Each project that a student begins in his or her life requires careful consideration. Many students plan to continue their studies in France. Some choose universities, others choose private schools, but they usually have one wish in common: to live in Paris. The capital of France, as well as fashion and gastronomy, seems attractive to spend your first year of study, but it has a cost. So, it is important to plan a budget before leaving.
If you are starting or are in the middle of the application for a study visa, you are aware that you must have financial support. And this is to prepare for your stay and meet several expenses when you arrive in France. In order to have a more precise idea of the cost of student life in France, especially in Paris, here are some advice.
What budget should I plan for a year of study in France?
To obtain your study visa for France, you will have to justify sufficient resources to live in France (don’t concern your tuitions fees that must be already paid at this point). Read this article to understand how you can get your student Visa.
Once in France, you will face other expenses such as registration fees, accommodation, food, transport or insurance, etc.
Prices of the administration processes or subscriptions
1/ VISA (unique fees)
€99 to be paid in the currency of the country or €50 if you did Étude en
France process
2/ Our accommodations in Paris(monthly fees)
Rent to live alone : From €550/month
Deposit (refundable if no damage): one month’s rent based on the real
price and not the discount price I offer you
Agency fees: around €300 (€15/sqm)
Rent to live in a dormitory: €450/month
€49 if you receive a Titre de séjour valids for one year
Rent to share a flat at 2: from 350€/month
Those prices are “from” which is the minimum you can expect if you are lucky.
3/ Fees with our partner CIC bank (monthly fees)
The bank fees are offered for the first year, to the people up to 25 years old included. Over 25 years old, 6 months are offered. They will suggest you an insurance for your credit card in case of scam and other.
Not offered if you stay less than 2 semesters.
Then it depends on your age, you need to ask your counselor.
4/ Electricity (monthly fees)
It depends on your consumption on heating.
Without heating : around €20/month
With heating : around €60/month for a studio
5/ Home insurance (monthly fees)
From 4€/month.
6/ Phone (monthly fees)
Around 20€/moth
7/ VISA validation (unique fees)
You need to validate your first VISA and buy a tax stamp : €50
To renew that VISA, you need to ask for a Titre de séjour.
8/ Titre de séjour (unique fees or yearly fees)
Tax stamp :
€79 if valid for the number of years lasts your cursus
€180 if you do the request after the expiration of your VISA
€16 extra fees if you have lost your last carte de séjour, or VISA on your
passport for the first year
7/ Metro card in Paris (yearly or monthly fees)
Student Metro Card Imagine R (under 26 years old):
€365/year + €8 processing fee (one-time payment)
For enrollment from September to December:
You will be debited on the 5th of each month, starting October 5th.
The first payment is €90 (€40.5 x 2 months + €8 processing fee). Then, for
the next 7 months, you will be debited €40.5 each month (totaling €365).
For enrollment from January to April:
The card is valid from the 1st of each month, from September to April.
You can subscribe until April 30th, but you must start paying from January. After April 30th, you must wait until September to request the card.
This means if you subscribe after January, you will be charged for all months
starting from January.
Example: If you subscribe in April, you will be charged for January, February,
March, and April. This will be €40.5/month x 4 + €8 processing fee = €170.
You will then continue to pay €40.5 monthly for the remaining 5 months (totaling €365 over 9 months).
Basic unlimited metro card (over 26 years old):
This can be cost-effective compared to a Navigo card at €84.10/month.
The card lasts for one year and cannot start before September.
Example: If you request it for September 1st, it will be valid until the end of
August. If you request it from November 1st, it will be valid until the end of October of the following year. The latest start date is December, so if you request it
to start from January to April, it will still end on December 31st.
Navigo Monthly Metro Card (over 26 years old):
Price: €1009.20/year (pay for 11 months and get the 12th month free) or
€86.40/month.
If you have an employment contract, your employer will pay 50%.
You can have more options for non unlimited offer. On our platform you will find the specific card that match your needs to city.
8/ CAF (monthly aid)
You receive around 210€/month if you live by yourself or 118 €/month if you have a flatshare.
9/ Social security (free)
You are 70% covered (on sector 1) for free.
10/ Complementary health insurance
HEYME Pricing Options:
€9.90 for 100% reimbursement based on price from sector 1
€15.90 for 100% reimbursement based on price from sector 1
€24.90 for 100% reimbursement based on price from sector 1
€39.90 for 150% reimbursement based on price from sector 1
Additionally, if you’ve already purchased private insurance from Heyme, you
qualify for another option:
€34.60/month (€31.14/month with our 10% discount) for 90% reimbursement of actual expenses or 100% reimbursement during hospitalization.
Use our discount code «FEEL-10» to get the 10% discount. Monthly payment.
STUDCORP Pricing Options:
1 month: €52
2 months: €104
3 months: €150
4-6 months: €160
7-8 months: €210
9-10 months: €250
11 months: €270
12 months: €300
Yearly payment. Refund at 100% of real fees spent.
11/ Travel and private health insurance (monthly or yearly fees)
HEYME : 44,1€/month for a refund at 90% on real fees spent or 100% if hospitalization.
STUDCORP : same price and refund policy as complemenatary insurance.
11/ CVEC (yearly fees)
The amount of the CVEC is €103 for the 2024/2025 academic year (this amount
can increase).
To summarise: Around 65€/month + transport card + rent + unique fees for the first year of 203€ (if you need a visa). You can receive around 210€/month from CAF (in Paris).
Tuition fees
The fees for your registration depend on the type of establishment you have chosen. For example, university registrations are cheaper than school registrations. However, following a new law in force, certain public establishments have revised their registration fees up to more than € 3,000 for a master’s, for example. On the other hand, if you enroll in a large school, fashion, or business, the amount will be more substantial. It, therefore, takes between € 3,500 and € 7,000 per year.
Housing
Housing is probably the greatest concern of international and French students. Finding an apartment, a studio or a room in Paris is a real headache. Thus, plan a minimum budget of € 800. In most cases, to find rent in Paris, and even in the suburbs, the owners demand to have a guarantor who earns the rent three times. For example, if your rent is € 800, your guarantor must receive € 2,400. Read this article to understand how you can find your own accommodation.
If you want some tips to find accommodation in Paris that isn’t too expensive, we recommend that you read this article.
Practical advice
It is clear that life in Paris is not the most accessible, but it is quite possible to get out of it thanks to the discounts and offers for students. However, we advise you to plan a larger budget in the first months for expenses relating to your installation (charges, telephone, insurance, social security, shopping, food, etc.)
As for the other cities in France, it is possible that living there during your year of study will cost you less, especially in terms of accommodation.
Going through our services will guarantee you an adequate follow-up, proposals, and offers adapted to each profile. Thus, we will offer you the subscriptions to favor in order to avoid possible paperwork and an additional surcharge for you!
Watch this video to discover more about our platform Feel Français:
