Moving to Paris? 2023 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

Paris, a city synonymous with romance, has drawn tourists for centuries. The culture, architecture and history are widely known, with the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Arc de Triomphe to name a few.

If you are considering moving to Paris, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in France’s capital city.

Quick Paris Facts:

Population: 2,161 million (2019), 10.5 million, including the surrounding suburbs.
Official Language: French (de facto) with many other languages being spoken, including English, Spanish, German, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese and Polish.
GDP Per Capita: $43,659 USD (2021 estimate)
Stop signs: Originally, the Eiffel Tower was designed to be a temporary structure.
Currency: Euro (EUR). As of early 2023, $1 USD = €0.95 EUR, £1 = €1.14 EUR, $1 CAD = €0.70 EUR, $1 AUD = €0.64 EUR

Sections

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Paris

From City	Estimated Cost
New York City, USA	$5,000
Tokyo, Japan	$8,000
Sydney, Australia	$7,000
Toronto, Canada	$4,500
Sao Paulo, Brazil	$6,000
Mumbai, India	$6,500
Johannesburg, South Africa	$5,500
Moscow, Russia	$4,000
Beijing, China	$7,500
London, UK	$3,500

2. Paris Housing Costs

Housing costs in Paris are not as prohibitive as in many major cities in the world, but they are still high. Accommodation at every price level is highly sought after, so you need to be quick off the draw. Prices obviously vary from area to area but the figures below will indicate what’s available at what price.

Monthly Rental Prices in Paris:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: €1,300+
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: €950+
3 bedroomed flat in City Centre: €2,900+
3 bedroomed flat outside the City Centre: €1,900+

Paris Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: €12,100+
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: €8,800+

Paris Housing Cost Comparison:

This is how rents in Paris compare with other cities around the globe.

London is 35.9% more expensive
New York is 56% more expensive
Los Angeles is 39.9% more expensive
Toronto is 9.8% cheaper
Vancouver is 15.9% more expensive
Sydney is 22% more expensive
Melbourne is 10.2% cheaper
Dubai is 8% more expensive

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs:

Share a Flat or House: Paris is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Most people living in the city live in apartments as there are very few affordable houses. Sharing is therefore very common among expats. With a house/apartment share you will have your own room, or, for a cheaper option, you can share a room. The bathroom/s will be shared with other people in the house. There are many flats available for shared rental as well. Have a look at RoomLaLa to find someone you can get on with to share the costs with you.
Different Areas – Different Prices: Like all cities, Paris has its expensive and cheaper areas. Generally, the closer you are to the city centre, the more expensive the property will be. Paris is split into 20 arrondissements, starting with the 1st arrondissement at the Louvre and continuing in a clockwise spiral from there. The River Seine divides the city into two, where the left bank is considered to be packed full of students, artists and those who enjoy a Bohemian lifestyle and the right bank is thought to be for the more sophisticated and bourgeois. Properties are usually advertised by arrondissements rather than a suburb’s name. The 5th arrondissement is around the Sorbonne and offers affordable accommodation in a vibrant and arty atmosphere. The expensive and elegant 8th arrondissement attracts the jet setters of the world and sits on the Champs Elysées.

3. Paris Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs

Paris is home to some of the best restaurants and bakeries in the world. These are obviously supplied by some excellent food stores.

Inexpensive Restaurant: €15.00 – €17.00
Takeout Coffee: €3.70 – €4.50
Bottle of Coke: €3.00 – €4.00
1L of Milk: €1.10 – €1.50
Loaf of Bread: €2.00 – €2.50
12 Eggs: €3.50 – €4.00
1kg Chicken: €12.90 – €15.00
1kg Beef: €22.00 – €30.00
1kg Apples: €3.20 – €4.00
1kg White Rice: €2.20 – €2.50

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.

