Table of Contents
I hadn’t expected Paris to surprise me financially after living in one of the most expensive cities- London. Thought I had things figured out & within the first few weeks I understood that budgeting here works very differently and not always in the ways I had expected.
Hi, I am Trisha Bhattacharya. I come from Mumbai, India. I currently live in Paris as an international student & before this, I lived in London. Moving to Paris felt exciting but came with many adjustments especially when it came to daily expenses.
I’m a Master in Management (MiM) student at ESCP Business School, Paris. I chose Paris for the experience, the lifestyle, and honestly, the idea of building a life here. One of the biggest challenges was understanding where my money was actually getting spent.
I assumed groceries would be cheaper than London but that wasn’t entirely true. While Paris has great quality food, I found groceries slightly more expensive in some cases, and also less “globally diverse” compared to London. As someone who cooks Indian food regularly, that adjustment was something real.
At the same time, I was trying to balance:
- Rent
- Groceries
- Social life
- Random lifestyle spending
It wasn’t overwhelming, but it definitely wasn’t as straightforward as I expected either.
When it came to figuring out the biggest expense that is student accommodation in Paris alongside its housing crisis, I didn’t want to take risks. Also, student accommodations are very rare in Paris as compared to London.
I had used University Living before, so relied on it while searching again. It helped me shortlist options without going through unreliable listings or last-minute stress. Such an agency is especially helpful in a city known for many housing & landlord scams.
My experience with University Living
What made the process easier for me was having everything at one place.
I could explore different student accommodations in France, compare them to understand what fit my budget before even making a decision. As an international student, that clarity really spoke to me.
Instead of rushing into something random, I had time to choose Habyt student accommodation, that actually worked for my lifestyle. And having that sorted early made it much easier to plan the rest of my expenses realistically.
My accommodation & monthly budget breakdown
Right now, I live in a shared apartment with 6 people. I have my own room, but we share the kitchen and bathrooms. It’s a pretty common setup for student living in Paris, especially as I tried to stay within budget.
My rent falls somewhere in the typical range for shared student apartments in Paris, and overall, my monthly cost of living in Paris comes to around €1000.
Here’s what that roughly looks like:
- Rent: ~€700–€800
- Groceries: ~€30–€40/week
- Eating out + social life: minimal (I keep this controlled)
- Transport: covered annually (more on this below)
- Groceries: ~€30–€40/week
One thing is that I really appreciate in Paris is the Navigo Imagine R student pass. It costs around €400 for the entire year and gives unlimited travel across Île-de-France. That means I don’t have to think about transport costs every month, which honestly makes budgeting so much easier.
My daily spending habits that keeps my budget stable
Over 2 years of living abroad, I have built a routine that helps me stay within budget without feeling restricted.
- I mostly cook at home (I genuinely enjoy it)
- I shop from places like Lidl, Intermarché, and sometimes Carrefour
- I avoid stores like Monoprix or Franprix unless necessary (they’re pricier)
- I go out socially about once a week, but usually for coffee, not full meals
- I have realized I don’t need to cut out experiences, but just adjust how I experience them.
Why this helped me
Once I understood my spending patterns, everything started to feel more in control.
Living in Paris as a student doesn’t necessarily have to feel financially stressful. It’s more about knowing where to spend and where to hold back, instead of restricting yourself completely. Having my accommodation sorted early also gave me a clear baseline to build my budget around.
Tips for students budgeting in Paris
- Start with your rent & it will define the rest of your budget
- Shop from affordable grocery stores like Lidl or Intermarché
- Get the Navigo Imagine R pass & it saves a lot long-term
- Cook at home more often (especially if you enjoy it)
- Socialize smartly, choose coffee over full meals when you’re on a budget
- Avoid last-minute housing decisions & use verified platforms
Conclusion
If you are planning to live in Paris as a student, don’t rely on assumptions, even if you have lived abroad before. Your budget here will look different. But once you figure out your rhythm & pace, it becomes surprisingly manageable. For me, it’s not about spending less but about spending intentionally while still enjoying the city.
