The Cost of Living in Paris (as an international student) in 2023

Home » How much $$$ I spend in a month living in Paris (as an international student)

Ahhhhhh, Paris.

The city of lights, love, wine, cheese… and high living costs.

But just how much does it really cost to live in Paris?

If you’re thinking about moving to the French capital alone, or are already in the process of doing so, you’re probably wondering just how much it’s going to cost you.

Here’s a helpful breakdown of my expenses in Paris as a student, so you can get an idea of what to expect.

Spoiler alert: it ain’t cheap!

P.S. Prefer video? Check out this video on my Youtube channel for the full breakdown of what I spent in a month living in Paris in 2022 👇

How much does it cost to live in Paris?

Paris is arguably the most expensive city in France to live in, which I’m sure comes as no surprise.

Overall, you can expect to spend at least €1,500 a month to comfortably live in Paris.

The average price per square meter for an apartment in Paris is about €9,000/sqm in the city center and €7,000/sqm in the outer neighborhoods. This means that a one-bedroom apartment (30 sqm) can cost you anywhere from €270,000 to €420,000.

Most major cities in the United States are cheaper than Paris, with the exception of New York and some other big cities.

But even then, Paris is generally more expensive when it comes to housing costs.

Public universities in Paris are free for anyone living in France or any other member of the European Economic Area. However, private and international schools tend to be really expensive (up to €7,500 per year in tuition fees).

Food costs in Paris are generally comparable to that of the rest of Europe. Grocery stores sell basic items at a slightly lower price than in large cities like New York or London.

Eating out is also quite expensive — you can expect to pay around €15 per meal (for a main dish only, no drinks).

Health care and social security are heavily subsidized in France, so the cost of medical treatment is quite low. However, if you’re not a resident or don’t have health insurance, you may end up paying more than usual.

Leisure activities in Paris, such as going to the movies or museums, are reasonably priced compared to other cities of its size. There are lots of cultural activities here that are low-cost or even free for students or those under 26.

The average cost of living in Paris can also vary significantly depending on where you live. Areas close to the city center tend to be much more expensive than other parts of the region or even northeastern France.

Keep reading for the complete breakdown of expenses for living in Paris, including the average rental price, cost of food and utilities, transportation, health care, and more.

P.S. You can find all my Paris articles & resources on this page 👈

Cost of Living in Paris: A Complete Breakdown

Now that you get the gist of what it’s like to live in Paris, let’s break down the expenses you can expect for your month-to-month living costs.

Rent

Rent in Paris will obviously be your highest expense.

After all, most people living in Paris will end up spending around 30-40% of their income on rent alone.

The average price of a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is €1,100 – 1,800 per month. This can also vary depending on which arrondissement (Parisian districts) you choose to live in – for example, the Latin Quarter and Eiffel Tower districts are pricier than most.

If you want to be closer to some of the main attractions like the Eiffel Tower or Champs-Elysées, expect to pay upwards of €1400/month.

And don’t forget about the security deposits you’ll have to pay when moving in! That’ll usually account for an equivalent of at least one month’s rent.

If you’re looking to save some cash, consider living further away from the city center – prices drop significantly when you get out of the tourist areas.

I live in a shared 3-bedroom apartment in the 9th arrondissement, which costs me €788 in monthly rent. I live with two close friends, in a decent-sized apartment in the center of the city, so I’m content with paying this price for now.

And before I moved here a year ago, I was living in a tiny 12m2 studio apartment and was paying €590/month!

It wasn’t in the best area and was really, really tiny, but that’s the price you pay for living in Paris.

That just goes to show that it’s definitely possible to find something on the cheaper side in Paris, but don’t expect to have much space!

Did you know: There is actually a legal cap on how much landlords can charge per square meter of a rental property!

So if you’re ever in doubt, always ask for the square meter rate.

Sadly though, these laws are often not followed – since Paris is such an in-demand city to live in, landlords know that they can charge higher prices for their properties because they will always find somebody willing to pay it.

P.S. Looking for an apartment in Paris? Check out my video with my best tips for finding an apartment in Paris without getting scammed 👇

Utilities

Outside of rent, there are other expenses to consider like internet, electricity, water, etc.

Mine is included in my rent so I don’t have to worry about it, but it will usually run you around €60-70/month.

I live in a newer building so our utilities are not too bad and usually come out to around €70/month. If you live in an older apartment, however, your utilities could be much higher.

Especially in the winter, running the heater can get pricey.

Last winter, my roommate accidentally left our living room heater on for a few weeks and our electricity bill came to €400!

I’d recommend investing in a space heater or some heavy blankets if you plan on staying in Paris during the cold months.

Food and Groceries

The cost of food in Paris has gone up significantly over the past few months (just live everywhere else in the world), but that doesn’t mean you have to spend an arm and a leg to eat here.

Your food and grocery budget are another expense that will vary depending on how much you cook and home and how much you like to eat out.

Groceries

Food and groceries in Paris are actually fairly cheap if you know where to shop.

