Cost of living in France – 2015

I m live in paris .I pay house rent 450 fot a studio ..70 euro all bills inxluding ...phone electric. Water etc...   and monthly kitchen round abt 175 ....and tiket of 4 zone paris is 110 euro...cafe ..hotling etc round abt ...150..for landry 30 euro. ...just.........

Village outside Montpellier - Saint Clément de Rivière
accommodation prices - rent of three-bed semi-detached house 1083 Eur per month.

> public transportation fares (tube, bus etc.) - A monthly bus pass into Montpellier for my son is 30 Eur

> food prices (your monthly budget) - I spend about 480 Eur for three people on organic food and meat from the butcher.

> health prices (for those who need medical insurance) - I have a work mutuelle

> education prices (if you need to pay) A year of university is 186 Eur.

> energy prices (oil, electricity) - I pay about 114 Eur per month for electricty, for an all-electric 3-bed house, for 10 months

> common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone) - We have Free phone contracts at 2 Eur each, and Orange internet/phone at 40 Eur per month. I also have a landline at about 23 Eur per month

> price for a good menu in a traditional restaurant - count 25 Eur per person not including wine at dinner, or 15 Eur at lunch time.

> price for a coffee or a drink - wine is about 4 Eur a glass. I don't drink coffee.

Where in Paris can you get rent for 450 Eur a month?

La courneve

really depends where your coming from, expectations on living. but for years this was mean't to be the greatest place to live in the world, full time. \not that a holiday isn't mind blowing.

You have prices for any country  here at Numeo
Pretty accurate.

It is at least 30% cheaper in France than Ireland and UKIf you have faith in the educational system, it is free.  Creche facilities are subsidised.  Transport and fuel is cheaper.  Eating out is cheaper as is groceries, and of course the booze is cheaper.

Utilities can be expensive as can Taxe Habitation.  Again depends which part of the country you are living in

> accommodation prices - 750€ rent for ~55sqm in Bordeaux

> public transportation fares (tube, bus etc.) - 1.50€ for one ticket inside Bordeaux

> food prices (your monthly budget) - ~400€ for food and other hygiene necessities for 2 people

> health prices (for those who need medical insurance) - Both under husbands work mutuelle

> education prices (if you need to pay) - Not studying

> energy prices (oil, electricity) - ~80€ for electricity, not sure how much we pay for the gas for the car

> common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone) - 30€ for internet/tv/landline, 50€ for 2 mobile phone plans(phones bought separately)

> price for a good menu in a traditional restaurant - 20-30€

> price for a coffee or a drink - Don't drink alcohol that much, but good coffee/tea would be ~5€.

> price for cinema tickets - ~10€

> car insurance - ~50€

Living in Reims...

320/month for 18 sq meters, includes rent and utilities and internet

1.55 for a bus ticket

200/month for food

250/year for health insurance

20/month for telephone bill

15-25 for a good menu in a traditional restaurant

4/5 for a coffee or standard glass of wine, 8 for a movie ticket

Hello, all.

Cost of living to me is a relative concept. I've lived in a number of very pricey locations and don't find my current location in the 'Sud' too bad at all - but I am about 10 km north of Perpignan.

The most expensive (to me!) things are aviation fuel for flying and the cost of eyewear. Everything else is quite moderate and controlled by ones preferences. I've a fairly frugal lifestyle outside of my key interests.

Aviation fuel is pretty standard price in provincial airstrips (stay away from the hub airports!). I buy my eye glasses from [link moderated] in the UK (recommended to me) and find my variofocus lenses are 80% chear than in France. They ship them straight out to me here!

