France is more than croissants and La Tour Eiffel, but to live and explore this country, you will need some savings and a constant source of income. What is the cost of living in France? Read on to learn everything about the monthly expenses in France in 2025.
Average cost of living
Rent
Food
Transportation
Healthcare
Sports and leisure
Minimum salary
Inflation rate
What is the average cost of living in France?
Your total monthly expenses in France will depend on your lifestyle, so it’s hard to say for sure. But if we take the average numbers, one person will need around 949 EUR without rent. A family of four has to make at least 3,367.4 EUR to live comfortably.
As an expat, to cut expenses and not lose money on fees and exchange rates, you should open a French bank account. And once you need to send money back home, use beneficial and fast Profee transfers. Send support with Profee smartly to stay within your budget.
What are the rent prices in France?
The most considerable portion of your total cost of living in France per month will be accommodation. The rent prices in France are much higher than in Eastern European countries, for example. So once you travel to Poland or Hungary after living in France, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the price difference. Here are the approximate rent prices in France in 2025:
| Type / Location | Price, EUR |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom | |
| In the city centre | 769.82 |
| Outside of the city centre | 606.23 |
| 3-bedroom | |
| In the city centre | 1,443.60 |
| Outside of the city centre | 1,127.97 |
You can rent a flat with friends or other expats to spend less on accommodation. Search Facebook groups and ask people you know if they’re looking for a flatmate, too.
The cost of living in France also heavily depends on your electricity and water usage. The average utility expenses are:
| Utilities | Price per month, EUR |
|---|---|
| Basic (heating, electricity, water) for 85m² apartment | 188.45 |
| Mobile calls and 10GB+ data | 22.98 |
| Internet | 29.98 |
Want to save money? Check out our guide on how to spend less on utilities without sacrificing comfort.
So what is the cost of living in France if you rent a flat? Be ready to spend at least 700-1000 EUR on your living space. Buying a flat is also an option if you plan to stay in France. Currently, the average price per square meter in a city centre is 5,796.35 EUR, and outside a city centre is 3,917.13 EUR.
What are the food prices in France?
After you settle down and have a space to live and cook in, it’s time to check the local grocery stores. Food prices in France vary from chain to chain, but the average is listed below.
The food prices in France
| Product | Price, EUR |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1l | 1.15 |
| Bread | 1.78 |
| Rice, 1kg | 2.28 |
| Eggs, 12 | 3.74 |
| Local cheese, 1kg | 17.61 |
| Chicken fillets, 1kg | 12.15 |
| Apples, 1kg | 2.79 |
| Potato, 1kg | 2.05 |
| Water, 1.5l | 0.68 |
| Tomato, 1kg | 3.21 |
To lower your cost of living in France per month, monitor sales and special deals in the nearby stores. There are weekly and monthly price cutdowns, so keep an eye on them.
What are the transportation prices in France?
Next on our list of the costs of living in France is transportation. The country’s transportation system is quite diverse, as you can freely use the metro, buses, trains, bicycles, cars, and other types of vehicles. So what is the average cost of living in France if you don't have everything within walking distance? Let’s check:
| Type | Price, EUR |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket | 1.80 |
| Monthly pass | 62.00 |
| Taxi, start | 4.50 |
| Taxi, 1km | 1.96 |
| Gasoline, 1l | 1.80 |
It’s affordable, but if you want to spend even less, buy a bike. It’s an affordable, planet-friendly way to go around your city. Obtaining it will help you cut the cost of living in France and will make you physically fit.
What are the healthcare costs in France?
Speaking of staying healthy and in shape, you should know about the healthcare costs in France. To not pay thousands after you get sick and end up in a hospital (we hope it will never happen to you!), it’s better to think in advance and get healthcare insurance. The total cost of living in France per month will be affected by the number of people included in the coverage, their status (student/worker/retired), and many other factors. For instance, adding an infant to the plan will increase the price but will still cost less than buying two separate insurances. Usually, the monthly expenses in France start at around 50 EUR and may reach 100 EUR or 200 EUR.
We already know quite a lot about what is the cost of living in France, but let’s look at restaurants, sports, and leisure prices, too, because we should have some fun in this country of wine and love!
What are the sports and leisure prices in France?
What is the cost of living in France if you fill your free time with some entertainment? The answer is right here:
| Type | Price, EUR |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | 15.00 |
| Cappuccino | 3.15 |
| Fitness club/month | 32.82 |
| Tennis court rent | 16.29 |
| Cinema, 1 seat | 12.00 |
Among more affordable options are free festivals and lectures that are being held from time to time. Also, if you’re a student, take advantage of it and buy reduced museum tickets. If you’re under 25 years old and have a European residence, you can visit the Louvre for free!
What is the minimum salary in France?
The official minimum salary in France in 2025 is 11.88 EUR per hour. For instance, if you work 35 hours a week, your minimum income should be around 1801,80 EUR. The average salary is 2,374.88 EUR, which is better than 1801,80 EUR. As an expat, you can obtain a high salary after preparation, creating a strong CV and expanding your network. A European degree will increase your chances, so consider enrolling in the master’s or doctoral programmes. You can combine studying with work and apply for some scholarships for passive income.
Remember that companies sometimes show the salary before tax deductions when planning your budget and applying for job offers. Contact HR for more information on the final amount of funds you will receive. Some of the taxes in France every expat should know include:
- Income tax;
- Social security contributions;
- Inheritance tax;
- Investment tax.
The taxes in France and other deductions will be shown on a salary payslip, which your employer will send you.
What is the inflation rate in France in 2025?
The annual inflation rate in February 2025 was confirmed at 0.8%, greatly improving from 1.7% in January. Understanding the inflation rate in France in 2025 will help with budget planning and may become a strong argument when negotiating salary.
Now, you know the answer to the question, “What is the cost of living in France?”. However, expats have additional expenses when sending money back home. There’s a way to reduce financial burden when supporting loved ones—use Profee for money transfers from France. The service offers beneficial deals with little to no fees and great exchange rates to ensure you can spend more on leisure than remittances. Profee:
- Sends to over 90+ destinations.
- Follows strict security standards to ensure that your data and funds are safe.
- Completes transfers in minutes.
- Has a client-friendly interface for you to navigate the app easily.
- Cares about the receivers: Money arrives in their account without any extra steps.
All for your comfort! Try sending your first transfer today.
Conclusion
We had found the answer to a question, “What is the cost of living in France?”. Plan your finances accordingly and share this article with friends to let them know what is the average cost of living in France.
All the approximate numbers were taken from Numbeo.com and may change after the article is published.
