Cost of Living in France 2023: Example Table of Expenses Included
How much you spend on living costs in France each month will depend on your own lifestyle and where you plan to take up residence. Opting for the highlife in Paris is likely to make larger holes in any budget than modest tranquility in a quiet corner of France, such as the Charentes or the Auvergne.
Although there’s nothing wrong with doing some of your bulk buying at a supermarket, one of the great pleasures of France is its markets. Outdoor markets provide fresher pickings and bargains can be had if you head over towards closing time, at around 1 p.m. The Marché d’Aligre, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, is one of the cheapest—and busiest—markets and is complemented with a covered market for meat, poultry, and cheeses.
If you’re renting an apartment, you will have to pay for the maintenance of the building and other facilities. The charge covers such things as staircase cleaning, concierge charges, elevator repair, water, etc. The more luxurious the residence, the more you’ll pay. These charges are often included in the rental price as “charges compris.” If it’s not, it’ll appear as a separate item as “charges.” The average cost in Paris for monthly maintenance charges is €25 ($29.75) per square meter per year (€2.32 [$2.76] per square foot).
Utility costs will also depend on the size of your property, as well as the climate. For most couples living in a typical village house outside of the coldest alpine regions, gas and electricity costs are likely to be in the region of $50 per month in spring and summer, and around $100 monthly in winter. With respect to phone, internet and basic cable TV, you can usually get a “package deal” that drives the cost even lower—sometimes as low as €60 ($68) a month (or less) for all three…including calls to the U.S. and UK.
Cost of Living in France: Sample Monthly Budget
To give you an idea of how much you might spend in a month, here are the costs for running an apartment for two people:
| Expenses | U.S. $ |
|---|---|
| Rent | $800 to $1,200 |
| Electricity | $48 |
| Groceries (incl. wine) | $600 |
| Landline rental fee (excluding call costs) | $21 |
| Gas for heating/stove | $59 |
| Internet | $32 |
| Transportation (car maintenance plus diesel/petrol) | $175 |
| Cellphone plan (excl. phone handset itself) | $20 |
| Regular purchases of coffee/croissants/baguettes | $80 |
| Ticket for the movies | $19 |
| Health insurance top up (hospital-only plan) | $29 |
| Lunch for two with wine five times a month | $200 |
| Monthly Total: | $2,083 to $2,483 |