I’m always sadly surprised when I’m receiving requests for accommodation in Paris with a maximum budget of €250-€500/month. Let me present to you the real cost of living in Paris.
I totally understand in other countries this can be a huge budget and the cost of living is different, but this rent doesn’t almost exist in Paris. In fact, the cost of living in Paris is quite expensive!
Especially for an international student who can’t spend hours on hundreds of French websites looking for THE great opportunity, who won’t be in Paris to do the visit, and who doesn’t have a French guarantor to be selected among many other candidates.
A regular budget in Paris is around €700-800 for a studio of 15 sqm or a room of 10 sqm in a shared flat! That’s the reality.
And this rent doesn’t include the agency fees, the security deposit and the fact you have to pay for a few rents in advance if you don’t have a guarantor.
How to help those with a tight budget?
When I’m receiving these requests with low budgets I’m wondering to myself: “How will they do? “
They have already chosen to come to study in Paris. They have been accepted to a school but they didn’t realize or get informed about the cost of life in Paris.
They will have to double their budget for rent and realize how expensive this city is, once in Paris. . As a professional in this field, this article is for you to be aware BEFORE making a choice. I hope you will have the chance to not be sadly surprised when you look for a flat. That is why I want to inform you about the prices.
Living in Paris is expensive
Studying in Paris is a dream for international people, it’s a beautiful culture and city but it’s unfortunately also expensive.
I’m not just talking about the rents, but the movies (around €8,50 for a student and €12 regular price), the cool restaurants for diner (around €30 with a drink), the cool bars to have a drink (around €8 a cocktail).
The life is Paris is very active and, as in every capital in Europe, young people go to restaurants and bars often.
So if we do the math of the cost of the life in Paris for a month :
- Rent : €750
- Electricity without heating (if not included in the rent) : €20/month (add €40/month for heating if not included in the rent)
- Food : €200/month
- Transport : €27 (Imagine R card)
- Phone credit : €16
- 5 lunchs outside your apartment : €200
- One diner at the restaurant per week : €120
- Two drinks per week : €64
- One movie per month : €8,50
We will imagine you won’t be sick and won’t go shopping 🙂
The Internet is normally included in the rent.
The total for a month is €1 415.
Keep in mind you can have financial aid from the French government up to 20% discount to reduce your rent.
How to reduce these costs?
Of course, you can reduce those costs if you enjoy less but that’s not the point of spending a year studying abroad in Paris.
You also can choose another city in France where the cost can be easily split in 2.
Find here tips to reduce your living costs in Paris. But keep in mind the real cost of living in Paris and think well before applying for a school.
Paris for study abroad it’s a very nice choice and will open your mind. However, you may have to work every time or not going out because you dont have the budget or you may live in a faraway suburbs. In this situation, it would be better to choose another cheaper city or country to fully enjoy your stay of study abroad.
We really hope you will be able to come to study in the most beautiful city in the world, without the pain of the costs.
There are still ways to find more affordable places. Discover in this article the tips to look for a cheap accommodation in Paris.
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