Paris - Where to stay?
 

Hello. I'm planning to go to Paris for one month starting at the end of September basically just to hang out, tour, study french and see the city.
Where is the best area to stay that is close to the center but not to expensive?
Thank you.

"Close to the center" and "not to(o) expensive" in general are mutually exclusive. I suggest you look for possibly a studio apartment on AirBnB. https://www.airbnb.com/ It's what I did last visit and I was very happy with what I found and saved a bundle.

I take it you've never been to Paris before. Do you speak any French, or will this be your first exposure?

I don't really agree with that, there are areas that are cheaper than others, and not that far from the center. I think most anything isn't that far from the center except the very outer parts of certain arrondisements (I think the outer parts of 18-20 are the farthest out). Personally, I'd figure out where you are going to study first because it would be a real pain if you had a school on the complete opposite side of Paris from where you stayed. So do that first, if you know, say where it is, of course.

I'd pick the 13th, or cheaper parts of the 14th or 15th, myself. If school is on the RB, maybe parts of the 11th or 12th that are not the most popular (meaning not closest to Bastille, probably). Or maybe something in the 18th would work, or even the 10th.

Agree with Christina, look at arrondisements 10 and higher. Choose a location close to a Metro station and/or bus stops.

If you haven't decided where you want to study yet, and just want to get an idea of prices. Try to get close to a central metro hub like chatelet, charles de gaulle etoile or for cheaper, Place de la Republique or Bastille (in the 11th you can find some very good deals and you are not far from the Marais. It's hard to find good deals, or even apartments free for a month straight, on sites like www.homeaway.com. www.airbnb.com sometimes yields something good, but you may be living in somebody's place while they are away for a month. www.parisnet.com is an older site for very reasonable rates in the center of paris.

I think you should stay in the 11th arrondissement near République, where there is many different metro lines, it's safe, the Place de la République is newly renovated and the perfect place to hang out at night is the rue Oberkampf, with many restaurants, cafes and bars.

The best hub we have found is Denfert Rochereau. It has superb Metro and bus connections and is a change free place to go to Gare du Nord or CDG.

There appear to be affordable neighborhood between there and the Place d'Itallie and toward the Peripherique.

Thank you very much. I will probably study at Alliance Francaise.