Cost of living in France

Cost of Living in France for Students – 2026/2027

How much money do you really need to study and live in France?

The cost of living in France depends greatly on where you live. Paris and the Île-de-France region are considerably more expensive, especially for housing, while medium-sized and smaller cities can be much more affordable.

For most students, housing is the largest monthly expense, followed by food and transportation. Your actual budget will also depend on whether you live in a CROUS residence, a private student residence, a shared apartment or your own studio.

Last updated: August 2026

خلاصه برای دانشجویان فارسی‌زبان

هزینه زندگی دانشجویی در فرانسه به‌شدت به شهر محل زندگی و نوع مسکن بستگی دارد. زندگی در پاریس و منطقه Île-de-France معمولاً بسیار گران‌تر از شهرهای متوسط و کوچک فرانسه است و بخش اصلی هزینه ماهانه را اجاره مسکن تشکیل می‌دهد.

اگر بتوانید خوابگاه CROUS بگیرید، هزینه مسکن به‌مراتب کمتر خواهد بود. Campus France در اطلاعات سال ۲۰۲۶ میانگین اجاره خوابگاه CROUS را حدود ۴۵۰ یورو در پاریس و ۳۵۰ یورو در سایر مناطق فرانسه اعلام کرده است. البته ظرفیت CROUS محدود است و گرفتن اتاق همیشه آسان نیست.

یک تغییر بسیار مهم برای دانشجویان ایرانی از ۱ ژوئیه ۲۰۲۶ مربوط به کمک‌هزینه مسکن CAF است. دانشجویان غیراروپایی که فقط با اقامت دانشجویی در فرانسه هستند، دیگر به‌طور خودکار نمی‌توانند از APL/کمک‌هزینه مسکن استفاده کنند. برای دانشجوی غیراروپایی، امکان دریافت این کمک اکنون به شرایط خاصی مانند داشتن بورس بر اساس معیارهای اجتماعی، داشتن فعالیت شغلی، یا قرارداد apprentissage/professionnalisation وابسته است. بنابراین در محاسبه بودجه خودتان از ابتدا روی CAF حساب نکنید مگر اینکه شرایط لازم را داشته باشید.

برای سال تحصیلی 2026/2027، مبلغ CVEC برابر 105 یورو است، البته بعضی دانشجویان از پرداخت آن معاف هستند. شهریه عادی دانشگاه‌های دولتی نیز برای Licence برابر 178 یورو، Master برابر 255 یورو و Doctorat برابر 397 یورو است. با این حال، بعضی دانشجویان بین‌المللی خارج از اتحادیه اروپا ممکن است مشمول droits d’inscription différenciés شوند که برای Licence تا 2,902 یورو و برای Master تا 3,950 یورو در سال است. دانشگاه‌ها در بسیاری از موارد امکان معافیت کامل یا جزئی دارند، بنابراین مبلغ نهایی را حتماً با دانشگاه خودتان چک کنید.

نکته مهم دیگر این است که طبق اطلاعات رسمی Service Public که در اوت ۲۰۲۶ به‌روزرسانی شده، یک دانشجوی خارجی برای اقامت دانشجویی باید بتواند منابع مالی حداقل 877.50 یورو در ماه را اثبات کند. این عدد صرفاً شرط اداری است و به این معنی نیست که 877 یورو برای زندگی در همه شهرهای فرانسه، مخصوصاً پاریس، حتماً کافی خواهد بود.

1. Housing

Housing is usually the biggest part of a student budget.

CROUS student residences

CROUS residences are generally the cheapest option. According to Campus France, average monthly rent is approximately:

• €450/month in Paris

• €350/month elsewhere in France

Demand is high and places are limited, particularly at the beginning of the academic year.

Private accommodation

Private student residences, studios and apartments are normally more expensive than CROUS housing.

Prices vary considerably between cities. Paris, Nice, Lyon and some other large metropolitan areas can be expensive, while smaller university cities usually offer more affordable options.

Shared accommodation (colocation) is often a good way to reduce monthly housing costs.

Do not forget to budget for:

• housing insurance (assurance habitation);

• security deposit;

• electricity and/or gas if not included;

• Internet;

• basic furniture or household equipment when necessary.

Campus France’s 2026 student-budget guide estimates home insurance at roughly €80–100 per year.

2. Food

Your food budget depends mainly on whether you cook at home or eat outside regularly.

Campus France estimates that food expenses are an important monthly part of the budget and notes that everyday prices tend to be higher in Paris. Around €200–300 per month is a reasonable amount to keep in mind for groceries and basic food expenses, depending on your habits and city.

Cooking at home is obviously much cheaper than eating regularly in restaurants.

University restaurants (Restaurants Universitaires or Resto’U) are also an economical option for students.

Since May 2026, the French government has introduced the €1 CROUS meal for students in CROUS university restaurants.

3. Transportation

Transportation costs vary greatly from one city to another.

Many French cities offer discounted monthly or annual passes for students and young people. In smaller cities, public transportation can be relatively inexpensive, and cycling is also a practical option.

