Life in Paris - the scene of the question

Among the capitals of continental Europe, Paris is perhaps the most promising city for living and working. But such popularity comes at a price. How much does a Parisian have to earn to have enough for accommodation, travel, food and entertainment? We looked into the wallet of the inhabitant of the French capital and present our calculation of the cost of living in Paris.

Many foreigners associate Paris with the fashion industry. However, it is also a financial, cultural and educational center. Recent research by Ernst & Young shows that more than 140,000 people in Paris are engaged in scientific and research activities, and the number of students living in the Ile-de-France region exceeds 600,000. The city has representative offices and headquarters of many international corporations. Not to mention the service and tourism sectors! In short, in the city on the Seine, everyone will find an occupation for their interests - the only question is whether the salary is enough for a living. Let's count together!



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Money.

To begin with, without some cash savings, the road to France is closed to you. Foreign students are set a fixed monthly amount for living, and foreign workers must receive a salary not less than the one established by law.

Olga Melnik, partner of KAMS France, specialist of the Paris Bar Association:

An international student needs 850 euros per month to live in Paris. This amount is fixed by the Prefecture. However, in practice, you need to have at least 950-1000 euros per month - life is very expensive because of the cost of housing.

The salary must correspond to the profile and diploma of a foreign specialist and not be below a certain level.

The minimum wage (SMIC) is determined by the government and is set once a calendar year. Each calculation takes into account inflation and other statistics.



The minimum wage in France in 2015 is:

  • per hour - 9.61 euros;
  • per month - 1457.52 euros;
  • 17,490.2 euros per year.
The minimum wage of minors is set at the following level:

  • 17 years - 8.65 euros per hour;
  • 16 years and under - 7.69 euros per hour.


Of course, no one forbids you to earn more, but we will see if it is realistic to live on a "minimal". Excluding taxes, we receive 14,088 euros per year or 1,174 euros per month. Is it possible to live in Paris with such a budget?



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Housing

"My home is my fortress." For the fortress, of course, we do not have enough, but a decent room in an apartment with a neighbor can be found. With the help of specialized resources and social networks, we easily find a huge number of options for any wallet. We choose a small furnished apartment in the 12th arrondissement with one neighbor for 470 euros. Nearby is Michel Bizot metro station (line 8), a little further - Bel-Air station (6th line).

For about the same amount (and even cheaper) you can rent a room in a larger apartment, but in the suburbs.

Finding an apartment with our budget is almost impossible. Mental options in real estate agencies start from 750-800 euros - an unbearable amount at our modest salary. Plus, the services of the agency will have to fork out. By the way, renting an apartment in Paris is a troublesome process and can take an unexpectedly long time.

Total: after paying the monthly rent, we have 704 euros (excluding the deposit for the first month).



Transportation

Paris public transport is considered almost a benchmark for large metropolises. Indeed, it works surprisingly well, and the tariffs are much lower compared to the same London.

For payment, a plastic Navigo travel card is used, and for non-residents there is a Navigo Découverte card.



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The fare for all zones (1-5) from September 2015 is 70 euros.

If you decide to use a taxi, be prepared for an average fare of 3 euros per call + 1.2 euros per kilometer.

Total: after buying a monthly pass for zones 1-5, we have 634 euros left.

Nutrition

A weekly budget for groceries will be around 60 euros, provided you eat at home. This amount includes:

  • milk (1 l) - 1 euro;
  • loaf of bread - 1.5 euros;
  • rice (1 kg) - 1.75 euros;
  • eggs (12 pieces) – 3.2 euros;
  • cheese (1 kg) - 15.5 euros;
  • chicken fillet (1 kg) - 12 euros;
  • tomatoes (1 kg) – 2.5 euros;
  • onions (1 kg) - 1.8 euros;
  • potatoes (1 kg) - 1.4 euros;
  • apples (1 kg) - 2.6 euros;
  • bananas (1 kg) - 2 euros;
  • A bottle of wine (France!) – 7 euros.


If you do not want to give up bad habits, then you will have to pay another 7 euros for a pack of middle-class cigarettes.

The prices listed here are inaccurate, they are indicated only for approximate orientation in the Paris market of products.



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Total: after deducting products for a month, our budget is 394 euros.

Hygiene

Calculating the average cost of shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and toilet paper, we got 13.25 euros. Add a haircut (about 24 euros) and cold medicine (about 6 euros). It was 43.25 euros.

Total: we take another 43.25 euros and get almost 351 euros.

Leisure

What to do with the remaining money is up to you. Paris is full of places where you can have fun and interesting time.

At your service are cafes and restaurants, cinema and theater, bars and nightclubs.

Dinner for two in a pub will cost about 50 euros, a trip to the cinema will cost about 20 euros, and for an average cocktail in a nightclub you need to pay 15 euros.



Photo: Shutterstock



But a walk around Montmartre, which is no worse than the above leisure options, will cost absolutely free. Unless, of course, you show resistance and do not go to a second-hand shop or a coffee shop.

Author: Andrey Furman



P.S. And remember, just changing our consumption – together we change the world!

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Source: paris.zagranitsa.com/article/1765/zhizn-v-parizhe-tsena-voprosa