If you can't afford an apartment, here are less costly options. This is usually a converted maid's room on the top floor of a bourgeois apartment building. It is usually a small room with mansard ceiling for one person with a sink and a hot plate. Many independent rooms do not have private showers or full kitchens, but shared shower and bathroom facilities are usually available in the hallway.
Some landlords offer the use of the shower in their apartment.
This doesn't sound too glamorous but it can have its charm for a while. With simple accommodations you can focus more time and money on Paris itself. The view can be memorable. This housing arrangement usually consists of a private room with limited access to the kitchen, telephone and bathroom facilities. Each situation offers varying degrees of privacy.