Cost of living in France: city by city comparison

A single person living in France spends roughly €930 a month on groceries, utilities, transport, and leisure, excluding rent, though total monthly costs can climb past €2,000 in Paris once rent is added.

France is known for its rich culture, top-notch education, and high standard of living. But it's also a country with a relatively high cost of living, especially in popular cities like Paris. This is why it's helpful to oversee your expenses and to budget well if you're considering moving to France.

Key takeaways:

• Excluding rent, a single person in France spends about €930/month on groceries, utilities, transport, and leisure.
• Including rent, total monthly costs range from around €1,440 in smaller cities like Rennes to over €2,000 in Paris.
• Rent is the single biggest expense: a studio averages €974/month in Paris versus €450–€650/month in cities like Lille, Lyon, and Nantes.
• Students can cut housing costs significantly with CROUS residences (roughly €150–€500/month) and the CAF housing benefit.
• The average net salary in France is €2,447/month, rising to €3,360/month in Paris, generally enough to cover comfortable living costs.

Is France expensive to live in?

Yes, within the EU, France is on the expensive side, especially when compared to other European countries like Italy and Spain. Its capital, Paris, ranks as the 48th most expensive city in the world.

So how much does it cost to live in France? To answer this question, let's take a quick look at the average living expenses in France per month.

How much does it cost to live in France?

The average cost of living in France per month for a single person is around €930 excluding rent. It's important to remember that this's just an estimate number, and your actual cost of living in France may be higher or lower depending on your location, specific needs, and lifestyle. For instance, if you live in Paris, the average cost of living can go up to €1,061 per month.

The average cost of living in France per month:

Cost of living in France	Average cost per month
1-bedroom apartment	€774 ($884)
Utilities	€240 ($328)
Monthly public transport pass	€60 ($69)
Groceries	€341 ($390)
Leisure	€219 ($251)

Cost of living in France by city

The biggest chunk of your budget will go to the rent. But apart from the rent you'll have other monthly expenses such as groceries and public transportation. If you live in major French cities like Paris or Lyon, your average cost of living in France per month without the rent will be around €1,061 ($1,218) and €1,014 ($1,164), respectively. In cities like Bordeaux and Marseille your average cost of living will be a little bit lower, around €963 ($1105) to €1,004 ($1,152) per month.

Since the cost of living varies between French cities, we've gathered a list of some of the most popular cities in France to compare their cost of living.

Average rent in France by city

The amount of rent you'll pay in France varies depending on the type of accommodation. Your average rent cost in France will be lower if you choose to rent a private room over an apartment.

Here's the average rent in France across some of the best cities in France:

City	Private Room	Studio	Apartment
Paris	€800	€974	€1,908
Lyon	€505	€650	€830
Nice	€631	€766	€1,011
Bordeaux	€545	€614	€815
Marseille	€491	€641	€754
Nantes	€434	€509	€724
Rennes	€402	€510	€688
Lille	€429	€450	€786
Toulouse	€448	€554	€778

It's worth noting that you can find cheaper or more expensive rentals, depending on your specific needs and location. So it's a good idea to research and compare prices before signing a rental contract.

Regardless of whether you're going to France to study or work, it's better to start looking for your dream home early. Then you'll surely find something that fits your budget!

Student housing in France: CROUS, CAF, and other ways to save

Housing is the largest line item in most students' budgets, but private studios and apartments aren't the only option. A few France-specific schemes can bring your monthly housing cost down significantly.

CROUS residences, run by the French government's student welfare service, are the cheapest housing option for students, with furnished rooms typically costing between €150 and €500 a month, utilities included. Places are limited and in high demand, so it's worth applying through the DSE (Dossier Social Étudiant) as early as possible, ideally as soon as you're accepted onto your course.

Most students living in France, including many international students staying for at least one full month, can also apply for the CAF housing benefit, known as the APL or ALS. The amount you receive depends on your income, rent, and location. Submit your application through the CAF website as soon as you sign a lease, since payments aren't backdated indefinitely.

Before you can enrol at a French university, you'll also need to pay the CVEC (Contribution de Vie Étudiante et de Campus), a one-off annual fee of around €105 that funds campus health, culture, and student life services.