Gas for my car is considerably dearer than in the US. But not much you can do about it in Europe unless you take the American stance which sticks it to the politicians if they try to hike gas prices too much!

things like clothing are much more expensive in france as opposed to the uk,no chains tk max and primark! supermarket food again a lot more expensive here in france,as is insurance for cars and houses. hardly no competition with electric,water ect at least opening up the markets in the uk has led to being able to swap energy supliers. cost of moving houses;with agent and notairs  fees so high.on the plus side,taxes on property,habitation,fonciere normaly cheaper than council tax in the uk(if you live in rural areas as opposed to paris.i live in duras,lot et Garonne 47120 petrol and diesel cheaper than the uk,as are most resturants for lunch.i think overall the cost of living is dearer in france than the uk.

the biggest difference to me is housing at  a whooping fith of the cost of my old town for a 1 bedroom flat. It is best to go green here and circumvent the energy system that way costs can be almost flat or even pay you.

biggest cost is socialism，they tend to see you as a cash rich tourist to start with. Taxes change all the time its not designed to be enabling its designed to create a barrier between the tourist and the French.

the cheapest fast food chain is more expensive than in the uk then middling is quite cheap and highend is less so compared with the uk.

You can cook more here which can be very cheap out of the city but generally prices are similar meat is cheaper and stuff is easy to grow， forraging is even an option.
There are less preservatives which raises costs significantly and there are powercuts which also raise food costs.

Council tax equivelent is cheap， health insurance 40 euros a month，mobile much more expensive but improving， internet tv land line fractionally cheaper.

Lesiure activities much cheaper， mens hair more expensive as is all male beauty stuff and womens·

clothing is expensive in general，highend is similar prices low end expensive， booze generally the same though bars are cheaper wine is significantly cheaper here about a third the cost.

vechile maintenance is only cheaper if you drive a french car， there is no second hand car market which means new is cheaper a little and old is just insane. I hear insurance is cheaper here and there are less car taxes than the uk. fuel is cheaper. big ticket experiences are alot cheaper and so are holidays although it sort of works out the same when you facter in the number of holidays they have here.

Weekends are less expensive because everything is shut sunday.
there are alot less fines and everyday driving costs like parking about €1000 Euros a year cheaper for a careful driver.

White goods are cheaper when they involve food and about 10 -20％ cheaper in general though range is set for the less well off.

sushi is fractionally cheaper here.

if you live in the country wood is cheap for fuel and in general，building costs are cheaper here about 2/5s. both raw materials and labour.

As is the cost of mignons，chefs，cleaners，gardeners，sports therapy.

Don't know about the black market but I hear that is also more affordable being a socialist country.

Security is cheap here especially manned labour ，physical security too to a lesser degree. Luxury rentals are cheaper here too cars boats planes that kind of stuff though seasons apply.

flying is generally the same，train travel is massively cheaper long hall up to 85％， i don‘t know about the bus.
low level crime is a bit more costly， high level crime less costly in terms of getting ripped off.

marriage is cheaper，here as is kids，dying is also cheaper here. care for the elderly is cheaper
south of france compared with greater london

eye surgery is cheaper in Britian too

I live in central Paris, which of course is the most expensive part of France. I have a gut feeling it's cheaper than Manhattan, where I lived before Paris, but have never done the math. It feels like it's cheaper to enjoy life here than in New York. So many entertainments etc. for little children are very cheap, not to mention that day care/creche costs next to nothing.
accommodation prices €900 for 40m sq

public transportation fares €120/month for 5-zone Navigo per person plus children's bus tickets at 70 centimes each

food prices (your monthly budget) €700 for 2 adults and a child, sourced carefully from the least expensive street markets and supermarkets. This includes no convenience foods, which would cost substantially more.

health prices (for those who need medical insurance) covered by state system. 19% of our income goes toward health care and pension.

education prices (if you need to pay) €2000/year for superb private maternelle. Totally optional as state schools also very good.

energy prices (oil, electricity) €50-80 month depending on season
common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone) €80 for Orange package of internet, TV, phone, mobile
price for a good menu in a traditional restaurant: very good lunch can be had for €13 a person for 2 courses; dinner is more like €20-25.
price for a coffee or a drink ranges from €1.50 for espresso at the bar to €6 for good wine not at happy hour. Beer seems expensive relative to wine. Cocktails are outrageously expensive. Also generally undrinkable, so that's ok.

price for cinema tickets €11

Also agree with everything Vincent2014 said on other items like white goods, clothing, train tickets, etc.

