Although student housing abounds in Kingston, it’s important to keep in mind that not all abodes in our fine city are created equal.
For those on the prowl for the best deal (which, for some, means the cheapest rent, and for others, the fewest rats per square meter), here is a guide to your housing options and the rent you can expect
to pay. It ain’t cheap, but a little common sense goes a long way: if a property owner tries to rent you a bachelor apartment north of Princess for $1,000 a month because it has an“outdoor pool,” chances are they want a new plasma screen TV, and you’re spending a lot of money for a dirt hole full of rainwater.
Here’s a condensed guide to help on your hunt for a place to call home.
Zone 1: Ghetto Living
At first glance, life in the Ghetto might seem too good to be true: the A&P only moments away, campus
practically in your backyard and parties everywhere you turn. The reality check?
Your groceries are so overpriced they’re almost more than your rent, which is inflated merely because you can see Stauffer from your bedroom window, and parties seem a lot less fun when your lawn
is a beer bottle depository. That said, living Ghetto-style does carry a certain allure, but before you commit, just be sure the place comes with roof and doors included. You never know.
• Single: Anywhere from $400 to $900 for a teeny tiny apartment, bedroom optional (and unlikely).
• A Few Roommates: $350 for a cot in the pantry, as much as $800 for something your parents
wouldn’t cringe at.
• A Gigantic Party House: Again, it depends on whether or not the roof is caving in. If it is, you could pay as little as $300. On the other hand, Kathy Burrows, ArtSci ’08, lives in what she calls “the
nicest house I’ve ever slept in” and pays $600 for her large bedroom.
Zone 2: The Downtown Experience
If raging keggers and moldy ceilings aren’t for you, living above one of Princess Street’s fine businesses might be right up your alley. You’ll be farther from campus, so you can’t just “run home” to grab that essay you left on the kitchen counter. On the upside, you can score a much nicer place for much less money, so you can spend your savings at the trendy boutiques right outside your door.
• Single: $500 if you want your kitchen, office and bed in the same room. Expect to pay $800 for an
actual bedroom.
• A Few Roommates: A nice apartment along Princess Street can be had for $500 a person.
Zone 3: North of Princess
Short of living in suburbia and spending two hours on the bus everyday, this is your best bet if saving money is top priority. As an added bonus, you’ll have a built-in workout getting to campus. This may also be a downside, especially in mid-February, when you’ll need snow pants, ski poles, and a lot of motivation to walk to class.
• Single: $500 to $700 for a one-bedroom bachelor (or bachelorette) pad.
• A Few Roommates: Rent runs as low as $300, and you shouldn’t pay more than $500. Since you
aren’t paying for location like those chumps in the Ghetto, you’ll probably get a nicer place for less.
—Rent estimates taken from Queen’s Apartment and Housing accommodation listing
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