Popular cities
France Cost of Living 2026
๐ซ๐ท 11 cities in France, sorted by daily travel budget. Not the exchange rate โ how cheap it feels on your own income, and where a price becomes a rip-off. Updated October 2026
Cities in France compared
| City | Per day | Per month | Local meal | Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ซ๐ท LilleMid-size city | $235 | $3,851 | โฌ16 | โฌ3.3 |
| ๐ซ๐ท BordeauxMid-size city | $239 | $4,114 | โฌ15 | โฌ3.5 |
| ๐ซ๐ท MarseilleBig city ยท coast | $241 | $4,031 | โฌ14 | โฌ3.3 |
| ๐ซ๐ท AvignonTourist ยท mid-size | $250 | $4,129 | โฌ16 | โฌ3 |
| ๐ซ๐ท ToulouseBig city | $252 | $3,816 | โฌ15 | โฌ4.2 |
| ๐ซ๐ท StrasbourgTourist ยท mid-size | $253 | $4,634 | โฌ16 | โฌ3.2 |
| ๐ซ๐ท ColmarTourist ยท small town | $260 | $4,026 | โฌ15 | โฌ3.5 |
| ๐ซ๐ท LyonBig city | $266 | $4,256 | โฌ16 | โฌ3.8 |
| ๐ซ๐ท AnnecyTourist ยท mid-size | $287 | $4,848 | โฌ15 | โฌ3.5 |
| ๐ซ๐ท NiceResort ยท big city | $308 | $4,851 | โฌ18 | โฌ3.4 |
| ๐ซ๐ท ParisBig city | $347 | $5,975 | โฌ17 | โฌ4.5 |
Per day = one mid-range night + three meals, a coffee and two taxi rides. Open a city for item-by-item prices, rip-off thresholds and live traveler reports.
Everyday prices in France
| City | Beer | 5 km taxi | Hotel night | Massage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ซ๐ท Lille | โฌ6.5 | โฌ13 | โฌ85 | โฌ65 |
| ๐ซ๐ท Bordeaux | โฌ6 | โฌ11 | โฌ95 | โฌ55 |
| ๐ซ๐ท Marseille | โฌ5.5 | โฌ12 | โฌ95 | โฌ55 |
| ๐ซ๐ท Avignon | โฌ6 | โฌ10 | โฌ100 | โฌ65 |
| ๐ซ๐ท Toulouse | โฌ6 | โฌ13 | โฌ100 | โฌ65 |
| ๐ซ๐ท Strasbourg | โฌ5.5 | โฌ12 | โฌ100 | โฌ65 |
| ๐ซ๐ท Colmar | โฌ6.5 | โฌ14 | โฌ100 | โฌ70 |
| ๐ซ๐ท Lyon | โฌ6.5 | โฌ12 | โฌ110 | โฌ60 |
| ๐ซ๐ท Annecy | โฌ7 | โฌ16 | โฌ120 | โฌ75 |
| ๐ซ๐ท Nice | โฌ6.8 | โฌ13 | โฌ135 | โฌ70 |
| ๐ซ๐ท Paris | โฌ7.5 | โฌ15 | โฌ160 | โฌ75 |
France vs nearby countries
| Country | Per day | Per month | vs France |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐จ๐พ Cyprus | $250 | $5,316 | -6% |
| ๐ช๐ธ Spain | $251 | $4,673 | -6% |
| ๐ซ๐ท France | $267 | $4,412 | this country |
| ๐ธ๐ฎ Slovenia | $274 | $4,027 | +3% |
| ๐ธ๐ช Sweden | $274 | $4,580 | +3% |
| ๐ฒ๐น Malta | $275 | $5,160 | +3% |
| ๐ญ๐ท Croatia | $279 | $3,980 | +5% |
| ๐ฉ๐ช Germany | $286 | $4,857 | +7% |
Countries in the same region with a similar daily travel budget. Tap a country for its city-by-city prices.
Paris vs New York: item by item
| Item | Paris | New York | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local meal | โฌ17โ $19.8 | $20 | -1% |
| Coffee | โฌ4.5โ $5.23 | $6 | -13% |
| Beer | โฌ7.5โ $8.72 | $9 | -3% |
| 5 km taxi | โฌ15โ $17.4 | $23 | -24% |
| Hotel night | โฌ160โ $186 | $270 | -31% |
| 1-bed rent | โฌ1,350โ $1,570 | $3,300 | -52% |
Same purchase in both cities, converted to US dollars. Daily travel budget: Paris $347 vs New York $467 โ about 26% cheaper.
Compare France with other cities
Money tips for France
Paying
Cards and contactless work almost everywhere.
Tipping
Service is included (service compris); leave change or ~5% if happy.
Menu prices
Prices include tax and service. Coffee is cheaper standing at the bar.
Getting around
In Paris the Mรฉtro is fastest; taxis are metered and Uber runs.
Haggling
No haggling, except at flea markets.
Water
Tap water is safe to drink. Ask for a free "carafe d'eau" in restaurants.
Common rip-offs
Pickpockets at sights, petition and friendship-bracelet scams, shell games near the Eiffel Tower.
France travel difficulty
| City | Overall | Rip-offs | Language | Transport | Payments | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon | Easy 1.8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Strasbourg | Easy 1.8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Annecy | Easy 2.0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Avignon | Easy 2.0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Bordeaux | Easy 2.0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Colmar | Easy 2.0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lille | Easy 2.0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Paris | Easy 2.0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Toulouse | Easy 2.0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Nice | Moderate 2.2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Marseille | Moderate 2.4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, 1โ5 (closer to 1 is easier). Tap a city for reasons and tips. Full difficulty ranking โบ
City guides
FAQ
How much is a daily travel budget in France?
With a mid-range room, between $235 and $347 a day depending on the city โ about $267 on average. Hostels and local eateries cut that by 30% or more.
How much does a month in France cost?
Short-term rental plus living costs runs $3,851โ$5,975 by city, about $4,412 on average.
Which city in France is cheapest?
By daily budget, Lille ($235/day) is the cheapest and Paris ($347/day) the most expensive.
Which nearby country is cheaper than France?
Among countries in the same region with similar budgets, Cyprus runs about $250 a day โ 6% less than France (about $267).
Is France cheaper than New York?
In Paris, a traveler's day runs about $347 versus $467 in New York โ roughly 26% cheaper. The gap differs by item, so meals, coffee, taxis and hotels are listed separately above.