I live in Lyon 6eme district, so called upper-class area, outside Parc Tete D'or

How much does it cost to live in France?
> accommodation prices
760e, T2 about 60m2, including water and central heating

> public transportation fares (tube, bus etc.)
10-20e, I mostly walk or bike to work, 1.7km

> food prices (your monthly budget)
300e /person, vegetable/meat/seafood/fruit are really cheap in France, compare we used to live in Finland.

> health prices (for those who need medical insurance)
0, company paid mutual, even cover husband

> education prices (if you need to pay)
0, company hired French teacher

> energy prices (oil, electricity)
40~50e, electricity+gas

> common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone)
60e, home TV box plus husband phone, my phone is free from work

> price for a good menu in a traditional restaurant
40~50e

> price for a coffee or a drink
4e

> price for cinema tickets
6.5~8.5e (UGC 5 tickets=32e on week days)

many mutual covers amount of euros to get new glasses,

for me its like 800+ euros every year, i get glass/lens/contract lens all free

you should check your mutual, maybe it covers

Vern-sur-seiche,Bretagne
57m2 appartement 509€
Métropole buses n metro -47€
Mutuelle santé for 3 - 70€
Electric /water/tel/box - 200€
Coffee isn't expensive - 1.30€
Babysitter - 120€
Food n drinks per month - 300 is the less

does anyone know what a decent pro tailor costs for some alterations， I usually find my alterations cost just under 37 euro's.
Some a little cheaper， ps what are the dry cleaners called here？

Dry clean -lavage sec
For tailor, u can look on the net, maybe u'll fine it

Thanks this good info . Where is good place to stay beside Paris ? And good high school .i have teenager so keep looking for good school . And speak English as well .

Cheap living does not excist in Paris. In the 7th arrondisement an 11 square meter studio/room cost €450/470. A family flat cost between €3200-5000. If you send your child to the International School or Private Bilingual School fork out €1250 pro child. That amount is without lunch. Babysitting cost €12.95 an hour. Monthly ticket for 2 zones are €70. Groceries bill depends on your cooking skills and buying products fresh from the markets. Most French moms don't have time to cook and rely on Picard(frozen food) that can cost you an arm and a leg. Eating out with a family in a well known restaurant various from €20/50 euro pro person. Whereas clothes,toiletries,shoes,materials,stationery,books and general items are better priced than in most Europeen countries. It is still possible to have an espresso for €1.20! If you are a woman and needs regulary maniciures/pedicures can cost about €45/50 a month. All above prices depends in which arrondisement you lived in. Living in the country side are cheaper but transportation and Private  Bilingual Schools in Paris are still expensive! The grass in not always greener on the other side!

cheers 

Contact the French Embassy in your country for information,documentation,proper private schools if your children don't speak french and visums. That's the only way to have entry in France.

Hello everyone,

Just a quick reminder that this thread is about the Cost of living in France. If you have any other topic you wish to talk about, please feel free to create a new thread in the France forum so as not to be off-topic here.

Thank you,

Shaazia
Expat.com Team

We are finding most things cheaper here than in New Zealand. Electronics and clothing would be about the same. Schooling is free, mobile phones we pay 2 euros per month incl 2 hours calling to NZ and texts in France! Food and alcohol cheap from the supermarket. Eating out probably a little more expensive.
But the thing I am shocked about is how expensive it is to post a package to NZ. Anyone have any tips?

Blogging at - kiwissayoui.blogspot.com

To fill in some information about Lyon: I live in Villeurbanne, close to Charpennes, so with good localisation. The apartment is not huge (35 sqm + mezannine), but spacious and bright. Perfect for two people. It's furnished and all the expenses (internet, electricity, water) are included in the rent.

