Average Cost of Living for Studying in France

When considering studying in France, the words "low budget" might not be the first that come to mind. However, despite the high overall cost of living, studying in France might still be feasible even for students with a smaller budget. Rent can be high, but many French government policies are designed to allow students and young people to live comfortably in the city, even with a low income. There are many benefits when you are a student under 26 years old in France, and discounts for young people are ubiquitous, from cinemas to opera houses.

The City of Lights (Paris) is the most expensive city for studying, but smaller cities like Montpellier and Lyon have a much more reasonable cost of living.

Even with student discounts, you will need approximately €1,300 for basic living expenses for a semester plus around €1,800-€3,500 for accommodation. A larger budget will be necessary if you plan to eat out once or twice a week or travel and take trips to other cities from where you study.

Below is a table with expenses and their average costs in France as listed on the Numbeo website.

 *The total is approximate, and prices change as the data refer to the last 18 months.