Cost of Living in France

Compare the cost of your home country to the actual living costs in France, simply select your home currency and see the difference!

All data is kept up to date by local members and actual students. Our latest update was on: 1st of January 2019

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Food			Price in €
12 eggs dozen, large			12.50 EUR
1 beer pint in local shops, markets			7 EUR
1 kg of tomatoes			8.50 EUR
Full chicken 2kg			38.75 EUR
1litre 100% fruit juice			8.50 EUR
1 package of cigarettes imported brands			25 EUR
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples			7.50 EUR
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality			48.95 EUR
2.5 liters of Coca-Cola			0.95 EUR
1 Bread loaf standard			9.50 EUR
Whole fat Yogurt. 500ml			12 EUR
1x6 pack Dardanelle tuna			18.50 EUR
Heinz baked beans 1 tin			8 EUR
1.5 kg Sugar			10 EUR
2 liter cooking oil			20 EUR
Yum-yum noodles per pack			2.00 EUR
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes			5.50 EUR
1 liter milk			8.50 EUR
Fast food restaurant large serving/ take away			25 EUR
Housing
Utilities per month (water, electricity, gas) for 2 people in flat			165 EUR
Wi-Fi monthly fee 8 Mbps (1 month)			145 EUR
Laundry detergent (bleach, sunlight liquid, washing surf… altogether)			58.50 EUR
House Cleaning fee per day			105 EUR
Large Gas heater price range upwards.			200 EUR
Original branded Electric Fans			200 EUR
Original branded Electric kettle.			120 EUR
40 inches Beko flat screen HD TV set			2000 EUR
Single bed Blankets			120 EUR
Personal Care
Avon for women and men cologne			100 EUR
Ladies hair plaiting.			60 EUR
Ladies Sanitaryware (Pads and Tampoons)			18 EUR
Men's haircut			40 EUR
Ibuprofen, Panadol, Grandpa Pain killers box of 12 dosses			24.50 EUR
Mobile package local network providers’ talk-time, data and messages			65 EUR
1 month of gym subscription.			105 EUR
Earphones original (Samsung. iPhone)			90 EUR
Unisex Loris perfume			30 EUR
Gadgets maintenance and repairs (cellphone, laptops, tablets...) starting price.			100 EUR
Smart phones (Samsung, Xiaomi, HTC, IPhone) price range upwards			1000 EUR
Laptops (Samsung, Lenovo, Hp, Monster, Dell etc.) price range upwards			3000 EUR
Entertainment
Boat cruise with refreshments and finger snacks			120 EUR
Go carting 30mins			120 EUR
Movie House 3d cinema			30 EUR
Summer Festivals (jet, bumper cars, lucky deep ...(per ticket)			15 EUR
Photo shoot			120 EUR
Cappuccino / expresso/ coffee			12.50 EUR
3 course dinner local restaurant two people			96.50 EUR
3 course dinner classy, exotic restaurant two people			150 EUR
Play station 4 console without games.			2000 EUR
Spalding Basketball			200 EUR
Original branded Racket and Wilson’s tennis balls			500 EUR
Transportation
Taxi fare on average 5-10km			45 EUR
Public transport per trip one way maximum fare			30 EUR
1 liter petrol/diesel			6.50 EUR
1 day rent a car cost			140 EUR
Driver’s license			2300 EUR
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (Denim or similar)			150 EUR
1 pair of men’s formal shoes			215 EUR
1 pair original sport/casual shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands)			280 EUR
1 classy summer dress (Zara, H&M or similar retailers)			135.79 EUR
Ladies formal shoes original and durable			120 EUR
Back-pack, gym bag (Nike, Adidas, New balance)			150 EUR

*: Ph.D students usually get some form of stipends monthly or annually.

Also, the above figures are the generally expected tuition costs for public universities in France, the price to study in a private institution is significantly higher and is normally within the ranges of €5,000 to €20,000 for a year.

The cost of living in France changes from city to city and sometimes dependent on individual preferences, however, the general living cost in France is notably moderate when compared to its European neighbors like Swıtzerland, Denmark, and Sweden.

Every month, students can expect to spend €500 to €900, with a major chunk of the budget going towards accommodation.

Accommodation:

Accommodation takes a major part of a student’s budget and changes from city to city, however, since universities in France are highly centralized around the country’s major cities like Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Nice and others, the cost of housing is similar across these places.

Depending on the city and the accommodation type, students can expect to pay figures that range from €300 to €900 per month for one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments.

Living in the suburbs of major cities also reduces the cost to at least half the price it’ll cost within the city.

RocApply Tip: Find other students and share a flat or apartment to save costs or for more wholesome student experience.

Food

It is much cheaper when you buy groceries and prepare your own meals if there is ample time for it. However, time constraints and tough schedules can make cooking a bit difficult for some students, that is why there are many restaurants and fast-food outlets spread across every corner in France.

Monthly expense on food items for individuals who prepare their own meals ranges from €200 to €250 and monthly expense for eating out is somewhere between €300 to €350.

Transportation

One good thing about France is its very effective and cheap transportation system with buses, trains, metros, taxis, trams and e-hailing cabs spread around the country to facilitate easy movement.

France has a student transport scheme called ‘Imagine R’ which is a student travel pass for all students under the age of 26, the discounted fee is €38 per month for travel in all sorts of public transportation.

Generally, students over the age of 26, can still purchase a transportation pass of €75 per month.

Utilities

Many apartments and dormitories in France come with internet installed or included in the rental price. Mobile operators that serve very favorable call rates and offer a good amount of internet data are preferred by the majority of students.

One popular carrier service is ‘Free Mobile’, with low rates for calls and very good data packages. Typical student packages cost about €20 per month depending on usage.