Cost of studying in France

The official living-⁠cost benchmark per month, in your currency, with a breakdown, price levels, housing rents and the last five years, all on one pa⁠g⁠e⁠.

COST OF LIVING

What living in France costs

The official figure in your currency, how prices compare, and five years of change.

about US$980 a month

That is about US$11,800 a year

Prices vs United States

lower

Prices vs United States

lower

Currency

One month, item by item

Shown per month so short stays are easy to compare. The official amount and the sum of the items are two different things.

CityParis

Official amount

Official living-cost benchmark (per month)

about US$980

Source: pa.diplomatie.gouv.fr

Living costs to show for a student v⁠i⁠s⁠a (per month). It is separate from the total of the items.

Sum of items

Amount by item

Rent (median): —
Food: —
Transport: about US$100
Phone and internet: —
Insurance: —

Total

—

Not enough items have a source, so no total is shown.

“—” means we do not yet have a sourced amount for that item. Tuition and return travel are not included in either amount.

Per month, side by side

Official living-cost figure: US$980 a month

Price level (US = 1.0)

France vs United States: cheaper

Mid-range among the 14 countries (No. 6 from the cheapest)

ColombiaFranceUnited StatesAustralia

CheaperPricier

Tap a dot to see the country and its value.

The last 5 years

In US Dollar, the amount you need to show has risen about 38% in 5 years.

per month: US$710 → US$990

October 2021October 2026

October 2026：about US$990 a month

Sources and revision history

Official figure: EUR 877.50 a month・applications from August 1, 2026・Living costs to show for a student visa

Rate: 1 EUR = USD 1.12 (October 15, 2026, Frankfurter)

Tuition and return travel are not included. This is the amount the authorities ask you to show, not necessarily what you will spend.

World Bank price level (US = 1.0). The same yardstick as the city diagnosis.

Amounts in US Dollar are the official figure in force that month, multiplied by that month’s exchange rate.

History of the official figure (original currency)

Before August 1, 2026：€615 a month・pa.diplomatie.gouv.fr・checked October 15, 2026
Applications from August 1, 2026：€877.50 a month・pa.diplomatie.gouv.fr・checked October 15, 2026

The official sources do not say when the oldest figure began, so the line starts at the left edge.

Exchange rates are European Central Bank reference rates (Frankfurter), taken on the first business day of each month; the last point is October 16, 2026.

Price levels are World Bank statistics (retrieved October 15, 2026). 2017 and 2021 are measured by the International Comparison Program (ICP); the years between are the World Bank’s linking series. The 2017 figures are the World Bank’s revised series, aligned with the 2021 round. data.worldbank.org

Source: French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs: new minimum resources for student visas (EUR 877.50 a month, applications from 1 August 2026)

checked October 15, 2026

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