Cost of Studying in France 2026 by City

Planning to study in France but unsure how much money you actually need each month? The honest answer depends heavily on which city you choose. A student in Rennes can live comfortably on €600 per month after housing benefit, while the same lifestyle in Paris costs closer to €880. This city-by-city breakdown uses 2025-2026 data from the Observatoire de la Vie Étudiante (OVE) and official rent indices so you can plan with confidence — and without nasty surprises.

How We Built These Budget Estimates

Every figure in this article draws on three official sources: the OVE student life survey for 2025-2026, local rent observatory data published by regional authorities, and the official tariffs of public student transport schemes. All amounts are monthly averages for a single student living alone in a private studio flat.

For each city we show two scenarios:

• Without APL — the situation faced by non-EU students who are not state scholarship holders since the July 2026 eligibility reform
• With APL — the situation for EU/EEA/Swiss students and all state scholarship holders, using the average APL amount for a typical studio in that city

City-by-City Monthly Budget Table

Sources: OVE 2025-2026, local rent observatories, RATP/TCL/Tisséo student tariffs 2026

Paris: The Most Expensive City — But Not Without Solutions

Paris is by far the most expensive destination for international students. A 20 m² studio within the Boulevard Périphérique typically rents for €750 to €950 per month excluding utilities. In central arrondissements (1st to 11th), the same size can easily reach €1,200.

How to Cut Costs in Paris

• CROUS student residence: Rooms cost between €200 and €450 per month depending on the room type. Browse available rooms at trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr
• House-sharing (colocation): A room in a shared flat within Paris runs €450 to €700 per month, roughly half the cost of a studio
• Inner suburbs (92, 93, 94): Studios at €500 to €700 with direct metro or RER connections to central Paris
• Outer suburbs (77, 78, 91, 95): Studios from €400 to €550, accessible by Transilien train — all covered by the Imagine R annual pass (€392.30/year for under-26s)

Transport: The Imagine R annual pass at €392.30 (about €33 per month) covers unlimited travel on all RATP metro, bus, and RER lines plus SNCF Transilien suburban trains. For students who cannot get Imagine R, the Navigo monthly pass costs €86.40 per month.

Lyon: The Best Quality-of-Life Balance

Lyon consistently ranks as one of the best French cities for student life. Rents are significantly lower than Paris, the university network is excellent (Université Claude Bernard, Sciences Po Lyon, INSA Lyon), and the city's public transport (TCL) is efficient and well-priced.

A studio in the 3rd, 4th, or 7th arrondissement — all close to the main campuses — costs between €450 and €600 per month. The Villeurbanne and Vaulx-en-Velin neighbourhoods (home to INSA and several engineering schools) offer studios from €420 per month.

The TCL student annual pass costs approximately €355 per year (about €30 per month), covering metro, tram, and bus.

Toulouse: The Aeronautics Hub With Student-Friendly Rents

Home to Airbus and a massive engineering school ecosystem, Toulouse attracts thousands of international students annually. The city's rental market remains relatively affordable despite sustained demand, with studios available from €420 near the main campuses (Université Paul Sabatier, INSA Toulouse, Université Capitole).

Tisséo, the local transport authority, offers an annual student pass at around €330 per year. Food costs in Toulouse are slightly lower than in Lyon thanks to proximity to agricultural production regions in Occitanie.

Bordeaux: Wine Country With Rising Rents

Bordeaux has become increasingly popular with students over the past decade, and rents have risen accordingly. Studio prices now sit between €430 and €620 per month. The TBM transport network offers an annual student pass at approximately €336 per year.

One advantage: Bordeaux is compact and very cycle-friendly. A €20 per month Vcub+ bike-share subscription can replace public transport for many daily journeys, reducing transport costs significantly.

Lille: Northern France's Most Affordable Major City

Lille offers some of the lowest rents among major French student cities. Studios near Université de Lille and Sciences Po Lille rent from €380 per month. The Ilevia transport network's annual student pass costs approximately €300 per year.

Lille's geographic position is a genuine advantage: Paris is 60 minutes by TGV, Brussels is 35 minutes, and London is accessible via Eurostar. For international students who need to travel frequently, this connectivity is a significant bonus.

Marseille: The Mediterranean Option

Marseille has a large and diverse student population across Aix-Marseille Université, the largest French-speaking university in the world by enrollment. Studio rents start from €380 per month in neighbourhoods like Saint-Charles, La Plaine, and Cours Julien, close to the main campuses.

The RTM transport annual student pass costs approximately €330 per year. Marseille's food costs benefit from proximity to Mediterranean produce markets, and the city's vibrant street food culture makes eating affordably quite easy.

The July 2026 APL Reform: What Changed

The housing benefit reform that came into force in July 2026 significantly altered the financial equation for non-EU students. Before the reform, all students paying rent in France were eligible for APL or ALS regardless of nationality. Since July 2026:

• Non-EU students who are not scholarship holders are no longer eligible for any CAF housing benefit (APL or ALS)
• EU/EEA/Swiss students remain fully eligible under European free movement rules
• Non-EU scholarship holders (Eiffel grant, CROUS scholarship, foreign government scholarships recognised by France) remain eligible

This reform makes city choice even more critical for non-EU non-scholarship students, since the APL amounts shown in the table above are no longer accessible to them. A non-EU non-scholarship student in Paris faces a full budget of €1,149 to €1,349 per month — a level that requires either a substantial scholarship, family support, or a student job.

Budget Comparison Before and After the Reform

One-Time Costs to Budget at Arrival

Beyond monthly expenses, plan for these one-time costs when you first arrive:

The CVEC must be paid before finalising your university registration each academic year. Factor this into your arrival budget, not your recurring monthly spend.

Ways to Reduce Your Monthly Budget

Regardless of which city you choose, these strategies consistently lower monthly costs:

Housing savings:

• Apply for CROUS housing through the DSE portal from March for September intake — rooms are 30 to 50% cheaper than the private market
• Consider house-sharing: split a two-bedroom flat and pay €100 to €200 less than a solo studio
• Look at student residences managed by private operators (Nexity Studéa, Kardham, Adoma) — some are conventioned for APL

Food savings:

• University canteens (RU — Restaurant Universitaire) charge around €3.30 per meal for registered students, one of the cheapest ways to eat a full meal in France
• Local markets, particularly on weekday mornings, offer fresh produce at prices 20 to 40% below supermarkets

Transport savings:

• Annual passes are systematically cheaper than monthly passes — buy the full year upfront if you can
• Many cities offer free or heavily discounted transport for students under 26 from certain countries under bilateral agreements

Phone and internet:

• French SIM-only plans (Free Mobile, Sosh, B&You) cost €8 to €15 per month for unlimited calls and data — dramatically cheaper than most home countries

Use the Budget Planner for a Personalised Estimate

The city averages above are a useful starting point, but your actual budget depends on your specific rent, scholarship status, and spending habits. Use the Meridiane Budget Planner to enter your exact situation and get a personalised monthly estimate, including your APL eligibility and estimated benefit amount.

The tool covers all ten cities above, accounts for the July 2026 eligibility rules, and adjusts calculations based on whether you live in a CROUS residence, a private studio, or a shared flat.

Official Sources

• Observatoire de la Vie Étudiante (OVE) — official national student life statistics
• Etudiant.gouv.fr — Cost of student life — government guidance on student budgets
• CROUS housing portal — search and apply for CROUS student accommodation
• CAF housing benefit simulator — official APL/ALS eligibility calculator
• Imagine R annual pass (Île-de-France) — annual transport pass for under-26s in the Paris region