I live in a 97-square-foot micro-apartment in Paris. Tiny living comes with pros and cons that I didn't expect.

I've been surprised by how much I like living in a small space, but there are definite downsides, too. Naydeline Mejia I live in a 97-square-foot micro-apartment in Paris, and I like it much more than I expected. My space feels cozy, and I've been saving money on rent and shopping more intentionally. On the other hand, the lack of privacy is hard, and I miss hosting friends and family. When I moved into my 97-square-foot micro-apartment in the fall of 2025, it was supposed to be temporary. Unaccustomed to minimalist living , I gave myself a deadline of three months to find a larger place better suited to my lifestyle as a 20-something expat. However, after a few months, I adapted to the pseudo-communal living style of Paris's charming "chambre de bonne" apartments.