How Much Does It Cost to Live In France?
France is a charming country often called Hexagone by the shape of its borders.
It would be wrong to visit Paris and judge the whole of France for this.
France has many faces and lots of secrets yet to unfold.
The cost of living in France is predominantly high, yet there are small towns and villages where the employees receive high salaries, and the prices are fairly low.
This country has everything from ancient castles and delicious wine to various types of active recreation.
Among the must-see destinations are Nice, Cannes, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Montpellier -and they are just a few to mention.
France : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
French cuisine is delicious and is considered one of the most refined in the world.
There is a huge variety of wines, and dishes cooked from the most delicious representatives of flora and fauna.
The regional food in the restaurants is often cheaper than the aristocratic meals in the restaurants.
MARKETS
France is not an exception when it comes to street markets that sell everything from meat and cheese to flowers and oysters.
Some markets are covered and others are not.
Covered ones sell mostly meat and cheese, sausages, the products that are not desirable to rest under the sky.
Prices are a little higher than in the supermarkets but you pay for the quality and freshness.
TRANSPORTATION
The transportation system in France is modern and efficient.
You will be able to travel from one region to another and within the borders of the city with the help of a high-speed train network, by aircraft, or by car.
Every city and village in France has well-developed public transportation.
You can always take a bus, or book a taxi to travel to any destination of your choice.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
In brief, enumerating all the possible utilities in France would result in the following: electricity, rubbish collection, telephone, Internet, water, and gas.
To set up utilities in France, you will have to open an account in your name and set it up for utilities.
The bills arrive every two months and the average prices throughout the country do not seem high.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Families with kids are heading to the main destination in France Disneyland.
This is a huge park with loads of attractions where both young and old love to spend their time.
Sports that are famous in France include cycling, skiing, alpinism, paragliding, helicopter tours, and, of course, swimming.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Shopping in France is the dream for many tourists although you have to know well where to shop so you can get the best offer at a reasonable price.
The chain stores have sales and discounts, but the prices will still be high.
Going shopping in France, people are brand and quality-oriented.
RENT PER MONTH
The main question for many students, employees, and new residents in France is about renting an apartment.
The prices for apartments differ from one region to another and this depends on the availability of furniture, and appliances, and the season.
You can contact a landlord directly or make a call to the agency.
Cost of Living Averages Table for France
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $16.32 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $6.53 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.02 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.13 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.69 |
| Eggs (12) | $3.41 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $1.85 |
| Monthly Pass | $71.25 |
| Gasoline | $2.07 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $176.56 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.18 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $32.25 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $35.98 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $16.37 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $11.97 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $89.81 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $38.85 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $91.44 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $796.68 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $640.02 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1638.12 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in France?
No wonder that people in France, the capital of gourmets, spend most of their income on food.
Markets receive an average of 34% of the money an average Frenchman earns.
Secondly, this is the country of tourists, students, foreign employees, ex-pats, and creative people who regularly rent apartments in France.
Only 2.7% of the money is spent on clothing and shoes.
Restaurants and transport companies also receive significant revenue from visitors.
The least is given to utilities (6.1%), sports, leisure (4.7%), and shopping (2.7%).
Average Costs Breakdown
France: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
France is known for many visitors from the CIS countries and Russia willing to get jobs and settle down in France.
Of course, this country attracts not only tourists but business partners and investors.
The authorities of the country strictly control the vacancies for immigrants, because there is no illegal work here.
The minimum wage that a legal worker in France receives is $1,762.9 per month, and this sum is fixed for every city and village in the country.
The average monthly net salary after tax is $2,472.01 per employee.
The French know how to save money on utilities to get more to spend on some pleasant things and traveling.
Also, many people take housing loans from banks under 1.61% per annum.
France Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: France Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
- SCAMS RISK: HIGH
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in France
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Bordeaux | 76.31 |
| Grenoble | 78.43 |
| Lille | 67.73 |
| Lyon | 78 |
| Marseille | 64.64 |
| Montpellier | 74.08 |
| Nantes | 72.37 |
| Nice | 75.84 |
| Paris | 84.68 |
| Strasbourg | 75.47 |
| Toulouse | 76.3 |
