Student Life in France - Best Cities to Live in for Students

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France is one of the best countries to study as it developed and offers a multicultural student experience. It is home to about 100 universities offering UG and PG programs. It is a student hub because of these reasons and a few more:

Top-notch quality education
Rich history and culture
Thriving student community
Low tuition rates
World-economic power
Appealing student destination
Job opportunities

What is the cost of living in France?

The cost of living in France is 7.4% lower than in the U.S. Most of the cities in France offer an affordable cost of living. The expenses of you living in France will depend upon your lifestyle.

For more personalized information, use our cost of living calculator to estimate your desired area’s average cost of living.

Below are some of the top cities for students to live in France:

1. Paris

Paris is a magical and popular destination for tourists and students alike. It is an attractive city, especially for students, as it has some top-notch universities, dynamic nightlife, and an exciting pace of life. Paris is a student destination and ranked #7 by QS Best Student Cities ranking. It is home to Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris.

Paris is the second most expensive city in the world. Therefore you have to be careful of your budget. The cost of living in Paris comes to €1,386 per month excluding tuition fees. The cost of your expenses will also depend upon your lifestyle. The cost of rent is expensive in Paris, and it will depend upon the type of accommodation, location, amenities, etc. As for students, one can find affordable student accommodation in Paris.

There are affordable student accommodation options in Paris. They range from student housing, and apartments to uni halls. Again the rent will also vary depending on the location, type and amenities.

2. Toulouse

Toulouse is the 4th largest student city in France. It has a vibrant multicultural student population, nightlife, entertainment and offers students a low cost of living.

Toulouse has been named as #1 best student city in France with approximately 110,000 students in the region. It is home to the University of Toulouse 1, that’s been ranked #900-1000 by QS World University Rankings. One of the main reasons for becoming a popular student destination is the cost of living in Toulouse. It is one of France’s most affordable cities, making life easy for students to thrive.

The housing rent in Toulouse will depend on the location and type of accommodation. The student accommodation in Toulouse is affordable as they are designed to meet the needs and budget of the students.

3. Bordeaux

Bordeaux has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. It is one of the best student towns for Erasmus students. Many students come to study here because it offers a great student atmosphere, culture, gastronomy, etc. It is also a city of parties and leisure on the fun side of students’ lives.

Bordeaux ranks #9 as the overall ranking student city. It is home to the University of Bordeaux, known for its academic excellence. The cost of living in Bordeaux can be expensive. It also depends upon your lifestyle. The cost of living will come to around €781 per month excluding tuition fees.

The housing options can be expensive in Bordeaux. But with so many affordable student accommodations in Bordeaux, you will easily find one that suits your needs and budget.

4. Lille

Lille is named “France’s friendliest city” because of its hospitality and warm, welcoming nature. It’s also famous for its youthfulness and affordable cost of living. Lille is home to many universities; the most popular is the Université de Lille. It is one of the top universities in the city, ranking #631-640 in QS World University Rankings 2024.

Lille is France’s cheapest city and Western Europe’s cheapest city. The cost of living in Lille will be €896 per month excluding tuition fees. However, please bear in mind the cost of your expenses will depend upon your lifestyle.

When it comes to accommodation, the rent is affordable in Lille. Various types of student accommodation in Lille are available as per your needs. The cost of renting accommodation will depend on the type of accommodation, its location, and amenities.