Some students reduce costs further by opting for a shared flat (colocation) instead of a studio, which spreads rent and utility bills across two or more tenants.

Utility costs in France

Depending on your contract, utilities in France can be either included or excluded from your rent. Electricity is usually the largest single item in this bill, especially in older buildings with less efficient heating, which is part of why the cost of electricity in France has drawn attention as energy prices rise across Europe.

Considering the increasing prices for utilities across Europe, we advise you to search for places with fixed utility costs included in your rent. Of course, this doesn't mean you can recklessly use them; otherwise, you might have to pay extra for the additional costs.

Expense	Average cost per month
Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage	€190
Internet	€30
Mobile phone plan	€19

How much does food cost in France?

Overall, grocery shopping in France is expensive compared to many other countries. Compared to other European countries, prices in France are 8% higher.

Depending on your habits, diet, and where you shop, you can expect to pay €341 per week for groceries in France. Let's break it down:

Average cost of food in France:

Expense	Average Cost
Milk (1 litre )	€1.18
Eggs (12)	€3.76
Tomato (1kg)	€3.13
Potato (1kg)	€1.98
Apples (1kg)	€2.79
Banana (1kg)	€2.08
White Bread (500g)	€1.78
Local cheese (1 kg)	€17.22
Bottle of red wine (mid-range)	€7

If you want quality and price ratio, do your grocery from supermarkets like Carrefour Intermarché. For good discount deals, check discount stores such as Lidl and Aldi. But if you want bio or premium products, expect to pay higher prices.

Average prices to eat out in France:

Expense	Average Cost
A meal in an inexpensive restaurant	€15
Dinner for two (3 courses)	€60
Cappuccino	€3.36
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	€6
Croissant in a café	€2

How much does public transport cost in France?

Public transport costs in France depend on the mode of transport and distance traveled. Frequent travelers can reduce transport costs by subscribing to weekly, monthly, or yearly subscriptions. For instance, you can get the Passe Navigo unlimited travel card in Paris. You'll pay a one-time €5 purchasing fee and then subscribe to a weekly or monthly subscription by selecting zones.

Expense	Average Cost
One-way ticket	€1.90
Monthly pass	€60
Taxi start (normal tariff)	€4.90
Taxi 1 km(normal tariff)	€1.90
Gas (1 litre)	€1.76

Students under 26 can usually access a discounted Navigo rate through the tarif solidarité scheme, which can bring the effective monthly cost down substantially compared to the standard pass. Check eligibility with your local transport authority as soon as you enrol, since discounts vary by region.

Healthcare costs in France

France has a public healthcare system funded through Assurance Maladie (CPAM), which reimburses the majority of medical costs for anyone working, studying long-term, or otherwise legally resident in the country. Newcomers typically need to open a Sécu (social security) account with CPAM using their residence permit, and processing can take a few weeks after arrival, so apply as soon as you settle in.

Once registered, a standard GP consultation costs around €30, of which Assurance Maladie reimburses about 70%, leaving a co-payment of just a few euros. Specialist visits typically cost more, depending on their sector and whether they charge above the standard government-set rate.

Because the public system doesn't cover 100% of costs, most residents take out a complementary private insurance policy called a mutuelle, which covers the remaining balance along with extras like dental or optical care. A mutuelle for a single adult typically costs between €20 and €60 a month, rising for older applicants or families.

Students, including international students, are automatically covered by the public healthcare system once registered with CPAM, so there's no separate mandatory student health insurance scheme to pay into. Many students still choose an affordable student mutuelle, often around €10 to €25 a month, to reduce out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions, dental care, and specialist visits.

Hidden upfront costs when moving to France

Beyond monthly rent and bills, moving to France comes with a set of upfront, one-off costs. Budgeting for these before you arrive can prevent financial stress in your first weeks.

• Security deposit: usually equal to one month's rent for unfurnished apartments, refunded after a move-out inspection.
• Agency fees: if you rent through a letting agency, expect to pay a share of the agency's commission, often capped by French law depending on the property and city.
• Moving and shipping costs: shipping belongings internationally can add several hundred euros depending on volume and distance.
• Administrative costs: long-stay student visa validation (around €200), document translations, and initial SIM card or bank account setup fees can add another €150 to €300 in your first month.

