suits your means, desires, and needs.
To sum up, Nantes beautifully combines the spirit of a village and an energetic big city. Its location next to the sea and countryside makes it exceptional, and we find it hard to believe that the idea of buying a new house or an apartment hasn’t crossed your mind. Nantes offers you a quality of life conducive to spending your best years there. So, are you ready to unpack your suitcases?
Also discover:
Our coliving rooms in Nantes
Nantes - Reinettes
Room 3- 13m²room
- 70m²flat
- 4rooms
- double bed
- wifi
Nantes - Reinettes
Room 4- 13m²room
- 70m²flat
- 4rooms
- double bed
- wifi
Nantes - Reinettes
Room 1- 15m²room
- 70m²flat
- 4rooms
- double bed
- wifi
Nantes - Reinettes
Room 2- 15m²room
- 70m²flat
- 4rooms
- double bed
- wifi
Questions you may have about Nantes
If you like tranquility, we recommend the Nantes Nord neighborhood, which is just a stone’s throw from the university and public transport. The city center and its dynamism are also one of our favorites.
Nantes is one of the most popular cities in France, and yet, the city of the Dukes remains charming and affordable, both for students and young professionals.
We all have our own definition of a beautiful city, but if you love the feel of a village, the buzz of the city center, and traditional architecture, then yes, Nantes has everything to please you.
Living in Nantes means enjoying the quality of life of a city on a human scale, its many green spaces, but most importantly, its location at the gates of the Atlantic Ocean.
If you like towns with a village feel, welcome to Rezé. Its colorful facades, contrasting with the architecture of the region, will not leave you indifferent. We also recommend the towns of Bouguenais, Orvault, and Saint-Herblain.