Rent: 750€

Monthly ticket for public transport for student: 28.80€
One hour ticket, normal: 1.80 €

I won't agree with jingjing317 about the cost of food and utilities, because we monitor our expenses and depending on a month and our appetite, we spend 300-400€ per two people. Of course you have to add stuff like restaurants (15-20€ for a menu, I didn't see ANY for 40-50€...), presents and other one-time expenses.

University Lyon 1 tuition fee: ~390€ (or nothing if you are teaching)

All in all, you are able to live the month in a couple for 1500€ easily. At least we are

I live in rural France in the dept. of correze. Cheap as chips here. We have a couple of wood burners which heat the whole house efficiently which is also massively insulated. We bought woodland of mainly oak and beech which should see our lives out as far as fire wood is concerned. We grow all our own vegetables and keep chickens for their eggs. We have 5 and keep up good neighbourly relations by giving an awful lot of them away! (Eggs, not neighbours). A train from Limoges to Paris costs between 50 &60 euros which is a hell of a lot cheaper than the UK for a three hour journey. A three course meal in the local restaurant will set you back about 20 euros. Excl.Wine. Cost of supermarket shopping has definitely risen over the past five years though. Council tax in UK was £110 pm when we left two years ago and here we pay that per year. We have a house we rent out which has two bedrooms, outbuildings and garden for which we charge 395 pm and our daughter has a three bed house , no garden, which is let for 400 pm . Other daughter has just had an offer accepted on a small village house with garden and gas central heating in need of renovation (although it was occupied until a few months ago) and she's paying 24k so all in all I'd say here is most definitely cheaper than UK but that's correze. My daughter's boyfriend lives in Paris and is currently paying 2k per month for a 55sq.m appt . (I love Paris but not THAT much!) on the down side, it's an hour to Limoges which is the nearest city, 40 minutes to the nearest hypermarket in Ussel so if you forget something you're stuffed. (One learns not to forget stuff).

We live in Toulouse:
Transit
We live in the center of town, close to excellent public transit (costs 1,75 euros per trip, or round about that).  The public transportation is really quite good, clean and inexpensive and pretty extensive.  Monthly plans are less than 50 euros.  Parking is a consideration but there are lots of paying spaces and paying parking lots.  We are carless and can get most places easily - can't speak to gasoline costs.

Accomodations
Our apartment is furnished and costs 1500 euros per month and includes all utilities (cable, internet, heating, electricity).  In comparison to some of our friends it's probably on the high end.  We can't speak to utility costs, but the cost of our mobile phone service is about the same, only we get more texting and free international calling, so it's a better deal.

Food
Costs of food are about the same as in the US (we came from Boston and there the cost of fresh food is high).  We are a family of 5 and our grocery costs are about 100 euros per week (we don't eat much processed food at all).  My husband eats lunch out every day and he pays between 5 euros (for a sandwich) and 20 euros (for a sit down prix fixe meal).  We have two kids in maternelle and it costs less than 4 euros per day for them to have their lunches - that is on the high end of what you would pay (we are in a higher pay bracket because they can't figure out our pay scale yet).

Mutuelle and other costs
Insurance for children in school/halte-garderie/creche and mutuelle (top off insurance) are pretty varied.  I think mutuelle is about 43 euros per month. Not sure about the kid's insurance for school.  If you have kids, you know there are lots of other costs involving entertainment - museums, etc.  But, here in Toulouse there are lots of fun things for kids to do, and a number of kid friendly restaurants, as well as the ludotheque which is free.  There are lots of fun things that are low cost or free that the town does (ice skating for 5 euros, Toulouse Plage during the summer which is free, Christmas marché which you pay only for the food and merchandise you purchase).  So, you can have fun and spend what you would like. Lots of art and theatre, for all budgets.

All in all, Toulouse is a great place to live.  it feels like you live in a village, but it's def a city.  It reminds me of NYC, maybe the West Village.