Cost of living in Paris: Let's be clear.

The cost of living in Paris has always been very high and this is no mystery to anyone. In particular, beyond the beauty of Haussmann palaces and historical monuments, the Ville lumière It also leaves the tourists with its high costs.

How much But can we call it dear?

The answer is linked to various factors. You need to know for how long you go to Paris, whether for work or for tourism, where you stay and especially how you decide to travel. Obviously, who chooses a hotel in the center, lunch in bistrot luxury and dinner on the Eiffel Tower spends much more than those who prefer to sleep in the hostel and have lunch in one of the many boulangeries. Obviously, it becomes fundamental. setting a budget, for which It is necessary to know the cost of living in Paris.

Restaurants and food shopping: eye on the neighborhood and the typology

French supermarkets are slightly more expensive than Italian supermarkets, but not too much compared to a large city like Milan or Rome. In increasing order of price, among the most famous supermarket chains in Paris we find the following:

1. Aldi/Leader Price
2. Lidl
3. Auchan/Intermarché
4. Carrefour
5. Monoprix
6. Franprix

The prices of these chains are not fixed, because thethe cost of food varies depending on the brand but also the neighborhood in which you buy. For example, an Italian product purchased on Champs Elysées will have a higher cost than the same product bought at Barbès. In general, these are the current average prices of the main consumer goods:

• fresh bread baguette: just over 1 €;
• cow's milk (1 L): 1.20–1.60 €;
• local fruit (kg): 2-3 €;
• imported greenhouse vegetables (kg): 3-4 €;
• organic eggs (pack of 6): 2-2,60 €;
• fresh salad, per piece: 1-1,50 € (by variety);
• chicken or beef fillet (kg): 15-20 €
• pasta or rice (kg): 2-3 euros, according to the brand;
• Various detergents: from 2 to 6 euros per bottle (washing detergents are the most expensive);
• soap, shampoo, bubble bath: from 1 to 4 euros per bottle.

When shopping, it is important to choose the type of trade well and pay attention to the quality-price ratio. In essence, I advise you to carefully compare prices and choose only French products when possible. Organic is unfortunately still a luxury property reserved for a few elected, but there are more and more associations of local producers that allow you to buy 100% French organic at acceptable prices, as Well Bono or PotagerCity.

For bars, restaurants and other places, the rule is the same. It all depends on what you choose and where you go:

• Pizza daisy: 10-12 €;
• prepared pizza: 16 to 23 €;
• menu in Asian restaurant: 10-15 €;
• average meat dish: 18 to 35 €;
• average fish dish: 20-35 €;
• French fries portion: 5 €;
• mixed cheese and cold cuts: 15-20 €;
• pint of beer: 6-8 € (3-5 in happy hour);
• cocktails: 8-15 € on average (5-6 in happy hour);
• glass of wine: 5-7 €;
• soft drink: 2-5 €;
• espresso/smashed/long coffee: 2-2.50 €
• cappuccino or hot chocolate: 4-5 €.

Go out for dinner or for apéro can therefore be quite expensive. As a result, a home dinner remains the cheapest option, although not always feasible. To save, preferred l‘happy hour and the young bistrot popular or student neighborhoods, which also offer a very dynamic nightlife.

Rent, bills and insurance

Another aspect unfortunately well known to all: the exorbitant prices of rented houses.

A shared apartment room, depending on the neighborhood, can cost from 400 to 750 €. A studio of 20-30 m2, from 700 to 1000 euros. An apartment with a bedroom and living room of 60 m2, also 2000 € If not more. The prices could be just lower in the suburbs, although I happened to visit apartments for rent far from the city centre and the subway for prices equally "parigini".

Fortunately, the cost of insurance, as well as monthly invoices for electricity, telephone and internet, is much lower. Depending on expected consumption and used appliances, an electricity bill for a small apartment costs on average 25-40 € A month. Internet boxes, in turn, have a cost ranging from 15 to 30 € Maximum. Gas bills are much more expensive, but from my experience, Parisian apartments with gas cookers are very rare.

I cannot easily express myself on hotels and hostels, because in Paris I have very rarely enjoyed it. The average prices, however, remain high: 60-70 € per night for a two-star hotel, also 50 € per night for a simple dorm at the hostel. The quality-price ratio, especially with regard to hygiene, does not always meet Italian and northern European standards. Nevertheless, prefer the simplicity of Spartan accommodation can certainly help to lower the budget of a vacation in Paris.

Cultural life: theatre, cinema and museums

Strange but true, in Paris going to the theater or to a concert costs less than a dinner in the pizzeria. Despite the natural increase in post-pandemic prices, culture remains, in my view, a very cheap activity. Black cross only on cinema, which can cost up to 15 € per person on weekends. Monthly subscriptions and discounts for young people and students, as well as tickets to 5-6 € proposed by the Enterprise Committees.

National or private museums, including temporary exhibitions, cost between 11 and 20 €, but often offer attractive discounts for older people, students or citizens seeking employment. Most Parisian museums are free of charge for European students under 26, and for all visitors on the first Sunday of the month. With a bit of luck you can watch an opera or a ballet at ’Opéra de Paris for only 10-15 euros, but also the other theatres offer a wide selection of shows at popular prices.

Paris is also the city of concerts: Almost all pop-rock artists on the international scene stop in the French capital, at a ticket cost rarely exceeding 70 €. We are far from the gratuitousness of the museums in London, but the cultural choice is vast and much cheaper than many other activities preferred by tourists.

"Yes, but in all this... how much do you earn? "

Together with questions about the cost of living, this is one of the most popular questions I am asked about Paris. In 2023, the average wage of a French employee corresponds to 2340 € net per month (INSEE source), a figure which, in my opinion, allows us to live quite well in the centre of Paris, but without any particular luxuries. The situation is already more complicated if you have children to support or a mortgage to repay. The salaries obviously vary according to the sector, the qualification and the title of study, but not always those who have many years of experience and a specialized degree can be entitled to a more than deserved increase.

To get an idea of average French salaries per category, you can consult this link. But if you ask me: "Do you think wages are proportional to the cost of living in Paris? ", I have a tendency to say no. Between inflation and post-pandemic crisis, everything in France has become much more expensive. A proper salary should allow you to live decently, not only to pay rent and food while saving something at the end of the month. From this point of view, I unfortunately believe that Paris is light years away from other European capitals.

What do you think? Do you think you can live well in Paris on an average salary? Let me know!