As a rule of thumb, budget for an extra one to two months of living costs on top of your first month's rent to cover these one-off expenses comfortably.

Money-saving tips for students and expats in France

Living comfortably in France on a moderate budget is possible by finding ways to save money on housing and other expenses. For example,

• Consider living in cheaper cities like Strasbourg and Bordeaux instead of major cities like Paris and Lyon.
• In Paris, live in student neighborhoods instead of popular neighborhoods, like Le Marais.
• Save on utility costs by using energy-efficient appliances.
• If you're a student, subscribe to one of the student transport plans.
• Apply for the CAF housing benefit covered in the student housing section above, if you're eligible, since it can meaningfully lower your effective rent.

How much salary do you need to live comfortably in France?

Now that you know the average living costs across French cities, it's helpful to compare the cost of living with the average salaries. This will help you determine how much you need to earn to support yourself and live comfortably in France.

While living in France isn't cheap, the average French salary is also higher than in most European countries. In 2026, the average salary in France was €2,447 net per month after tax. Usually, the average salary changes proportionally to the city's average cost of living. To give you an example, the average salary in Paris is €3,360 per month, which is enough to cover all your expenses, including rent.

Moving to France as a student? If you are trying to manage your budget, it is good to know that all full-time students enrolled in French institutions can intern with a valid student visa even if their degree doesn't require an internship. But costs and paperwork may look quite different from your hometown if you are from non-EU. Make sure you check out our guide to studying in France as an international student, and review the French student visa requirements early, since visa fees and processing times can affect your first-month budget just as much as rent does.

What's next? Find your home in France

Once you have a realistic monthly budget, the next step is find your home in France. Compare rent across the cities in this guide, decide how much you can allocate to a private room, studio, or apartment, and start browsing verified listings early, especially if you're relocating from abroad and can't view properties in person.

On HousingAnywhere, you can filter properties in France by city, budget, and move-in date, message landlords directly, and book your room, studio, or apartment before you arrive.

How to avoid rental scams and find safe housing in France

Searching for housing from abroad is when students and expats are most vulnerable to rental scams: fake listings, landlords asking for a deposit before any viewing, or properties that simply don't exist. On top of that, when renting in France, local guarantor requirements and in-person viewing expectations can be a real hurdle for international tenants who are still abroad.

Use platform like HousingAnywhere that screens every landlord through ID verification, scans listings with AI-driven scam detection, and holds your first month's rent in secure payment protection for 48 hours after move-in, giving you time to confirm the property matches its listing before the money is released to the landlord. If eligible, you can also add Rent Guarantee instead of a traditional guarantor, which can improve your rental application approval odds by around 40%.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in France per month as a student?

A student in a CROUS residence or shared flat, with the CAF housing benefit applied, can expect to spend roughly €700 to €1,100 a month in a smaller city and €900 to €1,400 a month in Paris, covering rent, food, transport, and utilities.

Is France affordable for international students?

France is more affordable for students than many people expect, largely because of CROUS housing, CVEC-funded campus services, subsidised student meals, and the CAF housing benefit, which can offset a meaningful share of rent. Costs are highest in Paris and lowest in smaller cities like Rennes, Lille, or Strasbourg.

What is the minimum income required to live in France?

There isn't one fixed number for every situation, but non-EU visa applicants are generally expected to show they can cover at least the French minimum wage (SMIC), which stood at around €1,426 net per month in 2026, or provide proof of sufficient savings or sponsorship for the length of their stay.

Can I live in France on €1,500 a month?

Yes, outside Paris. €1,500 a month comfortably covers rent, groceries, transport, and utilities in cities like Lyon, Bordeaux, or Nantes. In Paris, €1,500 is workable for a single person in a private room or studio, but leaves little room for savings or frequent dining out.

Is healthcare free for students in France?

Healthcare isn't entirely free, but it's heavily subsidised. Once registered with CPAM, students are reimbursed for most medical costs, and many take out an affordable student mutuelle, often €10 to €25 a month, to cover the remaining balance.

What is the cheapest city to live in France?

Based on the cities compared in this guide, Rennes and Lille have the lowest average rents, while overall living costs excluding rent stay close to the national average of €930 a month across most mid-sized French cities.