TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Moving to SXM soon, affordable long term rentals?

Hi, I'll be moving to SXM (dutch side) at the end of the month to study at AUC. Its hard to find information online because most resources are catered towards tourism and vacationing at SXM, but I'll be living there for a few months at least.

I've joined the facebook groups and looked around online, most housing rent is like USD$1000-1500 a month for an apartment, but I'm looking for places more affordable. I'm just a student so I'd even be fine sharing an apartment with someone else, as long as they're nice.

I did manage to find two offers, one is an apartment for around $600, but its on the french side and further away from the university, the other is $550 on the dutch side but also further away around south reward and also unfurnished. Idk if it would be crazy to just get a bicycle and pedal 15km to and from classes everyday? And could I get away with staying on the french side even though my student visa will be from the dutch side?

I'd appreciate some advice, thanks.

Hello ,
Thanks of your posting and the low rent is too far away from AUC and not great to do period.
Check around AUC and you should be able find something to share at an affordable rate . Good luck.

I would think AUC would give you info on long term rentals for students.

From Experience I think Jordan Village is going to be your best bet, unless you have a car then getting to and from AUC from anywhere else is going to be difficult.

Join this group. https://www.facebook.com/share/amiBGRDG3Ghd1fRR/?mibextid=CTbP7E


There is one listed for 1k. Maybe you can make a post on this site for a room mate. Or someone looking for one.

Also - Jordan Village is your best bet. Especially if you are not having a car. Cupecoy is great - Cupecoy Beach club, The Cliff, Rainbow to name a few. Arbor Estates is great. Further away you have Maho and Porto Cupecoy. But Jordan Village location/Cupecoy is best.

You might also check with Ivan who owns and runs Bar Code. A lot of his waitstaff have been students or spouses from the Med School. He might have suggestions. https://www.facebook.com/barcodesxm/

Thanks for the advice guys, I think the apartments for $900-1000 a month are the best I'll get, going further away will probably just cause more problems and cost me more in the long run. And I don't think it'd be possible to get a roommate to share a small 1 bed 1 bath apartment like that. Maybe while I'm there if I can get a girlfriend to split the bills with me, lol, I jk.

The university has on campus housing but they're limited and around $5000(shared) or 6000(studio) per semester (4 months), and usually for first semester students (im not). They only provided me a document with email and phone numbers of all the off campus housing agencies (like arbor estates, etc.) so I'd have to email or call them all individually, not really helpful.

Jordan Village does look nice, so its a good option. But I've seen other apartments on facebook groups around the same price $950 that have a living area with couch, dining table, TV, the $950 studios in Jordan village don't. So I'm wondering if its worth going for a a nicer newer more comfy looking apartment (I know pics can be deceiving), or one with a living area which is a real asset if I have people over for study groups, visit, to stay the night, etc.

I also noticed in one of the facebook ads they had a big can of RAID bug spray, wondering if thats for mosquitos or roaches, and how big of a problem that is in SXM?

tropics bring mosquitos and other crawly things. It's part of life in the Caribbean. Jordan Village apartments are fairly new and modern. Definitely your best bet. I would think that some of the current students living there are always looking for roommates to help share the rent.