Cost of Living in France: Travel and Accommodation for International Students

France is widely popular for being one of the world’s top tourist spots and a great country to study abroad. The cost of living in France is extensively higher as compared to other European countries. International students are advised to make arrangements after being accepted at a university in France as soon as possible.

Among all the cities in France, the cost of living in Paris seems to be the highest with an average monthly cost ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 EUR (1.05 lakhs to 1.58 lakhs INR). While in cities like Lyon, Toulouse, and Metz the average cost of living is seen to be around 500 to 1,000 EUR (43,952 to 87,905 lakhs INR) per month.
Check: How to apply to in study France

Other than the cost of living in France, the tuition fees at private universities in France range between 3,000 to 10,000 EUR (2.36 lakhs to 8.78 lakhs INR) per year. The public universities in France are cheaper and generally have tuition fees around 170 EUR (15,000 INR) for a bachelor’s and 260 EUR (23,000 INR) for a master's.

Cost of living in France: Travel Guide

The flight cost from India to France ranges from 280 to 740 EUR (25,000 to 65,000 INR). Flights from India to France are available in all major cities in India with Air India and Air France being the top flights. Listed below are the documents that international students must carry before travelling to France:

• Copy of passport
• France Students Visa
• Valid ID proof
• Birth certificate
• Proof of enrollment or offer letter from a university in France
• Proof of French language proficiency
• Certified copies of the previous qualifications achieved including Diplomas and degrees
• Driver’s licence (if applicable)

Cost of Transportation in France

There are various means that students can use for daily commuting while living in France. International students may either rent a vehicle or travel via public transport. A travel pass is one of the ideal choices for students as it is available at discounted rates. Listed below are some of the popular modes of transportation in France:

• Public transport such as bus, train, or taxi.
• Paris metro with an extensive network of 14 lines.
• The cost of a metro ticket in Paris for a single person is 1.90 EUR (167 INR).
• Self-service cars are also available for rent through Citiz Network or private agencies like Drivy, Koolicar, etc.
• For travelling to other cities in France, there are 45 airports throughout the country with airlines at affordable rates.
• Taxis in France are the most convenient way to travel but fares may vary depending on the city.

Major modes of transportation in France with the average cost:

Cost of living in France: Student Accommodation

International students in France may either choose to live on campus accommodations provided by the institute or private accommodations off campus. For international students, the average monthly cost of living in France is 400 to 1,200 EUR. (35,000 to 1.05 lakhs INR). The monthly rent in Paris starts from 400 EUR (35,000 INR) while in other cities it stands at around 200 EUR (17,500 INR). In order to rent accommodation in France, the students must provide the following documents:

• Passport Copy or other ID proof
• Bank reference form from a French Bank
• Reference from a French Guarantor
• Guarantor’s ID proof, employment contract, payslips, etc.

On-campus Accommodations in France

International students must consider living in students' accommodations if they are looking for housing at affordable rates. The majority of residences at universities in France are managed by CROUS (Centre régional des œuvres universitaires et scolaire) which offer students accommodations at reasonable rates.

However, due to high demand, the availability of these accommodations is limited. Hence, students are advised to book their place by applying online through the official website of CROUS. Apart from cheap residences for students, the agency also helps in finding affordable restaurants with a cost as low as 5 EUR (440 INR).

Cost of Living at Top Universities in France

Given below are the cost of living at top universities alongside accommodations rate per month:

Off-Campus Accommodations in France

Those looking for off-campus housing or accommodations in France must check whether their institute provides any assistance for the same. In some cases, the students may be required to look for off-campus accommodations on their own with help of housing agencies or by contacting the individual property owner. It is best advised to look for accommodations near the countryside if living in cities like Versailles, Montpellier, Creuse, or Metz. These are usually less expensive compared to other areas.

The off-campus accommodations are usually full or semi-furnished and consist of other facilities like laundry, gym, a student lounge, and additional space for gathering. International students seeking private accommodations may refer to websites like Student factory, Lodgis, Le Bon Coin, etc. The average rent for an apartment in France is around 400 EUR (35,162 INR).

City-wise Cost of Living in France:

Monthly Rent for on-campus and off-campus accommodations:

Also Check: Scholarships to Study in France for international students

Cost of Living in France: Food Budget

The food budget in France depends on the individual’s tastes and preference which generally cost around 300 EUR (26,370 INR) per month. On average, a meal in the university's food court may cost around 3.30 EUR (290 INR). The monthly cost in a food court will add up to 70 EUR (6,153 INR) including snacks and coffee. The below table shows basic food items in France with average cost:

Cost of Living in France: Healthcare Cost

It is mandatory for everyone to have health insurance in order to cover healthcare expenses. Without health insurance, the healthcare expenses may go 70% higher as doctors may charge as much as they want. All prescribed medicines are covered under health insurance. On the other hand, the university clinic is free of cost for students who are studying there. In case of a medical emergency, the students may visit the sector 1 doctor as their fees are reimbursed by social security. A health insurance in France may cost around 40 EUR (3,532 INR).

Tabulated below are charges by each type of doctor in France with reimbursement available:

Medical expenses for students having health insurance:

Cost of Living in France: Additional Expenditure

Apart from housing and healthcare expenses, students will also be required to make payments for various bills or subscriptions. The below table shows monthly expenses in France for international students:

Also check: Job Opportunities for international students in France

Cost of Living in Best Cities of France

The top cities to study in France include Paris, Metz, Lyon, Toulouse, Lille, and Montpellier. Paris is one of the most popular cities of all and it is the most expensive in terms of cost of living and tuition fees. The table shows the cost of Living in France per month for top cities:

International students planning to study in France must be well aware of expenses they will be required to make apart from tuition fees. Also, it is mandatory for all students to open a bank account in France after their arrival to make further transactions. Regarding accommodations, all international students are advised to make arrangements in advance either through online housing portals or university's student residence.