New York restaurants are 27.5% more expensive and groceries are 23.4% more expensive than Paris.
Los Angeles restaurants are 19.8% more expensive and groceries are 0.4% more expensive than Paris.
London restaurants are 10.8% more expensive and groceries are 34.6% cheaper than Paris.
Toronto restaurants are 3.4% more expensive and groceries are 11.8% cheaper than Paris.
Vancouver restaurants are 0.8% more expensive and groceries are 7.4% cheaper than Paris.
Sydney restaurants are 4.8% more expensive and groceries are 2.1% more expensive than Paris.
Melbourne restaurants are 3.1% more expensive and groceries are 3.3% more expensive than Paris.
Dubai restaurants are 1.8% cheaper and groceries are 56.3% cheaper than Paris.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:

Know Your Supermarkets: There’s a huge selection of supermarkets and food stores in Paris. The cheapest supermarkets are Franprix, Carrefour, Dia and Monoprix. Picard is more upmarket and is great for frozen foods. G20 is another smaller, but popular chain. Paris is full of small grocers selling excellent quality food. The Parisian food markets are also a delight to visit. Have a look at Timeout’s recommendations on the best food markets in Paris.
Find Cheap Eats: Paris is full of hidden gems where you can find excellent food at reasonable prices. Have a look at the following sites to see which restaurants tantalise your taste buds – Buzzfeed, Timeout, Eurocheapo, Metro and World of Wanderlust.

4. Paris Alcohol Costs

Paris is known for its bars, clubs and nightlife. The following is a list of basic prices of beer and wine from the supermarket and restaurants.

Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: €7.00 – €8.00
Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: €6.00 – €7.00
Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: €2.10 – €2.50
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: €3.00 – €4.00
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: €9.00 – €10.00

How To Drink For Less in Paris:

Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials over weekends and public holidays.
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to drinking for less in Paris. Have a look at the following sites to find where your favourite tipple is on special – Timeout, Four Square, Huffington Post and Trip Savvy.
Scour the areas around the Sorbonne and other tertiary institutions to find the best alcohol deals.

5. Paris Transportation Fares

Paris has an excellent transport system of buses, trams and the metro. RATP allows you to plan your journey with online timetables and the ability to buy tickets online.

Here are some example ticket costs.

Adult single – €2.10
One day ticket for bus, tram and metro – €12.85
Monthly season ticket for bus, tram and metro – €84.00

How To Save Money on Public Transport:

Buy a Navigo ticket which gives you unlimited travel, five-zone travel for a month – €73.
Buy a bike. There is a good system of cycle lanes all around the city
Walk. Depending on where you live and work, walking is certainly an option.

6. Cost of Internet in Paris

Internet in France is reasonably priced but note that broadband is not available everywhere in the country. Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:

Orange: €23.99 a month (Fiber broadband up to 500mb)
SFR: €19.99 a month (Fiber broadband up to 500mb)

7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure

The climate in Paris is relatively mild, with a summer temperature average of 20°C. January is the coldest month, where the average temperature is around 5°C. May and December are the wettest months with an average rainfall of 26mm.

Rain is always a possibility, so it’s wise to carry an umbrella or a fold-up waterproof jacket.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

Pair of Jeans: €95 – €100
Summer Dress: €40 – €50
Running Shoes (Trainers): €90 – €100
Business Shoes: €130 – €150
Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): €25
Deodorant: €5.50
Shampoo: €5
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): €2.50
Gym Membership: €35 – €90 per month
Movie (cinema) Ticket: €12.25

Source: Numbeo and Expatistan

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Paris

Everyone in France drives on the right. Driving in Paris is fine once you get used to the French style of driving but parking is nearly impossible and, should you be lucky enough to find a space, it’s very expensive.

If you’re moving to Paris from within France, you’ll be able to keep your license but need to update your address to your new Paris one.

If you live in the EU and have a driving licence from an EU country, then you can drive on that licence. If you are from a non-EU country then you will need to get a French licence after being in the country for a year.

If you are taking a car with you to France, you can drive it for 6 months without registering it in France and paying French vehicle registration tax. After the 6 months period, you have 30 days to register it.

Have a look at this article for further information on driving licences and vehicle purchases in France.

Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Paris:

Volkswagen Golf: €22,000+
1 litre (¼ gallon) of Gas (petrol): €1.99
Registration Fee (if any): Carte Grise – the cost depends on the size of the vehicle and its CO2 emissions.

Source: Expatistan, Licences

Ways To Save Money on Driving in Paris:

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Carpoolworld and Karzoo.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Try Uber.

