France is one of the most expensive countries to visit. Although some of the French cities are rather more expensive to stay in, On average, if we talk about the country from the point of view of students, the country is costly for students. Comparing France to other countries such as Germany, the US, or the UK, the cost of living in France is much higher than in these countries. However, at the same point, your choice of lifestyle and the location of your stay majorly determine the cost of living in France. On a broader side, France is an expensive location for students to pursue their education, but the good part is that there are so many scholarships and part-time employment opportunities that are available for the students to help ease the burden of their overall stay in France.
It is always a good option for you to get a shared apartment so that the rent is shared among the persons or your roommates. If you choose to cook your meals by yourself, then you can save a lot of money, as eating at restaurants and high-end cafes can be difficult for you to manage. In this article, we will discuss the cost of living in France and how you can save money there.
Cost of Living in France for Indian Students
| Particulars | Average Monthly Cost in EUR | Average Monthly Cost in INR |
| Rental for 1 bedroom apartment | 600 | 54629.40 |
| Basic Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc.) | 150 | 13657.35 |
| Monthly Pass (Transport) | 48 | 4370.35 |
| Telephone, Internet, etc. | 30 | 2731.47 |
| Recreation | 110 | 10015.39 |
| Food and Drink | 150 | 13657.35 |
| Monthly Average Spend | 1,088 | 99061.31 |
Cost of Transportation in France
France is well connected by buses, coaches, trains, and taxis. All the students can choose to travel in a transportation medium that they can afford. However, students can choose to save a cost on transportation by enrolling themselves into a monthly or a yearly pass. There are always a lot of offers available for students who are traveling between their hometown and the place of their education. Many universities and colleges have offices of transportation companies inside their colleges, so the students can easily register for a monthly or yearly pass once the session begins, which could allow them to save on travel costs.
If you are a student of 26 or under, then you are eligible for a special transportation pass which could help you save a lot of money. However, you can easily issue a public conveyance card. For a transportation pass, you will be required to show your student ID. This is eligible for all students studying in France, and there is one more big opportunity for all students who live in France, as students can use the Imagine’R Card that allows them to travel and be unlimited throughout the city. However, students are required to pay less than 350 euros every year.
This is needed for the students to get the benefit on the cost of transportation in France; there is also another special pass called a Ticket Jeune. It is available for all the same age groups but is valid for 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays or as a band holiday. With the help of this card, students can easily commute within a limited area for only four euros.
There is the option of a rent service by cycle rental scheme available in many cities of France. However, students can choose to rent bicycles for themselves. This can help them save a lot of cost while living in france. At the same time, students can also travel by coach, which is more affordable in comparison to trains, which offer other facilities such as Wi-Fi, comfortable seats, and electrical sockets for charging purposes. All the students can, easily apply for this kind of opportunity for an average of 15 to 30 euros every year.
Cost of Living at a French University
Here is the list of colleges and the approximate monthly accommodation costs in euros:
| Institutes | Monthly accommodation cost in euros (€) |
| University of Paris | 164-610 |
| Institute polytechnique de Paris | 495 to 574 |
| Nantes university | 254.8 |
| Ecole normale superieure de iyon | 336 -409 |
| Univerite cote d’azur | 500 onwards |
City Wise Cost Of Living In France
The rates for the cost of living in France vary from City to city and are dependent on the different locations. Also, the cost varies from the three-bedroom accommodation if taken on a sharing basis, it will cost lower. Getting shared accommodation is always a cheaper option for all the students. Here is a comparative look at the top student cities in France and their monthly average expenses in euros for students.
| City | Paris | Montpellier | Lyon | Lile | Toulouse |
| Rent for 1 bedroom apartment | 988 | 633 | 520 | 533 | 528 |
| Basic utilities such as water electricity | 180 | 140 | 142 | 110 | 105 |
| Transportation pass | 68 | 48 | 56 | 52 | 44 |
| Telephone or the internet | 26 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
| Recreation | 150 | 100 | 110 | 100 | 110 |
| Food and drink | 168 | 186 | 162 | 157 | 128 |
| Monthly average spending in euros | 1,500 | 1,160 | 1060 | 1,000 | 1,100 |
| Monthly average spending in INR | 110,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 67,000 | 65,000 |
As it can be seen that living in France and some other famous cities of France have a high cost of living. Hence, this is why the cost of living in France depends on the region as the student prefers to live and the lifestyle they choose to have.
Tips for Saving Money in France
When it comes to Saving costs in France. All the students must spend according to their needs only so that they can save money and reduce the cost of living in France. Here are some tips for the students to save cost:
- All the students must shop from the local shops so that the cost of buying the necessary things is reduced.
- All the students must selectively avail the benefit of the student discounts, which allows them to save a lot of cost.
- Students can choose to save money by growing fruits and vegetables, this could help them to save on the cost of living in France.
- Unplug electronic items which are not for your use, this could help you to save a lot of electricity costs.
- You must plan your meals and outings so that you can make the budget for different things accordingly.
- Travel in TGV trains, as you can save up to 30% on the ticket price of the trains.
Conclusion
Indian students in France face higher living costs compared to countries like Germany, the US, and the UK. However, lifestyle and location can impact the total cost of living in France. Scholarships and part-time employment opportunities help to manage their expenses. Shared accommodation and transportation options like buses, coaches, and trains are available. Special passes like the Ticket Jeune and cycle rental schemes can help you save money. Monthly accommodation costs vary by city and student preference.
FAQs
Is it expensive to live in France?
Yes, it is expensive to live in France however, Paris ranks as 2nd in the most expensive city in the world. So, it will be expensive for the students to stay in France.
Is France costly for Indian students?
Yes, within the EU, France is on the expensive side, you will need to have a lot of expenses in the world. However, the average cost of living in France is $1517.
What is the difference between the expenses of living in France and India?
There is a major difference in the value of the currency which is 1 Swiss franc=94.80 rupees. So it is clear that France is more expensive than India.
Is there any way to reduce expenses in France?
Yes, we can reduce it by saving money and also by spending money just when it is important or necessary, by reducing over expenses.
Avinash Singh is a study abroad consultant with over 10 years of experience helping students achieve their academic goals. He is an expert in the US, Australian, German, and Canadian education systems and has helped hundreds of students secure admission to top universities around the world. In his spare time, Avinash enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with his family. He is also an avid reader and loves to learn new things.
