When you plan to live in France, it is important to know the cost of living in the city where you are going to study. Prices, can easily vary from one city to another. The price difference has to be taken into account in your budget and, in your plan to come to France.
Indeed, France is not a cheap country, and the big cities like Paris are really expensive! So be careful before coming to France. I hope this article may help you to see more clearly the cost of living in different French cities !
First, let's talk about the most important choice, housing. The price differences per square meter between cities are extremely large.
- Most of the students who want to study in France decide to go to Paris. Indeed, the City of Lights is a dream, but the price of real estate is a little less. Prices are the most expensive in Paris. On average, to have an apartment of 10 square meters, it costs 800/900 euros, without electricity, gas (and WATER) charges. Student residences like CROUS can be a little cheaper.
- For other cities in the Paris region such as Nanterre, Cergy or Levallois, the average rent is between 630 and 800 euros
- For the same price in cities like Lyon, Nice or Bordeaux, you can have a 50m2. Otherwise, a student room costs around 550€ in these 3 cities.
- In smaller cities like Rennes, Rouen, Nantes, Grenoble or Dijon, the rent is even lower, around 400/480 €
- Finally, if you decide to study at Saint-Etienne, Le Mans or Limoges, your rent will be less than 400 euros on average, until you drop to 340 € per month.
It is therefore important to inform yourself and to look on Internet (and on our site) for the scholarships for which you are eligible.
If you have a low budget but really want to study in France, the solution can be to study in one of the cheap cities and travel around France during holidays.
Regarding transport, there is also a lot of disparity. The annual subscription for a young student is on average 220€
