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Cost of living in France

FRANCE | EXPATS

BANKEAZ | Expats Team
8/28/2024 - 7 min read

Valuable details to assist in creating a financial plan for your visit to France, considering expenses like rent, food, transport, and medical services.

#BudgetingTips #FranceTravel

Are you planning to live in France for work, study or to discover this beautiful country?

The cost of living in France is an essential factor to consider before settling down.

Mainly because it can vary considerably from one part of the country to another - Paris and Lyon, for example, being the French cities with the highest cost of living.

You can know more about cost of living in several countries here ↗.

This article provides you with practical information to help you draw up a budget, taking into account the various costs to be expected, such as rent, food, transport and health expenses.

Follow the guide!

> Cost of living in France

While the average cost of living in France is quite high, it all depends on where you live.

Paris, for example, is regularly ranked among the world's most expensive cities, but there are other equally attractive regions of France where the cost of living is far more affordable than in the capital.

Whatever your project in France, careful planning and a realistic view of the cost of living are essential to avoid breaking the bank and to choose the solution best suited to your budget.

The following information will help you evaluate the average costs of essential expenses such as food, housing, transport, health and leisure.

All prices and rates mentioned below are estimates and given for information only.

> Housing budget

Once you've made the decision to move to France, one of your priorities is to find accommodation that meets your expectations and budget.

Bear in mind that in France, the cost of living depends above all on the size and location of the apartment or house you're looking for.

While Paris remains a very popular city for expatriates, it remains by far the most difficult and expensive place to live in France.

A recent study by Statista shows, for example, that between Strasbourg and Paris, the average price per square meter varies by a factor of three.

The following summary gives an idea of the approximate rents to consider for renting a 25 m² studio in different French cities.

• Paris : > € 800 /month;

• Nice : € 520 /month;

• Lyon : € 500 /month;

• Bordeaux : € 460 /month;

• Lille : € 430 /month;

• Marseille, Toulouse, Montpellier : € 400 /month;

• Nantes, Grenoble, Rennes : € 370 /month;

• Clermont-Ferrand : € 340 /month.

The further you move away from the city center, the lower the rent. In the Paris region, for example, there can be a difference of up to 20% in rent between a property in the center of the capital and one on the outskirts.

> Food budget

In France, as in many capitals, eating well can come at a price.

On average, the French spend around 300 euros a month on food.

This figure can vary depending on the city you live in and what you eat.

Generally speaking, the cost of food is significantly higher in Paris than in other regions.

The following average prices are to be expected for basic food products and services:

• 1 bottle of water (1.5 liters): € 0.70;

• 1 liter of milk: € 1.20;

• 1 baguette of bread: € 1;

• 6 eggs: € 1.50;

• 1 kg pasta: € 1.50;

• 1 kg rice: € 1.95;

• 1 kg of potatoes: € 1.80;

• 1 coffee in a bar or restaurant: € 2;

• 1 meal in a fast food restaurant: € 8 to € 10;

• 1 meal in a mid-range restaurant: € 20 to € 40.

Would you like to enjoy the French art of living, while keeping your bills to a minimum? This blog post reveals 12 tips to help you save money on your monthly groceries!

> Budget for services and subscriptions

Like the cost of living for housing or food, the budget to be allocated to services and subscriptions is difficult to estimate, as it too depends on various factors such as the size of your household, the surface area and location of your home, as well as your consumption habits.

However, certain unavoidable costs such as energy, water and telecommunications can be anticipated.

- Energy costs (gas, electricity)

Since the energy market was opened up to competition, French consumers have been able to choose between different tariffs.

The regulated tariff, which is set by the public authorities on the recommendation of the Commission de Régulation de l'Energie (CRE). Only the incumbent suppliers Engie (gas) and EDF (electricity), and some of their local partners, are authorized to sell electricity and gas at the regulated tariff.

The market price, which is freely decided by each supplier.

It may be fixed or indexed:

• Fixed price: the supplier commits to an identical price for the duration of the contract;

• Indexed price: the supplier indexes its prices to changes in the regulated tariff. In this case, prices evolve in the same way as the regulated tariff.