I usually go to the Monoprix supermarket chain, which is your typical French grocery store chain with plenty of options for both food and household items. It’s definitely not the cheapest choice for groceries in Paris, but I’m kinda forced to go here because it’s the only store near my apartment.

Fruits and vegetables can range anywhere from €2-4/kg, while a pack of chicken breasts usually costs me around €6.

There are far cheaper options here like Lidl, Aldi, and Super U if you’re willing to go a little bit further.

Dining out

I admittedly like to eat out at restaurants far more often than I should, so I end up spending at least €300/month just on food.

If you’re better at cooking your own meals and eating out less, you could probably cut this down to around €150-200/month.

Supposing you want to eat out a few times a month though, here’s what some of the prices look like:

Combo meal at McDonalds: €12
Meal at a mid-range restaurant: €20
Bottle of wine from the supermarket: €6 – 12

Of course, prices will be higher if you’re eating in more high-end restaurants or buying your wine from specialty stores – but if you’re on a budget, these are definitely the cheapest options.

There are also a ton of cheap bars in Paris if you really want to go out with friends but don’t want to spend too much money.

When I’m in the city center, I also like to pick up quick snacks and meals from chain stores like McDonald’s or KFC. A combo meal will usually run you around €10-12, so it can be a great option when you’re short on time or money.

Though it’s not the healthiest option, so I def don’t recommend doing this all the time!

If you work for a company here in France, they will likely give you a meal card to use at local restaurants which can help reduce your food costs. I get an extra €200 on my meal card every month, which goes a long way! I can use it at most restaurants, and even grocery stores around the city.

This definitely makes feeding my brunch addiction at some of my favorite Paris breakfast restaurants a whole lot easier.

You’ll also find plenty of ways to save money when it comes to food – just look out for deals or discounts and plan your meals in advance. I like to use the app TooGoodToGo to find food that restaurants are selling at a discounted price near me.

Overall, I’d say I spend about €250-300/month on groceries, meals out, and snacks.

Transportation

For transportation, the most cost-effective option is to rely on public transportation.

I use an unlimited monthly pass for the Métro & RER that covers the entire Paris region (which includes Versailles and some other surrounding cities) for €75/month.

This is great if you’re planning on exploring the surrounding area outside of the city! The pass also gives you unlimited access to the bus system that crosses the city.

If you’re a student under 26 years old, the monthly pass will cost you €35.

Also, if you work for a company here in Paris they will pay for half the cost of your transportation pass. So I have the metro pass for €75/month, but my job just adds an extra €35 to my check every month to pay for half of my metro pass. So I really only pay €35 per month for my metro pass.

This is a pretty good deal in my opinion!

Especially compared to other major cities like London, where you can expect to pay upwards of €200/month for a transportation pass.

If you only take transport occasionally, a single metro ticket costs €2.10 (or €1.60 each if you buy a 10-pack).

I rarely use Uber here because they can get pretty expensive but if I have to take it once and a while I will. Overall I’d say I spend maybe €40/month or less on Uber.

Subscriptions

I pay €25/month for my phone plan, which includes 10GB of data and unlimited international calls. This is actually fairly high for France, and there are a ton of great local phone plans you can find for even cheaper.

There are quite a few monthly subscriptions I pay for that help me with my blog, content creation, and general work. I pay around €200/month total for these, which is more than worth it in my opinion!

Here’s an overview of a few of the subscriptions I pay for every month:

Adobe (Lightroom, Premiere Pro, Photoshop) – €20
Canva Pro – €12
MailChimp – €20
Spotify – €12
RankIQ (keyword research tool for my blog) – €50
Netflix -€0 (Thanks Mom!)
Gym – €19

Entertainment and Fun

While living in Paris, you’re going to want to take advantage of all the fantastic entertainment and cultural opportunities available. That being said, it can get pretty expensive if you’re not careful.

I usually budget €200-300/month for things like theatre tickets, going out with friends, special events, museum trips, etc.

But, the fact that most of my friends here are also international students on a budget means that there’s always lots of ways to cut costs. We’ll often bring our own food and drinks when going out, or plan trips around free events in the city.

We also try to do a lot of things that are cheap (or free!) to save money.

I would say a reasonable monthly entertainment budget would be around €200. In the summer months, you can easily spend less than that since the weather is better and you can spend more time outside!

Being on a student budget in Paris definitely forces you to get creative, and find the less-touristy things to do around the city that are more cost-efficient.

Final thoughts

As you can see, Paris isn’t exactly one of the most affordable cities in France to live in. However, you can definitely make it work without breaking the bank.

By budgeting carefully and taking advantage of discounts, deals, and cheap entertainment opportunities, living in Paris is 100% doable on even a tight budget. With some careful planning and creative problem solving, you can have an amazing time in Paris while still staying within your means.

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Hell, if I can survive here for the past two years on a student minimum wage budget and still have a great time, so can you!

So if you’re considering making Paris your new home, don’t let the cost of living scare you away. You might just be surprised at how much fun (and money) you can save by embracing life in this beautiful city!

Good luck!