Living in Paris: Housing and Transportation Costs

Both renters and buyers will find good housing values in France; you’ll probably spend about as much putting a roof over your head as you will putting food in your mouth. Students—French and foreign alike—are entitled to special housing allowances that can cut down the cost of living considerably. In Paris, the résidences du Crous offer government-subsidized studios or one- and two-bedroom apartments exclusively for students for about €380 per month. If you’re here to study and are based in a university town, check with the mairie to find out which options may be available to you.

Both renters and buyers will find good housing values in France, but owning a car is très cher. Photo © Roman Boed, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.

If you’re a homeowner or plan to invest in real estate, it’s worth looking into the government-sponsored rebates for using alternative energy methods. Going solar has its perks; if you generate surplus energy, it could mean you get a check back from EDF instead of having to send one. Other energy-saving efforts homeowners make to increase efficiency are rewarded by way of tax deductions and write-offs.

Transportation Costs in Paris

It’s très cher (very expensive) to own a car in France, particularly in the big cities, where forking out €50,000 for a permanent parking spot is not unheard of—and that’s in addition to insurance and maintenance costs. Fuel, sold by the liter at stations attached to big hypermarchés and at unassuming little curb-side stations in throughout Paris, is seriously spendy.

Expect to pay €1.30-1.60 per liter depending on the type of fuel, or as much as €100 every time you fill up your tank.Expect to pay €1.30-1.60 per liter depending on the type of fuel, or as much as €100 every time you fill up your tank. For the best fuel prices, skip the big service stations off the freeways and opt for fill-up stations attached to supermarkets, where it’s significantly cheaper.

Depending on where you live in France, you’ll want to budget around €70 per month for public transportation; less if you’re a student purchasing a youth pass, more if you’re a party-hopping Parisian who’s used to the convenience of taxis. Public bikeshare system Vélib’ costs €29 per year plus any overtime fees (only the first half-hour is free), so buying your own bike will pay off over time if cycling is your primary means of transit. Beware, however, that bike theft is common in Paris, so a good lock—threaded through the rear tire for added security—is worth the added expense. The national train system, SNCF, offers discount cards for an annual fee of between €50 and €75 for those who travel regularly by long-distance train. The discounts—always a minimum of 25 percent off the standard fare, and as much as 65 percent off—can make the yearly investment worthwhile.

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Excerpted from the First Edition of Moon Living Abroad Paris.