To keep your energy costs to a minimum, discover our tips for lowering your electricity bill and reducing your gas consumption without shivering.

- Telecommunications costs

Prices for telephone (fixed and mobile) or TV packages and subscriptions range from around 20 euros to over 70 euros per month.

In the case of energy, as in the case of telecommunications, price comparators such as those offered by the consumer association “Que Choisir” are an excellent way of facilitating research and optimizing the cost of living linked to energy ↗ or telecommunications ↗.

> Transport budget

France's well-developed public transport network makes it easy to get around the various cities.

Here again, the budget you need to set aside depends on the geographical location of your home and the distances you have to cover every day.

For example, if your home is far from your place of work, your transportation budget can represent a significant proportion of your monthly expenses.

These indicative rates will help you anticipate your transportation budget:

• 1 annual transport pass in Paris: € 925.10;

• 1 annual transport pass outside Paris: between € 500 (Nantes) and € 816 (Marseille);

• 1 liter of gasoline: approx. € 1.80;

• 1 self-service bike: rates vary from city to city, with year-round subscriptions available. In Paris, a yearly subscription to a self-service bike costs between € 37.20 and € 99.60;

• 1 return flight Paris-Barcelona: approx. € 150 ;

• 1 return trip Paris-London by Eurostar: approx. € 100 to € 150;

• 1 return trip Paris-Marseille by TGV: approx. € 140.

To reduce the cost of living when it comes to transport, don't forget that there are a number of advantageous fares ↗ in France, particularly for students, people working in certain fields, large families or pensioners.

> Health budget

In France, social security covers around 70% of medical expenses (doctor's visits, hospital care, etc.).

Anyone who pays social security contributions or has been living in France for at least three months can benefit from the French public health system.

Your healthcare budget is determined by the care you may need and the fees charged by different practitioners (general practitioners, dentists, ophthalmologists, etc.).

That's why we recommend that you choose “sector 1” healthcare professionals, whose fees are almost fully reimbursed by the French social security system.

In this way, you'll reduce your healthcare budget by paying less and being better reimbursed.

Below you'll find estimates of the cost of medical consultations at sector 1 rates and the proportion reimbursed by social security:

• Consultation with a general practitioner: € 25 (€ 16.50 reimbursed);

• Consultation with a specialist: € 25 (€ 16.50 reimbursed);

• Consultation with a gynecologist or ophthalmologist: € 30 (€ 20 reimbursed);

• Consultation with a dentist: € 30 (the reimbursed portion depends on the treatment).

Finally, you should know that the majority of French people take out a complementary private insurance contract (mutuelle), which covers part of the health costs not covered by social security.

> Leisure budget

France has a rich cultural offering. Leisure activities vary widely in price.

There's something for every taste and budget.

Your leisure budget depends on a number of factors, including where you live, your age and your lifestyle.

Discounts and special rates are available for children, students, the unemployed, large families and pensioners, on presentation of proof.

What's more, you can visit certain museums (excluding temporary exhibitions) free of charge every first Sunday of the month in many French cities, including Paris, Rennes and Lyon.

Here are a few examples to give you an idea of the leisure budget in France:

• 1 cinema ticket: between € 8 and € 14;

• 1 admission to a museum or national monument (average price): € 12;

• 1 theater ticket: from € 10;

• 1 disco ticket: between € 10 and € 25;

• 1 entry to a municipal swimming pool (average price): € 3;

• 1 paperback book: between € 5 and € 10;

• 1 national daily newspaper: between € 2 and € 3.

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> Cost of living in France: control your budget with BANKEAZ!

Control your spending with peace of mind with BANKEAZ, the 100% online bank.

If it's not always possible to control the cost of living, BANKEAZ simplifies the management of your daily budget by providing you with intelligent money management tools!

Our various online banking accounts help you manage your finances and stick to your financial goals.

Creating Spaces also makes it easier for you to organize your budget and save money.

Configure your “Leisure” area, for example, and enter your monthly budget for cultural activities, while keeping your money under control by setting spending limits.

With BANKEAZ, managing your budget becomes child's play, with no paperwork and 100% online.

Don't wait any longer to discover a new banking experience.

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by BANKEAZ

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