Paris and Île-de-France are more expensive. In 2026, the standard Navigo monthly pass for all zones costs €90.80 per month. Students who meet the age and eligibility conditions may have access to the annual imagine R Étudiant pass instead.

Before buying a normal monthly pass, always check whether your city offers a student or under-26 rate.

4. Health Insurance

International students who need to join the French health insurance system can register with Assurance Maladie.

Registration for foreign students is free.

French public health insurance reimburses part of many healthcare expenses. You may also choose to subscribe to a complementary health insurance plan (mutuelle) to cover part of the remaining costs.

A mutuelle is separate from your basic Social Security registration.

5. University Tuition Fees

For the 2026/2027 academic year, standard registration fees for many national degrees in French public higher education institutions are:

• Licence: €178/year

• Master: €255/year

• Doctorat: €397/year

These are national public-university registration fees and do not apply in exactly the same way to every institution or programme. Engineering schools, Grandes Écoles, private institutions and some specialised programmes may charge different amounts.

Important for non-EU students

Some international students from outside the European Union may be subject to differentiated tuition fees:

• Licence: €2,902/year

• Master: €3,950/year

However, your nationality, residence status, programme and university exemption policy can change what you actually pay. Many institutions grant partial or full exemptions, so always check the tuition information provided directly by your university.

6. CVEC

The Contribution de vie étudiante et de campus (CVEC) is a compulsory administrative step for most students enrolled in initial higher education programmes.

For 2026/2027, the CVEC is €105.

Some students are exempt, and some types of programmes are not subject to the CVEC.

7. Phone, Internet and Everyday Expenses

You should also include smaller regular expenses in your monthly budget:

• mobile phone;

• Internet;

• toiletries and cleaning products;

• laundry;

• study materials;

• clothes;

• leisure activities;

• occasional train or bus travel.

These expenses may look small individually, but together they can represent a significant amount each month.

Students can often benefit from reduced prices for museums, cinemas, cultural activities and transportation, especially if they are under 26.

8. CAF Housing Assistance: Important Change in 2026

This section is particularly important for international students.

Until recently, many international students could apply for French housing assistance after arriving in France.

The rules changed on 1 July 2026.

For students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland who hold a residence permit for studies, eligibility for personal housing assistance such as APL is now restricted.

A non-EU student with a student residence permit may qualify if, for example, they:

• receive an eligible needs-based higher-education scholarship;

• have a professional activity;

• or have an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract.

Other specific situations may also remain eligible.

Important for Iranian students

If you are coming from Iran with a normal student visa and do not meet one of the new eligibility conditions, do not prepare your budget assuming that you will receive CAF housing assistance.

Check your individual situation directly with CAF after arriving in France.

9. How Much Money Must an International Student Prove?

There is an important difference between:

the amount required for immigration purposes

and

the amount you may actually need to live comfortably.

As of August 2026, Service Public states that a foreign student must be able to demonstrate monthly resources of at least:

€877.50 per month

for a student residence permit or VLS-TS student status.

This should not be interpreted as a guaranteed realistic monthly budget everywhere in France.

In Paris, especially if you rent private accommodation, your real monthly expenses can easily be substantially higher.

10. A Simple Student Budget

A useful way to prepare your budget is not to start with one national average.

Start with these questions:

1. Where will I live?
Paris and Île-de-France, a large metropolitan city, or a smaller city?

2. What type of accommodation will I have?
CROUS, private residence, shared apartment or private studio?

3. Am I eligible for housing assistance?
Since July 2026, this is particularly important for non-EU students.

4. What tuition fee will my university actually charge me?
Do not assume that every international student pays the same tuition fee.

5. What will my transportation cost?
Check student and under-26 subscriptions in your city.

Before Coming to France: Remember the First-Month Costs

Your first month in France is usually more expensive than a normal month.

In addition to normal living expenses, you may need money for:

• security deposit for your accommodation;

• first month’s rent;

• housing insurance;

• basic household items;

• transportation subscription;

• university registration;

• CVEC;

• SIM card and Internet;

• initial food and everyday purchases.

It is therefore a good idea to arrive with a financial reserve rather than calculating your budget only on the basis of normal monthly expenses.

Final Advice

France can be relatively affordable for a student if you obtain CROUS accommodation, cook regularly and study in a medium-sized city.

On the other hand, living alone in private accommodation in Paris can make your monthly budget much higher.

The city and the type of accommodation make the biggest difference.

And for international students, especially non-EU students, always check the latest rules concerning tuition fees, residence requirements and housing assistance, because these rules can change from one academic year to another.

Official sources checked for this update

Campus France — student budget and housing information
Étudiant.gouv.fr — 2026/2027 tuition fees and CVEC
Service-Public.fr — foreign students, residence requirements and health insurance
CAF — housing assistance rules applicable from July 2026
Île-de-France Mobilités — 2026 Paris-region transport fares

Information checked and updated in August 2026. Amounts and administrative rules may change. Always verify important information with the relevant official authority before making a financial or administrative decision.