Can You Afford to Live in the City of Lights?
Few cities capture the imagination quite like Paris, the City of Lights. From its grand boulevards and world-famous monuments to its intimate caf茅s, historic cathedrals, and flower-lined balconies, it remains one of the most iconic cities in the world. But beyond the postcards and tourist sights, what is it really like to live there day to day?
To help answer that question, this guide breaks down the cost of living in Paris. All prices are sourced from and have been converted from euros to U.S. dollars for consistency.
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Is Paris Expensive?
In short, yes, although less expensive than its U.S. counterpart, New York. Paris also compares well to London, where rents are 60% higher (though grocery prices are about 12% lower).
Paris is a major world cosmopolitan center, and such places are nearly always expensive to live in. Think of it as a cultural cachet tax.
The Cost of Living in Paris Versus the US
New York has long been the most expensive city to live in the United States, with Los Angeles close behind. Experts consider both cities cultural capitals, and both have a higher cost of living than Paris.
Here鈥檚 how the cost of living in Paris, including rent, compares to various hotspots in the United States:
- New York, NY: 65.8% higher than Paris
- San Francisco, CA: 44.1% higher than Paris
- Seattle, WA: 22% higher than Paris
- Boston, MA: 32.5% higher than Paris
- Los Angeles, CA: 28.8% higher than Paris
- Chicago, IL: 10.2% higher than Paris
The Most Expensive and Cheapest Places in Paris
Paris intra-muros, the City of Paris within the p茅riph茅rique ring road, is composed of 20 numbered districts called arrondissements. These districts spiral outward from the city center in a clockwise pattern, and housing prices generally become less expensive from the 1st to the 20th arrondissement, though there are many exceptions.
Neighborhoods often span multiple arrondissements or overlap across them. For example, the Latin Quarter spans parts of the 5th and 6th arrondissements and is associated with writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
While some areas, such as the 1st arrondissement, have relatively few permanent residents, most Paris neighborhoods are mixed-use. Purely residential districts are uncommon, and part of what makes Paris so livable is the concentration of shops, markets, caf茅s, and daily services within walking distance of most apartment buildings.
The Most Expensive Neighborhoods in Paris
Marais District, Ile Saint-Louis, and Ile de la Cit茅 (4th Arrondissement)
This area is loaded with charm, with the Cathedral of Notre Dame as its centerpiece. The Ile Saint-Louis, in particular, is largely unchanged from Paris鈥� beginnings.
With cobblestone streets, tiny alleys, and gorgeous independent shops on every corner, these neighborhoods offer authentic Parisian life. But they also command very high real estate prices.
Champs de Mars (7th arrondissement)
Known as the Eiffel Tower district, this area affords views of that famous landmark wherever you are. The whole area is rife with parks, museums, and grand buildings, but it is also largely a residential district.
Those views are not cheap, however, and your cost of living here may be among the priciest in Paris.
Champs-脡lys茅es, Parc Monceau (8th arrondissement)
If you want to live among many of the other most recognizable Paris landmarks, the 8th might be for you.
The world’s most exclusive boutiques line the famed shopping street that links the Arc to the Place de la Concorde.
The surrounding area boasts the Arc de Triomphe, the Opera House, L鈥櫭塴ys茅e (the presidential palace), and many museums. Yet the neighborhood largely caters to wealthy professionals.
Jardin du Luxembourg (6th arrondissement)
The 6th arrondissement is known as one of the most expensive places to live in Paris, particularly the Mabillon neighborhood, which runs between the gorgeous Luxembourg Gardens and the river Seine.
The Saint Germain neighborhood, known as the intellectual center of Paris in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, still bustles with art houses, jazz clubs, and literary landmarks.
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The Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Paris
Les Gares (10th arrondissement)
While this area, centered around two major train stations, has been known for petty crime, it has attracted new residents over the past decade.
Lower rents, high diversity, and trendy eateries have made it more desirable. The Canal Saint-Martin is a particularly lively spot. Take care when choosing your street, as areas near train stations can be a little sketchy at night.
P猫re-Lachaise (20th arrondissement)
This easternmost district is less fashionable, with more low-cost housing and fewer protected historical landmarks.
It鈥檚 home to young families, including a large African immigrant community in its northern part. In the center is the storied P猫re Lachaise cemetery, where luminaries from Edith Piaf to Jim Morrison are buried and countless living visitors picnic.
Chinatown and National Library (13th Arrondissement)
A mix of old and new characterizes this southeastern district, where high-rises with affordable housing rub shoulders with classic Parisian architecture.
This long-neglected industrial area has recently undergone revitalization. Besides containing Paris鈥� main Chinatown, the 13th offers a trendy university district on the river, the modernist Biblioth猫que Nationale de France, and great street art.
The 18th and 19th Arrondissements
Some sources suggest avoiding these districts, but each has neighborhoods that are worth considering. In the 18th century, Montmartre was famous for the Moulin Rouge and its bohemian arts scene.
It can be rowdy, and pickpocketing is rife, but it鈥檚 now so well-known that it鈥檚 shed much of its sketchiness. Pigalle, the nearby red-light district, has recently transformed into a hip neighborhood but can still be dodgy in parts.
The 19th is a mish-mash of poorer neighborhoods, some of them pleasant enough; Buttes-Chaumont is an affordable area many families are moving to. Stay away from the northeastern zone, which suffers from homelessness and drug abuse.
