Living in Paris is a dream for many, but Paris also stops many people in their tracks due to its high cost of living. Compared to cities like London, Tokyo and New York, the average cost of living in Paris is not that expensive. Is it possible to live in Paris for a month on a budget of only 1,000 euros? Let’s dive into the cost breakdown for a better understanding.
Cost of Living in Paris: Overview
It is true that the cost of living in Paris is high among the cities of France. However, when compared to other major cities globally, the living expenses in Paris are not as expensive as imagined to be unaffordable. Whether you are a student or a professional, there are several advantages you can utilize to lower the price of living in Paris. When visiting Paris as a traveler, you typically cannot get these discounts, which might lead you to believe that Paris is quite costly. Suppose you are a student or professional living in Paris for a long period. In that case, your cost of living in Paris will be about 1,000€-2,000€ per month, which usually includes accommodation, food, transportation, entertainment, healthcare (covered by insurance), and other expenses.
Cost of Living in Paris: Rent
Rental is the biggest part of your cost of living in Paris. Depending on the size, decoration, and location, rent in Paris may range from 400€ to 2,000€. Students or interns who are new to Paris can save money by finding cheap student accommodation in Paris.
Choosing a Location
Your choice of location can significantly affect your budget. The closer you are to the city center, the more expensive the rent will be. However, some shared houses and student apartments in the center of Paris are still affordable. Here’s a breakdown of studio rental costs by area:
- Central Paris (1st–7th arrondissements): Rent for a studio or one-bedroom apartment can go from €1200 to €2000. These apartments are located in busy locations with full amenities and modern decoration, some popular apartments include Canvas La Défense and Les Estudines Paris-Levallois.
- Northern and Eastern Paris (18th–20th arrondissements): These neighborhoods are more affordable, with rents between €800 and €1200 for small apartments. But we can still find affordable apartments from €550 per month like Paris Noisy-le-Grand.
- Suburban areas (Saint-Denis or Ivry-sur-Seine): Rent can drop to €600–€900, but you’ll need to account for commuting costs. It’s important to find an accommodation near the public transport for daily commuting. Paris Massy-Palaiseau is a mordern apartment in this area and near the station.
Shared apartments in central Paris are a more popular choice, as they cost only €400 to €700 in Paris. Students and professionals prefer shared apartments in great locations for the convenience of city center amenities and a shorter commute. If you are looking for a shared apartment in Paris, feel free to contact the consultants at uhomes.com.
Housing Subsidy in Paris
The housing subsidy(CAF) is a financial support given by the French government to people with no or low incomes. Depending on the size and location of the housing and your income, the amount of the housing subsidy may range from €100 to €500. This means that low-income and non-income groups can receive financial support for their housing and can live in Paris for 200-300€ or even less!
Cost of Living in Paris: Food
Food expenses depend on your lifestyle. If you’re cooking at home, a monthly food budget of €200-€300 is realistic. Dining out or ordering takeout frequently can quickly double this cost.
Groceries are relatively affordable in Paris if you shop at supermarkets like Carrefour, Monoprix, or Lidl. Shopping at local markets can also provide fresher produce at lower prices. Here are typical prices:
| Food | Price |
|---|---|
| Bread | 1.30€–1.50€ |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.20€ |
| Eggs (12-pack) | 3.00€ |
| Chicken breast (1kg) | 12.00 € |
| Lettuce(1 piece) | 0.99 € |
High-end French restaurants such as Michelin restaurants can be very expensive, but Paris also has a number of affordable fast food and regular restaurants for residents to choose from:
| Food | Price |
|---|---|
| A meal in an inexpensive restaurant | 15.00€ |
| McDonald’s or equivalent fastfood | 12.00€ |
| Beer (0.5 l) | 7.00€ |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 4.00 € |
| Soda(0.33 l) | 3.5 € |
| Water (0.33 l) | 2.8 € |
Cost of Living in Paris:Transport
Paris features an efficient public transport network comprising the metro, buses, trams, and RER trains. Public transport reaches nearly all areas of Paris and its surrounding suburbs and is a fairly cost-effective method of commuting. If you are in a hurry, you can also take a taxi, but it’s a little bit expensive. For a short distance, you can rent a bike or take a city walk.
A single ticket is priced at €2.10 and permits free transfers between buses, metros, and trams within a designated time frame. If you reside here for an extended period, a Navigo card provides unlimited use of these public transport options. If you are employed in Paris, your employer typically covers your travel expenses.
Taxis in Paris are expensive, with fares starting at €7 and increasing by €1–€1.50 per kilometer. Apps like Uber or Bolt are more affordable, with fares averaging €10-€20 for short distances.
Paris Cost of Living: Leisure Activities
Paris has a romantic art scene. The palaces, art galleries, and museums are worth a month of exploring alone. In addition to these, there are often events for young people in Paris such as music festivals, concerts, operas, and so on. Most of the time you will need to purchase tickets to attend these entertainments, but on some special dates you can participate for free.
| Activity | Cost (€) |
|---|---|
| Cinema | €12–€15 per ticket |
| Theatre/Concert | €20–€60 |
| Gym Membership | €30–€60 per month |
| Eiffel Tower (Summit Access) | €28.30 for adults / €7.10 for children |
| Louvre Museum | €17 (free for EU residents under 26) |
| Musée d’Orsay | €16 (free for EU residents under 26) |
| Sainte-Chapelle | €11.50 |
| Arc de Triomphe | €13 (free for EU residents under 26) |
| Palace of Versailles | €19.50 (Gardens free on most days) |
| Disneyland Paris (1 Day) | €62–€107 (varies by season) |
| Montparnasse Tower | €18 for adults / €9.50 for children |
| Catacombs of Paris | €15 for adults / €13 for reduced tickets |
| Seine River Cruise | €12–€20 (depending on provider) |
Paris Cost of Living: Healthcare
People who live in France for a long time can apply for public health insurance (Carte Vitale) so that most of your medical expenses are reimbursed. This makes France one of the most affordable countries for healthcare. The cost of medical treatment depends on the patient’s condition, and a typical doctor’s visit only costs about €10, as most are reimbursable. Foreigners and students also have access to public healthcare or can choose to purchase additional insurance.
