Cost of Living in France 2026: Official Price Guide
What does it cost to live in France? The French state's own agency for international students, Campus France, publishes a price list, last updated on 7 July 2026, and the government's information site Service-Public.fr publishes the minimum wage and the income levels that immigration rules treat as enough to live on. This guide combines them into one picture: rent, food, transport, healthcare and leisure, with Paris shown separately. All figures were read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
Campus France puts food at about 300 euros a month for the average person in France. A room in a public student residence costs €450 a month in Paris and €350 on average elsewhere, and a private studio costs at least €800 in Paris and €400 elsewhere. The gross minimum wage, the Smic, is €1,867.02 a month. A foreign student must show at least €877.5 a month. Campus France's summary: the cost of living can be fairly high, especially in Paris and the big cities.
Housing: the biggest cost
| Type of housing | Paris | Elsewhere in France |
|---|---|---|
| Room in a public university residence (CROUS) | €450 a month | €350 a month on average |
| Room in a youth residence or hostel | About €600 | About €400 |
| Studio on the private market | At least €800 | At least €400 |
CROUS residences are publicly owned and subsidised by the French government, and their rents are the lowest in the table. Campus France is frank about the catch: demand far exceeds supply. Its advice is to start searching before you arrive and to be wary of rents that seem too good to be true.
What you pay on top of rent
- Security deposit: generally equal to one month's rent. By law it cannot be higher.
- First month's rent: due with the deposit when you sign the rental agreement.
- A guarantor: nearly everyone renting in France, French or foreign, is asked to name one. If you have none, the VISALE system provides a free rental guarantee.
- Electricity and gas: probably included in the rent of a university residence. Otherwise you arrange the service with a provider yourself.
Housing assistance from the family allowance fund, the CAF, can reduce the bill. The two main benefits are the Personalised Housing Assistance (APL) and the Social Housing Allowance (ALS), subject to eligibility.
Food
On average, the French dedicate about 300 euros a month to food, according to Campus France, with everyday costs slightly higher in Paris. Its list of average prices:
| Item | Average price |
|---|---|
| A baguette | 1 euro |
| A croissant | 1.10 euros |
| 1 kg of pasta | 1.50 euros |
| 1 litre of milk | 1.20 euros |
| 6 eggs | 1.50 euros |
| A coffee in a bar or restaurant | 2 euros |
| A sandwich from a bakery with a drink | 5 to 8 euros |
| A fast-food meal | 8 euros |
| A meal in a restaurant | 15 to 20 euros |
| A meal in a university restaurant | 1 euro |
Transport
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Annual transit subscription in Paris, student rate | 374.4 euros |
| Annual transit subscription outside Paris, student rate | Between 250 and 300 euros |
| 1 litre of petrol | 1.80 euros |
| Self-service bicycle subscription | From 10 to 20 euros a month, depending on the city |
| SNCF rail discount card for young adults | 50 euros per year |
Campus France warns that if you live far from your host institution, transport can become a significant part of your total budget.
Healthcare
Doctors in France are free to set their prices. To keep costs down, Campus France recommends "sector 1" doctors, who charge an amount that is almost entirely reimbursed by Social Security. Its examples at sector 1 rates:
- Check-up with a general practitioner: 30 euros, of which 19 euros is reimbursed
- Check-up with a gynaecologist or ophthalmologist: 37 euros
- Check-up with a dentist: 30 euros
Students can also see a doctor at the university health centre, where check-ups are free.
Leisure
- Cinema ticket at the under-26 price: between 5 and 10 euros
- Unlimited cinema subscription: 30 euros per month
- Museum or national monument: free for European Economic Area nationals under 26, otherwise between 5 and 15 euros
- Swimming pool, discount entry: between 1.50 and 3 euros
- Theatre ticket: from 10 euros
- A paperback book: between 5 and 10 euros
- A national daily paper: between 2 and 3 euros
Income: what France treats as enough
| Benchmark | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross minimum wage (Smic), per month | €1,867.02 |
| Gross minimum wage, full-time, per year | €22,404.20 |
| Resources a foreign student must show | €877.5 per month |
| Salary for a talent card as a qualified employee | €39,582 gross a year |
| Salary for the talent EU Blue Card | €59,373 gross a year |
These are the figures Service-Public.fr gives in its 2026 pages on work and residence permits. They are useful anchors: the student figure is what the state asks one student to show, and the annual Smic is the level of resources asked of someone creating a business under the talent card.
Studying: tuition on top of living costs
For the 2026–2027 academic year, public institutions charge students from outside the EU €2,902 a year for a Bachelor's degree and €3,950 for a Master's. EU, EEA and Swiss students pay €178 and €255. Campus France notes that the French government funds most of the real cost, typically between €10,000 and more than €15,000 per student per year.
Paris and everywhere else
Campus France gives a simple rule for housing: take the Paris figures and, for other cities, divide them in half on average. It adds a caveat for everyday prices: in large cities they are often close to those of Paris.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in France per month?
It depends mostly on rent. Campus France lists food at about 300 euros a month and a private studio from €800 in Paris or €400 elsewhere. The French state asks foreign students to show at least €877.5 a month.
How much is rent in Paris?
Campus France says to expect at least €800 a month for a studio on the private market in Paris, about €600 for a room in a youth residence and €450 for a room in a public university residence.
What is the minimum wage in France in 2026?
Service-Public.fr gives the gross monthly Smic as €1,867.02 and the full-time annual gross figure as €22,404.20.
How much is a rental deposit in France?
Generally one month's rent. Campus France notes that by law it cannot be higher.
Is France expensive for students?
Campus France describes the cost of living as fairly high, especially in Paris and the big cities, but student prices help: a university restaurant meal costs 1 euro and public residences charge €350 a month on average outside Paris.
How much does a doctor's visit cost in France?
A check-up with a sector 1 general practitioner costs 30 euros, of which 19 euros is reimbursed by Social Security.
Is there help with rent in France?
Yes. The CAF offers housing assistance such as the APL and the ALS, subject to eligibility, and the VISALE system provides a free rental guarantee.
Official sources
- Campus France — Preparing your budget (updated 7 July 2026)
- Campus France — Student housing in France (updated 26 June 2026)
- Campus France — Tuition fees in France (updated 25 June 2026)
- Service-Public.fr — Authorisation to work for a foreign employee (Smic)
- Service-Public.fr — Talent card (salary thresholds)
- Service-Public.fr — Foreign student: long-stay visa or residence permit
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Campus France publishes its prices for information only; they are averages, not quotes for a particular city. Information, not financial advice.