How We Find Apartments in Every New City (Without Getting Scammed)
Finding a place to live is the single most stressful part of nomad life. We’ve done it over 30 times now, and we’ve gotten it down to a system. Here’s everything we’ve learned.
The Platforms We Actually Use
Booking.com (Our #1)
This will surprise people. Booking.com isn’t just for hotels. Filter by “apartments” and look for monthly stays. Many properties offer significant discounts for 28+ night bookings. We’ve found some of our best apartments this way — Larnaca, Bucharest, Amsterdam, Riga.
Pros: Buyer protection, reviews you can trust, free cancellation on many listings, no upfront deposit games.
Cons: Prices are higher than dealing directly. The platform fee is baked in.
Housing Anywhere
Great for university-city apartments. We used it in Porto and Vienna. Listings tend to be furnished student apartments that are available during summer or semester breaks.
Pros: Verified landlords, escrow payment system, decent prices.
Cons: Smaller inventory. Best for certain cities only.
Blueground (Theblueground.com)
Premium furnished apartments in major cities. We’ve used them in Athens twice. They’re not cheap, but the quality is consistent — proper mattresses, full kitchens, fast internet.
Pros: Consistent quality, responsive customer service, flexible dates.
Cons: Expensive. 1,500-3,000 EUR/month in most cities.
Airbnb
We use it less than we used to. Monthly discounts exist but the service fees have gotten out of control. Still useful in smaller cities where other platforms have no inventory.
Spotahome
Video-verified apartments — you don’t need to see them in person. We have a booking with them for Porto in 2026. Good for planning ahead.
Direct Through Contacts
In Albania, we rent through a local contact (Gazi / Emanuel Troka) who manages several apartments in Tirana and Durres. This took years to build. If you’re staying somewhere long enough, ask around.
Our Process
- Start looking 2-3 months before the move date — especially for popular cities in summer
- Set a hard budget ceiling — we aim for 1,500 EUR max, stretch to 2,000 for expensive cities
- Non-negotiable requirements: Stable wifi (check reviews mentioning internet), washing machine, full kitchen, not ground floor (security)
- Check Google Maps Street View — the neighborhood matters more than the apartment
- Book the first 2-3 weeks on Booking.com (free cancellation), then extend or switch if it works out
- Always have a backup — we keep a night or two at a hotel as a Plan B in case the apartment is terrible on arrival
Red Flags
- Landlord wants payment outside the platform
- No reviews or only 5-star reviews with no text
- Photos look too good / stock-photo quality
- The price is significantly below market rate
- They ask for your passport before you’ve booked
What We’ve Paid (Real Numbers)
| City | Platform | Monthly Cost | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porto | Housing Anywhere | ~900 EUR | Good |
| Sarande | Direct (Gazi) | 600 EUR | Great — 3BR house by the sea |
| Vienna | Housing Anywhere | 1,350 EUR | Good |
| Sofia | Coliving.com | 1,100 EUR | Okay |
| Bucharest | Booking.com | 850 EUR | Great |
| Athens | Blueground | 2,900 EUR | Great quality, high price |
| Riga | Booking.com | 1,050 EUR | Good |
| Florence | Airbnb | 2,100 EUR | Overpriced |
| Barcelona | Blueground | 2,600 EUR | Good |
The Honest Truth
It gets easier but it never gets fun. Every new apartment is a gamble — you might get a lumpy mattress, neighbors who party until 4 AM, or a landlord who ghosts you when the hot water breaks. Build that into your expectations and you’ll be fine.
The biggest thing we’ve learned: don’t optimize for price alone. A slightly more expensive apartment with reliable internet and a quiet street will save you more money in productivity than you’d save on a cheaper place where you can’t sleep or work.