Cost of Life in Paris: Education
Children between the ages of 3 and 16 can enjoy free education in France. The French government provides free entry to public schools for children, but of course you can also choose private schools.
If your child wants to enter a French university, the public universities charge a registration fee of approximately €170 a year. This fee does not include the books and other expenses. Private schools such as business schools and international exchange programs can be more expensive, usually over €10,000 per year.
Cost of Life in Paris: Other Expenses
There are also other expenses that are necessary. To connect to the Internet, you need to choose from a wide range of internet and mobile phone plans.
- Bundled deals from major providers like Orange, SFR, or Free are popular choices, which cost €10–€20 per month.
- For short stays, prepaid SIM cards for €10–€20 are a flexible and cost-effective option.
- If your accommodation in Paris does not include internet, you have to install a home internet (Fiber/ADSL), which usually costs €20-€40 per month.
Is Paris Expensive to Live in?
Paris is undeniably the most expensive city in France, surpassing other major cities such as Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux. The cost of living in Paris, France ranges between €1,200 and €2,000 per month, while small cities in France usually offer more affordable living costs, with average monthly expenditures ranging between €800 and €1,200.
| City | Student Expenses (€) | Working Professional (€) | Luxury Lifestyle (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 1000–1200 | 1500–2500 | 3000+ |
| Lyon | 800–1000 | 1200–2000 | 2500+ |
| Marseille | 700–900 | 1100–1800 | 2200+ |
| Bordeaux | 800–1000 | 1300–2000 | 2500+ |
| Toulouse | 700–900 | 1100–1700 | 2200+ |
| Montpellier | 650–900 | 1100–1600 | 2000+ |
| Nice | 800–1000 | 1300–2000 | 2600+ |
| Nantes | 700–900 | 1100–1700 | 2000+ |
| Strasbourg | 700–900 | 1100–1700 | 2000+ |
| Rennes | 650–900 | 1100–1600 | 1900+ |
| Lille | 700–900 | 1100–1800 | 2000+ |
| Grenoble | 650–850 | 1000–1600 | 1900+ |
| Dijon | 600–800 | 1000–1500 | 1800+ |
| Reims | 650–850 | 1000–1600 | 1900+ |
| Aix-en-Provence | 750–950 | 1200–1800 | 2200+ |
Although Paris is one of the most expensive cities in France, when we compare Paris to other popular international cities such as London, New York and Washington, we can see that the cost of living in Paris, France is at a more affordable level.
| City | Monthly Living Costs (€) |
|---|---|
| Paris | 1000–2000 |
| New York | 3000–5000 |
| London | 2500–4000 |
| Tokyo | 1800–2500 |
| Singapore | 3000–4500 |
| Sydney | 2500–4000 |
| Berlin | 1500–2500 |
Tips on Reducing the Cost of Living in Paris
The cost of living in Paris is actually not as expensive as you imagine! There are many ways to reduce the cost of living without compromising your quality of life. By strategically arranging your housing, transportation, food and leisure, you can keep your expenses within your €1,000 budget. This is something you must know before coming to live in Paris!
Rent:
- Apply for CAF to reduce rent costs.
- Look for shared accommodation in affordable neighborhoods.
Transportation:
- Buy a Navigo Pass for daily travel.
- Use shared bikes for short trips instead of taxis or Ubers.
Food:
- Shopping at discount supermarkets like Lidl, Carrefour, or Aldi.
- Cook at home
Leisure:
- Take advantage of free cultural events.
- Look for student discounts or free entry at museums.
Healthcare:
- Ensure you’re covered by public insurance (Carte Vitale) to reduce medical costs.
Conclusion
Although many people think that Paris, the capital of France and the romantic capital of the world, is expensive for people to live in. In fact, long-term residents can greatly reduce the Paris cost by taking advantage of French government benefits and living a smart lifestyle. Therefore, it’s not difficult to use 1,000 euros as a budget for living in Paris for a month.
FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Paris?
The average cost of living in Paris is between €1,000 and €2,000 depending on your status. Students can get more discounts and usually €1000 or less is enough to cover their Paris living expenses. Professionals have better consumption power and generally spend around €1,500 per month.
What is the average rent in Paris?
Your monthly rent in Paris depends on your requirements for the location and decoration of your Paris accommodation. If you choose a cheap flatshare like most people do, it will probably only cost you €500 per month. If you wish to live in a private studio, it will cost more than €800.
Is 1000 euros enough for one month in Paris?
Yes. People living in Paris for a long-term period can keep their cost of living In Paris to less than €1,000! You can get financial assistance through French government housing subsidy, health insurance. And look for cheap housing and restaurants.
Is Paris expensive to live in for students?
No, Paris is not expensive for students to live in. As a student, you can take advantage of many benefits in Paris, including cheap student apartments, government subsidies, student transportation passes, student meal, and free museum visits.
Is Paris cheaper than London?
Yes, Paris has a lower cost of living than London. Even foreigners here have access to government subsidies. Whether you come to Paris to work or study, Paris is a city that is worth visiting.
Is Paris expensive than USA?
Definitely, the cost of living in Paris, France is much lower than in the USA. In Paris, 1,000 euros will cover your cost of living in Paris for a month if you’re not a luxury lifestyle person. But that budget is almost impossible to live in a major American city for a month.
