Paris is famously expensive — but the figure on the listing isn’t the figure you actually pay. France runs one of the best student support systems in Europe: housing subsidies (CAF/APL), heavily subsidised canteens (CROUS), an unbeatable youth transport pass (Imagine R), and free entry to most state museums for under-26 EU residents. Used together, they take a serious chunk off the cost of living in the capital.
This guide breaks down the cost of living in Paris in 2026 by category, with realistic numbers and city-specific tips.
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The total monthly budget at a glance
Most international students in Paris budget between €1,200 and €1,800 a month all-in — before applying CAF housing assistance, which can offset a meaningful share:
- Rent (shared room): €600–€900 (less after APL)
- Utilities: €60–€100
- Groceries: €250–€350
- Public transport (Imagine R): ~€33/month
- Eating out and going out: €150–€300
- Personal and miscellaneous: €80–€150
A student in the 13th or 14th with CAF, eating at CROUS canteens and cooking at home, can keep effective monthly spending around €1,200–€1,400. A central life in the Marais with regular café and restaurant visits pushes towards €2,000+.
Rent and accommodation
Rent dominates the Paris budget. Prices vary sharply by arrondissement:
- Shared room: €600–€900.
- Studio: €750–€1,200+ in most areas; €1,000–€1,500+ central.
- One-bedroom: €1,300–€2,000+.
- CROUS student housing: heavily subsidised but limited places, often €200–€500.
- Private student residences: €700–€1,300+ (Nido, Studapart partners, others).
By arrondissement, the rough picture for shared rooms:
- 5th (Quartier Latin): classic Sorbonne area — €700–€900.
- 13th, 14th: near universities and the Cité Universitaire — €600–€800.
- 11th, 20th: younger crowd, better value — €600–€800.
- 3rd, 4th (Marais): central, expensive — €750–€950.
- 19th, 18th (north-east): more affordable — €550–€750.
- Inner suburbs (Saint-Denis, Montrouge): cheapest with metro access — €450–€650.
Uniplaces insight: Paris has rent control (encadrement des loyers) — you can check whether a landlord’s rent is legal at the official Paris prefecture website before signing. If you’re overcharged, you can demand a reduction. Use the rule.
CAF / APL: the game-changer
One of the most valuable supports for tenants in France is CAF housing assistance, paid via the APL (aide personnalisée au logement) or related schemes. Many students — French and international — qualify.
To apply, you need a signed lease and a French bank account. CAF assesses based on rent, income, location and household composition, and pays a monthly amount that can return a meaningful share of your rent. Apply as soon as possible after moving in — the benefit starts from the month after your application, not retroactively.
Utilities
Per person in a shared flat:
- Electricity and gas: €25–€55 (heating in older Haussmann buildings drives winter bills up).
- Water: often included in charges
- Charges de copropriété: €15–€40
- Internet: €10–€20 split
- Mobile: €10–€20 with Free, Sosh, RED
Total: roughly €60–€100 per month per person.
Groceries
Most students budget €250–€350 a month:
- Lidl, Aldi: the cheapest options.
- Carrefour Market, Monoprix, Franprix: mainstream, with Monoprix the priciest.
- Picard: excellent frozen food chain.
- Marchés (open-air markets): Marché d’Aligre, Bastille, Belleville — fresh produce, often beating supermarkets on quality.
CROUS canteens: an unmissable money saver
The single biggest food saving in Paris is the CROUS Resto U network:
- Standard student meal: €3.30 for a full three-course meal (main, side, dessert, bread).
- Eligible students from very low-income backgrounds may pay €1 per meal under the social meal scheme.
- Available across many faculty restaurants — check the CROUS app for the nearest one.
Eating at CROUS once a day for lunch can cut your food budget by €100+ a month.
Public transport: Imagine R
Paris has Europe’s best urban transport and the youth pass is a steal:
- Imagine R (under-26 pass): around €393/year (about €33/month) for unlimited travel across all 5 Île-de-France zones — metro, RER, bus, tram.
- Standard Navigo monthly: ~€88/month for the same coverage.
- Single ticket: €2.50.
- Vélib’ (public bikes): annual subscription ~€39.
The savings between Imagine R and Navigo are enormous over a year. If you’re under 26, applying for Imagine R is one of the first things to do after arriving.
Going out and leisure
Paris’s price points:
- Coffee at a bar: €2–€3
- Coffee at a sit-down terrace: €4–€6
- Beer: €4–€8
- Casual dinner: €18–€35
- Cinema: €11–€14 (with regular student deals around €7)
- Club entry: €15–€25
- Gym: €30–€60/month (Basic-Fit, Fitness Park more affordable)
- Museums: €15–€22 for major ones — free for under-26 EU residents at the Louvre, Orsay, Pompidou, and 300+ others.
The under-26 EU museum perk is genuinely transformative: you can build a culture life of one of the world’s great museum cities for free.
Uniplaces insight: If you’re an EU national under 26, your ID is effectively a Paris museum season pass. Carry it everywhere — the Louvre, Orsay, Pompidou, the major château gardens, and a long list of state museums are free for you. Non-EU students get reduced rates at many.
Money-saving tips for students in Paris
- Apply for CAF/APL housing assistance immediately after signing your lease — benefits aren’t retroactive.
- Get Imagine R if you’re under 26. €393/year vs €88/month standard is the largest single saving available.
- Eat at CROUS at least once a day. €3.30 for a full meal is the cheapest sit-down lunch in Paris.
- Use your under-26 EU museum entry — the Louvre, Orsay, Pompidou, Versailles gardens are all free for you.
- Coffee at the bar, not the terrace. Often half the price.
- Live in the 13th, 14th, 19th or 20th — better rent-to-life ratio than central arrondissements.
- Shop at Lidl, Picard and the marchés. Skip Monoprix unless on promotion.
- Picnic culture: a baguette, cheese and wine on the Seine costs €10 and beats many restaurants.
- Check encadrement des loyers before signing — if your rent overshoots the legal cap, you can claim a reduction.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need per month to live in Paris as a student?
Most students budget €1,200–€1,800 a month before CAF assistance. With CAF/APL, Imagine R and CROUS factored in, effective spending can drop closer to €1,000–€1,300 depending on lifestyle.
What is CAF/APL and should I apply?
CAF housing assistance (via APL) is France’s housing subsidy — open to many tenants including international students. It returns a meaningful share of your rent each month. Apply as soon as you have a signed lease — benefits start from the next month, not earlier.
How much is a shared room in Paris?
A room in a shared flat runs €600–€900, with most students paying €650–€800. The 13th, 14th, 11th, 20th and 19th offer the best rent-to-life balance. CROUS student housing is dramatically cheaper but limited.
What’s the best transport pass?
If you’re under 26, Imagine R at around €393/year is unbeatable — unlimited travel across all of ÃŽle-de-France for what amounts to €33/month. Without Imagine R, standard Navigo monthly is €88.
How much do groceries cost?
Around €250–€350 a month for a student cooking at home. Lidl and Aldi are cheapest, the marchés are best for produce, and CROUS canteens at €3.30/meal can shift much of your food spending out of the supermarket.
Is Paris really one of the most expensive cities for students?
Yes on rent and going out. But its support systems (CAF, CROUS, Imagine R, free museums) are also among the best in Europe — they can shift the real cost meaningfully below the headline numbers for students who use them properly.
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