How Much Does It Cost to Live In Paris?
Cost of living in Paris, the iconic city of science and intelligence in Europe, is much higher than in the other French cities.
If you are thinking of moving to Paris for life or going to become a student there, you have to know all the pros and cons before buying a ticket.
This is a diverse city where you will still find budget accommodation and transportation.
You can choose to eat traditional fast food cheap or go to one of the most luxurious restaurants at the Eiffel Tower.
France : Cost of Living by City
Cost of Living in France
RESTAURANTS
There is plenty of ways to feed your eyes and stomach in Paris.
The cheapest is to drink water on a bench.
But if you want something more nutritious, you can order a combo meal for $9.09 or take a table for two in a mid-range restaurant for a three-course meal.
A cup of cappuccino in Paris costs $3.71.
MARKETS
The markets are definitely a cheaper place to eat in Paris.
Many citizens prefer buying food there depending on their diet and preferences.
There are the freshest vegetables, fruits, seafood, and meat.
The prices are really low compared to the supermarkets or grocery shops.
TRANSPORTATION
Among the possible transportation options in Paris like a bus, metro, taxi, rented car, bicycle, tram or high-speed train, there are both cheap and expensive too.
The most expensive is buying the tickets separately, so think of buying a monthly pass to travel around the city regularly and at a low price.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Paying for utilities in Paris is not a big deal.
You just have to set off as much as $170 and feel good about it.
This is the average price, of course, and it highly depends on the time you spend at home and the comforts you use.
In Paris, bills are usually paid every two months and can be either paid online or automatically from your account.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Starting with the most popular traditional ways to keep a body fit, a monthly pass to a fitness club for an adult is $49.93.
An hour of playing tennis on weekends is $20.25.
Besides, you can go to the cinema, take yoga classes, race in the forest, go swimming and cycling, play football, rugby, and other ball games.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Paris is the city of fashion and style, chic and charm with the aroma of perfumes, croissants, and coffee.
Apart from the chain stores like Zara, H&M, and Nike, the doors of the most luxurious boutiques are open for the shopaholics of the world.
Paris is the capital of shopping so getting clothing and shoes here is not a problem.
RENT PER MONTH
Housing in Paris is the biggest item of expenditure in Paris.
You might try to find cheap accommodation but most of the citizens spend more on monthly rent than food.
In all, the prices for a one-bedroom apartment outside the city center do not run below $680, and the same square meters in the downtown will cost you $1,315.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Paris
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $17.05 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $6.82 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.35 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.30 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.75 |
| Eggs (12) | $3.81 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.16 |
| Monthly Pass | $85.26 |
| Gasoline | $1.77 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $169.78 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.27 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $33.82 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $49.93 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $20.25 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $12.51 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $96.10 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $40.27 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $103.76 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1315.73 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $975.92 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $2820.94 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Paris?
The average Paris citizen spends their money on accommodation which is always in the first place by price.
The accommodation is more expensive in Paris than in the rest of the French cities where many prefer to move to.
It may surprise you, but clothing and shoes in the capital of fashion are the minor items of expenditure.
People spend the least money on their style and image because of the mentality of the French who are accustomed to a quite style of dress which is normally not expensive.
13.5% goes to restaurants and 10% to transportation.
Average Costs Breakdown
Paris: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The average salary is Paris is equal to the average salary in the rest of the cities in France.
Probably, it is a little bit higher but the income highly depends on the qualifications, place of residence, experience, hours of work etc.
The minimum wage that was increased in 2019, makes now $1,741.8 per month.
On the opposite, an average monthly net salary after tax is $2,201.14.
Some of the highest paying jobs in France are police officers, project managers, lawyers, and brokers.
The mortgage loans are also possible if you are planning to buy an apartment to rent it out later or live there with your family.
The interest rate is 1.81%, which is lower than in the other large cities like Lyon, Marseille or Lille.
Paris Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Paris Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
- SCAMS RISK: HIGH
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Paris
| 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 |
| Strasbourg | 75.47 |
| Toulouse | 76.3 |
