[OSL]

Does anyone know how I can get cheap short term apartment rentals in Berlin?

I'd like to pay less than 500 USD a month, which is currently about 380 euros.

Preferably furnished and with wifi. I hear Berlin is actually a budget-friendly city as far as European capitals go.

I'd be there for between 1-3 months. Also, I'd like to find a gym around the area where I live, which in turn is hopefully near a major subway line.

I've been sniffing around online and been finding some stuff in that price range. However, I barely know the city and don't know which areas I should be living in.

[Chase]

The city is indeed very cheap compared to other European capitals. Personally, I found Craigslist not bad for finding furnished apartments, and this website: http://www.wg-gesucht.de

'WG-Gesucht.de was founded in 1999 and is thus the first internet platform of this kind. Today, WG-Gesucht.de is one of the most important housing platforms for apartments and apartment shares in Europe. 4,0 million visitors use WG-Gesucht.de every month and place more than 120,000 ads. As a young housing platform, WG-Gesucht.de does not only offer rooms in apartment shares but also studio apartments and two or more bedroom apartments. At WG-Gesucht.de you can find rooms in apartment shares, studio apartments, two or more bedroom apartments and houses for rent without commission!'

As good general resources also check http://www.toytowngermany.com and http://www.internations.org.

The cheapest option for the gym is the McFit chain: 16,99 EUR per month, open 24-7. They only offer one year contracts, though.
http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index...64029.html

I would recommend living in Mitte / Prenzlauer Berg. Alternatively, Kreuzberg (a bit rougher) or Friedrichshain. Avoid Wedding, Marzahn, Neukölln. These are ugly quarters with migration problems and violence.

[Pepini]

Stay in the comunist part of the city, it´s the cheapest and full of young people, I recommend Prenzlauer Berg.

[OSL]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I have been weeding out apartments based on your suggestions

It seems like to get a decent rental with utilities included, I need to pay closer to 500 euros but not much more.

Does that price seem accurate? I'd like to be close to a subway of course.

[Badstuber]

http://www.immobilienscout24.de
Wohnungen = apts

Häuser = houses

mieten = rent

kaufen = to buy

[Bukowsky]

When you going? Berlin is gorgeous in the spring.

[OSL]

Actually, I would be going in the spring. The duration of my stay there is not really set but I can tentatively say it will be about two months - April and May.

Can anyone comment on prices?

[Lumiere]

dude, create a berlin flashpod

thats what the site is for

[Chase]

500 EUR sound a bit high. But hard to judge without knowing anything about the location, size, and furnishings of your place.

Prices did go up though. Especially in Prenzlauer Berg. It used to be the refuge of the creative people for years. Now lots of these people got a bit older, have kids, earn more money, buildings are refurbished and redeveloped... It would still be my favorite quarter to live in. However, in Friedrichshain, not too far away, you can get a room in industrialized apartment blocks for less.

Btw, all the universities have large message boards with many postings on shared living, finding flat mates etc. Definitely cheaper than 500 EUR. Consider staying at a hostel for a couple of days and finding yourself a permanent place once you have arrived in the city ...and you definitely should get a cheap bike.