A few students also live in Shaler Lane, but they tend to drive in as it is a bit far to walk. For private housing you will most likely have to use a real estate agent, who will probably charge you one month's rent for about an hour's worth of work. Call a few before you come to Boston to ask how far in advance you should come to Boston to house-hunt. Normally they will say 30 days, although some recommend 60 days. You can also get the names of realtors from the apartment classifieds in the Boston Globe .
Some people do manage to find apartments without a realtor, but they are among the lucky few.
The housing market is somewhat volatile so it is hard to give precise estimates as to cost. Harvard Square rents will be higher than this. If you are coming directly from Canada one common frustration is the lack of a U.S. credit record. Local bank accounts are dominated by Fleet and Cambridge Trust. Obtaining a U.S. credit card may be a problem.