Food, healthcare, transportation, entertainment… it is better to prepare your budget to settle easily.
Food budget
On average, French people spend about 300€/month on food. This amount varies depending on the city you live in and your personal habits.
Below are the average prices of a few basic products:
- a baguette: 1 euro;
- a croissant: 1.10 euros;
- 1 kg of pasta: 1.50 euros;
- 1 litre of milk: 1.20 euros;
- 6 eggs: 1.50 euros;
- a coffee at a café: 2 euros;
- a meal at the university restaurant (RU): 3,30 euros;
- a fastfood meal: 7 euros;
- a meal at a restaurant: 10 to 20 euros;
- a sandwich from a bakery with a drink: 5 to 8 euros.
Healthcare budget
In France, doctors are free to apply the prices they want. To stay in control of your healthcare budget, we recommend that you visit "conventionnés de secteur 1" doctors, who charge an amount that is almost entirely reimbursed by Social Security.
In addition,if you go see a doctor at the university health center; check-ups are free.
Here are a few examples of how much medical visits cost under "conventionné secteur 1" pricing and the part reimbursed by Social Security:
-
Family doctor: 26,50 euros (16.55 euros reimbursed);
- Specialist: 31,50 euros (20,05 euros reimbursed)
Transportation budget
Below are a few basic prices to help you prepare your transportation budget:
- annual transit subscription in Paris at the student rate: 374,50 euros;
- annual transit subscription outside of Paris at the student rate: between 200 and 300 euros;
- 1 litre of gas: 1.70 euros;
- self-service bikes: the rates vary depending on the cities. In Paris, an annual subscription at the student rate: 27,60 euros;
- train discount card for 18-27 year-olds: 49 euros per year;
- Paris-London return Eurostar ticket: 100 to 150 euros;
- Paris-Marseille return train (TGV) ticket: 140 euros.
Students enjoy a number of transportation discounts. Don't hesitate to take advantage of them; they may save you a lot of money.
Entertainment budget
The price of entertainment and cultural activities varies considerably. There's something for everyone and for every budget. You will often get discounts and special rates when you show your student card or if you are under 25. Here are a few examples to help you work out your entertainment budget:
- 1 cinema ticket at the under-26-year-old price: between 5 and 7.50 euros;
- an unlimited subscription to the cinema: 30 euros per month;
- 1 entry for a museum or national monument: between 5 and 15 euros;
- 1 discount entry for the swimming pool : between 1.50 and 3 euros;
- 1 pocket book: between 5 and 10 euros ;
- 1 theatre ticket: from 10 euros;
- 1 daily national paper: between 2 and 3 euros.
