High property costs, a fantastic range of things to do, beautiful historic architecture and endless choice, are reminiscent of lots of major cities around the world. Similarly, how expensive it is to live in Paris depends, in part, on the lifestyle you choose to lead.
Like anywhere, there are pros and cons to living in Paris. In a way, it’s its history which both defines it and creates drawbacks. It has a stubbornness which means at times, it can be a place that’s rigid and resistant to change.
If you’re an American, a Brit, Aussie or traveller, you’ll certainly find things which will frustrate you and others that will delight. That’s much the same as what it’s like to live anywhere in the world. It’s really a case of whether the pros outweigh the cons for you personally – for a lot of expats they do.
I’m a Brit from London living in Paris. Here are my top pros, cons and tips for living in Paris as an expat.
Parisians are reserved – in public they’re quiet and private. That’s a fact to prepare yourself for in advance. Top up your French so on a basic level, you can converse and get around.
Being fluent in French is obviously an advantage, particularly for employment where fluent French is a distinct advantage. However, this is a top international city so you don’t need to be fluent in French to function.
Parisians can be very direct and don’t strike up a conversation easily. If you can open a conversation in French, it’s helpful when socialising and many people will slip into English after the first couple of awkward exchanges
Again, you’ll find a similar level of reserve in people from many cities in Northern Europe, such as those in Germany. Be ready to make firm friends with Parisians over time and expect public places, like the Metro, to be really, really quiet.
If you’re a student or an expat working in an international company, you’ll be able to socialise with people from around the world.
Aspects of Parisian culture can be inward-looking and may feel insensitive or a bit cold to people from more far-flung parts of the world so do seek out expat communities online and in-person.
You’ll find lots of expats, including Brits, Americans and Aussies, at Charli’s Crew, a vegan restaurant / café in the 2nd. Charli’s Crew is a destination for its friendly, relaxed vibe, warm welcome and delicious menu full of all your vegan faves.
All the food at Charli’s is free from refined sugar and organic as far as possible. It’s a great place to hang out and meet other expats as well as locals. If you follow a gluten-free, paleo or keto diet there are lots of options on the menu for you too. More
Like most capital cities, you can access Paris on a number of levels so if you put property to one side, it doesn’t have to be expensive to live in Paris. In comparison to London for example, living in Paris is marginally cheaper. Let’s take a closer look at the kind of expenses you can expect.
Living Costs: In the home of the arts and the capital of fashion, there’s always something to do, see and experience in Paris. Whether visiting the Louvre, sitting by the River Seine, watching the world go by as you eat al fresco in a streetside cafe, there’s so much to do here.
From museums, to galleries, parks, theatres, markets, bars, the ballet and restaurants – every experience is a cultural highlight. This is what you come to Paris for.
Tasty, fresh food is available at every turn and you can get a good bottle of French wine for less than 5 euros. Supermarkets are easy to find at all levels of expense so living in Paris doesn’t have to be expensive.
In the home of the arts and the capital of fashion, there’s always something to do, see and experience in Paris. Whether visiting the Louvre, sitting by the River Seine, watching the world go by as you eat al fresco in a streetside cafe, there’s so much to do here.
From museums, to galleries, parks, theatres, markets, bars, the ballet and restaurants – every experience is a cultural highlight. This is what you come to Paris for.
Tasty, fresh food is available at every turn and you can get a good bottle of French wine for less than 5 euros. Supermarkets are easy to find at all levels of expense so living in Paris doesn’t have to be expensive.
Education: There are good public, private and international schools so you don’t have to pay for schooling if you don’t want to. Rates for private and international schools are nothing unexpected.
Healthcare and transport: Healthcare is free and there’s lots of options for transportation. Public transport or walking is the way to get around because Paris traffic is really bad. Neither the bus, train or metro are particularly expensive in comparison to places like London, and a lot of things are within walking distance.
You do pay a premium for good public services because tax is around 20% (if the duration of stay involves an income that’s taxable).
Safety: If you are self-aware and keep belongings out of sight, Paris can be as safe as most major cities. There are pickpockets in operation so be very mindful of what you put on show and who is around you when you’re walking around, particularly in places like the Metro.
Property Costs: Paris is a city where people want to live from around the world so property is expensive. As a relatively small city (in comparison to somewhere like London), demand is high so when you do find somewhere you like, snap it up quickly.
High-demand and a resistance to contemporary builds mean you don’t get much for your money in Paris. Most people rent and you’ll be competing for old properties which pre-date at least 1940, probably much more.
Rental costs: At the cheaper end of the scale you can expect a small studio apartment for which you’ll pay at least 1,200 euros per month. Larger apartments and houses command monthly rents of between 2000 and 4000 euros or more.
Property prices vary across locations. Amongst Paris’ 12 arrondisements, the 5th, 10th and 19th are popular choices for students and younger travellers. For houses with parks close by, most families head to the 12th and 15th.
You don’t have to live in the heart of the city. Transport links are good so for the best value and larger properties, head to the suburbs.
Be prepared to pay a deposit of up to 3 months rent to secure a property.
Strong socialist sentiment means employment is where you’ll find plenty of cultural shocks. Parisians takes 4-6 weeks’ holiday over the summer (full annual entitlement stretches to 8-10 weeks!) so be prepared for the entire place to shut down over August.
Everything also stops for a long lunch every day which may see your colleagues partaking in a glass of wine. On the other hand, most people work late, totting up between around 36 and 40 hours at work every week.
It’s virtually impossible to sack someone so the employment market in Paris is slow. That means you need to look for a job months before you arrive.
When you arrive, be sure to come and find us for a warm welcome to the city and all your favourite vegan food. Browse menu.
You may well be in the home of gastronomy but if you’re looking for a tasty vegan brunch in Paris it’s best to head to a good vegan restaurant which
It’s hard to think of brunch in Paris without visualising piles of gluten-laden food but the good news is, you can partake if you follow a gluten-free diet. Thanks to
It’s not true. Visiting the best coffee shops and cafés in Paris as a vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or health-conscious customer does not mean you have to push around a limp
© Charli’s Crew 2024. All Rights Reserved.
