Europe · Western Europe · 2025 price levels

🇫🇷Cost of living in France

+10% Everyday spending in France costs 10% more than the EU average.

Alcohol & tobacco, housing & utilities and restaurants & hotels cost the most compared with the rest of Europe; phone & internet, health and clothing & shoes the least.

Price level by category

What costs more, and how much

EU average = 100. The bar's length is France's price level for the same basket.

Alcohol & tobacco+36%
Housing & utilities+21%
Restaurants & hotels+16%
Transport+8%
Furniture & household+7%
Food & soft drinks+7%
Recreation & culture+2%
Personal care & services+1%
Clothing & shoes−3%
Health−6%
Phone & internet−10%

EU averageEurostat, 2025

Against its neighbours

The cheapest in Western Europe

Household spending, EU average = 100.

🇧🇪 Belgium116

🇳🇱 Netherlands116

🇫🇷 France110

🇪🇺 EU100

17% cheaperthan the United States for the same household spending (World Bank, 2025)

Living there

The basics

Status: EU Member
Stay: EU rules apply. 90-day free stay; long-stay visa for non-EU.
Healthcare: EHIC valid.
Currency: EUR
Banking: Full support (Revolut/Wise)
Paying: Card dominant
English: 3 out of 5
Getting around: Citymapper / SNCF

Say it locally

Seven phrases

Hello: Bonjour
Thank you: Merci
Yes/No: Oui / Non
How are you?: Comment ça va ?
Excuse me: Excusez-moi
Check, please!: L'addition, s'il vous plaît !
Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous anglais ?

Cities

Six places to live

Lyon Marseille Nantes Nice Paris Toulouse

Category	Search Link
🏋️ Gyms & Fitness	Find Gyms in 🇫🇷 France
🧖 Spas & Wellness	Find Spas in 🇫🇷 France
💻 Coworking	Find Coworking in 🇫🇷 France
☕ Work-friendly Cafes	Find Cafes in 🇫🇷 France
🛒 Supermarkets	Find Supermarkets in 🇫🇷 France
🥾 Hiking Trails	Find Trails in 🇫🇷 France

Substance	Status	Penalty
Cannabis	🟡	Decriminalized

🏠 Housing & Rent

Link	Description
Leboncoin	🔴 Biggest housing
SeLoger	Real estate

💼 Jobs

Link	Description
Pôle Emploi	🔴 Public job service

Where the numbers come from

Eurostat, prc_ppp_ind_1: price level indices, EU27 = 100, 2025. Reuse authorised with acknowledgement.
World Bank, PA.NUS.PRVT.PLI: household price level, United States = 100, 2025. CC BY 4.0.