9. Taxes in Paris

No matter where you live in France, you will pay the same rate of tax. Sales Tax, or VAT (Value Added Tax) is 20% in France and is included in the price that is advertised.

France has two taxes which need to be paid on the property. If you own a property you will need to pay Taxe D’Habitation and Taxe Fonciere. If you rent out your property, then your tenant will be liable for the taxe d’habitation. The amount varies depending on the size of the property and the area it’s in.

Finally, if you decide to buy a flat or house in France, you’ll have to pay registration fees. The cost varies but will be a maximum of 4.98% of the purchase price, plus a notaire’s fee of 1.1% of the purchase price.

10. Flight Costs from Paris

If you do make the move to Paris, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2023:

New York: €250
Los Angeles: €410
London: €30
Toronto: €412
Vancouver: €400
Dubai: €170
Sydney: €615
Melbourne: €640
Cape Town: €378
Hong Kong: €444

Other Tips on Moving to Paris:

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Paris but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Moving to Paris Alone

Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be rather daunting. Here are a few tips about settling into Paris.

Meetups: Paris has lots of free meetup groups you can find on Meetup,com. Find groups for family meetups, walking, entrepreneurs, coding and many more.
Attend Local Events: There are tons of events going on in Paris at any given time. Find out what’s going on from Timeout, Paris Events Calendar, Paris Perfect, Paris Major Events and France – Voyage.

12. Moving to Paris with a Family

Paris has a lot to offer families. History, culture, architecture, excellent food, parks and a choice of good schools. Here’s some extra food for thought.

New Parents (or parents to be): Pregnant in Paris gives you lots of information on antenatal, postnatal and parenting classes, plus clinics and hospitals.
Live in a Family-friendly Area: The 7th arrondissement is a traditional residential area, close to parks, schools and interesting speciality food shops. The 16th arrondissement is very popular with American families. It is on the western edge of the city and is a quiet area with a selection of different types of housing. It has excellent schools and lots of green spaces.
Find Things To Do With The Kids: Family Twist, Time Out and Where’s Sharon all have great ideas for activities and events your kids will love.

13. Moving to Paris for Work

Moving to Paris for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move.

There is a multitude of job opportunities in Paris in almost every sphere of employment as long as you speak French. Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary: Salaries in Paris are comparatively high. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
How to Find Work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Paris, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Jobs in Paris, Indeed and Indeed+. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.

14. Moving to Paris from Australia

There’s a large group of Australians living in Paris. Here’s more food for thought:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of the city of Paris with the population of a city in Australia, you’d be looking at Brisbane. If you look at the whole metro area, then you’d be looking at a city twice the size of Sydney.
Join Expat Groups: Both InterNations and Expat.com offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Paris.

15. Moving to Paris from Canada

There’s a large group of Canadians living in Paris. Here are a few extra points to consider:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of the city of Paris with the population of a city in Canada, you’d be looking at Vancouver. If you look at the whole metro area, then you’d be looking at a city twice the size of Toronto.
Join Expat Groups: Both InterNations and Expat.com offer ways of meeting up with other Canadians in Paris.

16. Moving to Paris from the United States

There’s a huge American contingent living and working in Paris. If you’re considering it, here are a few bonus tips:

Size Comparison: Paris’s population is roughly the same as Houston, Tx, although the whole metro area has around 15% more people than live in New York.
Expat Groups: Meeting Americans who are already living and working in Paris is an excellent way to make friends and learn how to integrate quickly into Parisian life. InterNations and Expats Paris will enable you to meet other expats from the States and other countries.

17. Moving to Paris from the United Kingdom

Brits make up the largest part of the expat community in Paris. If you’re considering it, here are a few bonus tips:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Paris with a city in the UK, you’d be looking at a city twice the size of Birmingham. The population of the whole of the Paris conurbation is around 17% larger than London.
Expat Groups: Meeting Brits who are already living and working in Paris is an excellent way to make friends and learn how to integrate quickly into Parisian life. Have a look at the following sites to find people from home – InterNations and Expat.com.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Paris you can start by comparing moving quotes here.