The Average Cost of Living in Paris
To better understand everyday life in Paris, it helps to look at typical expenses such as housing, food, transportation, entertainment, and other essentials.
Below is a breakdown of average costs in some of the city鈥檚 most popular districts for residents and expats.
Housing Costs in Paris
For a long time, Paris was known as one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in. While Paris as a whole has dropped off the top 30 in Numbeo鈥檚 Cost of Living Index, it鈥檚 still in the top 50, close to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the U.S., in terms of cost.
While living in more affordable neighborhoods will tend to get you more space and amenities, the cost of housing is relatively high throughout the city.
A one-bedroom apartment near the city center costs $1,178 to $2,121 on average. Outside the center, that drops to between $884 and $1,532.
An average three-bedroom near the action soars to $2,846 to $4,596, while outside the city, you鈥檒l pay $1,768 to $3,064 for a three-bedroom.
Utilities for a 915-square-foot apartment will run you around $177 to $445 a month, including electricity, water, heating, cooling, and trash removal. Internet access is an additional $24 to $47.
Food and Entertainment Costs in Paris
If you鈥檙e going to pay the high cost of living in Paris intra-muros, it only makes sense to enjoy the easy access to the city鈥檚 legendary food and entertainment.
Luckily, these costs are relatively low compared to those in American cities like New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and even Boston.
A meal in a sidewalk cafe or bistro will cost between $14.14 and $23.57. A three-course meal for two is fairly reasonable, ranging from $70.71 to $117.84, compared to around $145 in New York.
A domestic beer is a little steeper, at $7.07 to $9.43, but France is far better known for wine. A glass of coffee in a caf茅 costs $2 to $7 on average.
Cinema is also a popular pastime for Parisians; a ticket costs between $11.78 and $17.68. If you want to keep up your workout routine, a fitness club costs between $34.17 and $458.92 per month, though walking and cycling in the city are strong cultural norms.
You can see the Louvre or go to the top of the Eiffel Tower for $23 to $35, or tour Sacr茅-Coeur and Paris鈥� other grand churches for free.
Grocery Costs in Paris
If you decide to stay in and practice some French cooking at home, here are the costs of some staples.
A note: while more American-style supermarkets are common in the suburbs, the French in cities still tend to shop at their small local grocers, butchers, bakers, and other artisans, a few meals at a time.
A loaf from your local boulangerie runs between $1.18 and $4.71; a pound of local cheese to go with it averages $5.16 to $17.68. A dozen eggs costs between $2.83 and $8.48.
Potatoes for your au gratin go for around $0.59 to $1.77 per pound; you can serve them alongside boeuf Bourguignon for $6.48 to $17.09 for a pound of beef.
A mid-priced bottle of wine will run you between $5.89 and $14.14, though in Paris, you can still get a bottle of table wine for around $3, and it鈥檒l be good for both cooking and drinking with the meal.
Transportation Costs in Paris
Paris鈥� spiderweb-like Metro map may be intimidating at first, but it鈥檚 also one of the more efficient and reliable public transit systems out there.
Wherever you are in Paris, you鈥檙e never far from one of the many stations, marked with an 鈥淢鈥� or the word 鈥淢茅tro.鈥� A one-way ticket costs between $2.95 and $3, while a monthly pass costs $104 to $107.
Other public transit options, including bus, light rail, and funicular, abound in the city. Taxis are also plentiful and accessed through a single phone number.
For these reasons and more, most Parisians don’t feel that driving in Paris is really necessary or recommended. Parking is very difficult, and the spoke-and-wheel street system is confusing.
If you must have a car, a Volkswagen Golf or similar will cost between $35,353 and $36,413, and gas is currently running between $8 and $9.44 a gallon.
The Costs of Education in Paris
If you鈥檙e living in Paris with kids, you鈥檒l want to know about school costs. Private preschool or kindergarten costs between $825 and $2,089 per month.
An international primary school costs between $10,606 and $43,307 a year. There are many top-quality international schools in Paris.
But the public schools (with French curriculum taught in French) are free and of very high quality.
Healthcare Costs in Paris
France鈥檚 healthcare system is among the best in the world, according to the WHO. Foreigners who have been living in France for three months or more may apply for coverage by PUMA, the national healthcare system.
For those first three months, however, you will want to make sure you have healthcare coverage. A global health insurance plan is a simple and reliable way to make sure you鈥檙e covered in an emergency, or if you need medical care for any other reason.
The City of Romance is Within Reach
Living in Paris is a romantic dream, but it has a price tag to match. It can be within reach, though, if you avoid certain costly pitfalls.
Living in less expensive neighborhoods, using the extensive public transit network, and learning how to shop for food the French way will both save you money and help you integrate into the Parisian way of life.
When choosing where to live in Paris, remember that while some of the more expensive districts are close to the sights, they鈥檙e also likely to be overrun with tourists.
If you want quieter, yet luxurious, quarters, choose one of the tonier residential areas. For those on a tighter budget, decide if you鈥檙e willing to live in a dodgier part of the city, or if you鈥檒l be more content in the suburbs, a train ride away from the action.
If you do choose to live in Paris, take the time to enjoy your surroundings and all the food, art, and culture the City of Light has to offer. And relax. If you can settle in and live like a local, both you and your wallet will have a smoother time.
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Kamela Hutzley is a seasoned writer and editor from New Jersey, now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She writes on health, education, travel, and cultural integration, holds an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College, and is a certified somatic therapist with her own practice.
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