How much does it cost to live in Paris?


Living in Paris is a dream come true for many expats and digital nomads. The ultimate thing that concerns them is the cost of living in Paris, which for a single person, is estimated to be $2095 per month. 

The cost of living in Paris is surprisingly 70% less expensive than the cost of living in New York. Similarly, when compared to London, the cost of living in Paris is 30% cheaper than in London.

The average cost of living in Paris counts for the top 4% of the most expensive cities in the world. If you are on vacation, be prepared to spend around $170 a day in Paris. 

Paris is a notoriously expensive city; however, the average salary is approximately $3800. This average after-tax salary will cover living expenses in Paris for around 1.5 months.

Cost of accommodation in Paris

You will need to allocate more budget for accommodation in Paris. For a single person, the cost of accommodation tends to be around $1240 per month.

Similarly, the cost of family rent is estimated to be $2300 per month.

Renting a 3-bedroom apartment in Paris will cost you approximately $4,000 per month and $1,600 a month for a 1-bedroom apartment. However, if you want to live in a furnished 2-bedroom apartment, it will cost you more; $3,400 a month.

Please keep in mind that the accommodation pricing varies depending on your neighborhood.

Cost of food in Paris

The estimated monthly food budget in Paris for a single person is around $500. A decent meal for a single person at an inexpensive restaurant will cost around $12. 

In a nutshell, expect to spend $30 per day on food in Paris. While breakfast is usually cheaper in Paris, dinner can be expensive.

Sipping an espresso in a bar will only cost you approximately $2. On the other hand, wine is peculiarly cheaper in France; you can get a bottle of wine in a supermarket priced at just around $5.

If you’re on a tight budget, you can always cook at home instead of dining out. You can also eat at Boulangeries (French pastry shops) to save some bucks.

Cost of transportation in Paris

Paris boasts an amazing public transportation system, making traveling super easy and affordable. Regarding the cost of transportation in Paris, $218 will be enough for the transportation budget for a single person.

You can buy a single one-way metro ticket in Paris for as low as $1.90, and for a monthly pass, it costs you around $70. The cost of gasoline in Paris, on average, starts at about $1.75 per liter (even though when writing this article the price is about $3 due to temporary shortages).

If you love to travel by taxi, the base taxi fare for one kilometer in Paris is approximately $1.6. If you are planning on staying a bit longer in Paris, consider buying a secondhand car, which prices start at about $1,000.

While in Paris, you can also buy a city bike for regular traveling through the central zone, which will cost you no more than $330. 

If you’re wondering about the parking fees in Paris, it depends on the area. Public parking in midtown costs $4 per hour or $2.50 for parking on the outskirts of the city. 

Read more about France for Digital Nomads in this article.