Best neighborhoods for students
- 5ème — Quartier Latin 94/100
- 13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles 90/100
- 11ème — Bastille / Oberkampf 94/100
- 20ème — Belleville / Ménilmontant 86/100
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LifeSkills city guide
Parigi
France
Capital of France and one of the world's great metropolises, Paris is a huge university center (Sorbonne, Paris Cité, Sciences Po and dozens of grandes écoles) and a leading economic and cultural engine. Compact and very dense, it has one of the best metro and RER networks in the world and a legendary cultural and nightlife. The downside is the cost of living: very high rents for small apartments and a very tough real estate market (you need a guarantor and a solid dossier). Many students and workers live in the suburbs (banlieue) connected by the RER.
Safety 62/100
Affordability 38/100
Student-friendly 88/100
Nightlife 88/100
Transport 92/100
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23. Rent, scores and commute notes are indicative and should be verified before real decisions.
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Arrondissements di Parigi
Official administrative boundaries: Arrondissements. Select an area to view the available data.
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Boundary source: Ville de Paris — Arrondissements (Open Data Paris). Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Neighborhood ranking
Best neighborhoods for nightlife
- 11ème — Bastille / Oberkampf 94/100
- 4ème — Le Marais 88/100
- 10ème — Canal Saint-Martin 84/100
- 18ème — Montmartre 80/100
Best neighborhoods for quiet living
- 15ème — Vaugirard 82/100
- 13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles 90/100
- 5ème — Quartier Latin 94/100
- 20ème — Belleville / Ménilmontant 86/100
Best neighborhoods for low rent
- 20ème — Belleville / Ménilmontant 680 EUR
- 18ème — Montmartre 700 EUR
- 13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles 720 EUR
- 10ème — Canal Saint-Martin 750 EUR
Best neighborhoods for safety
- 15ème — Vaugirard 82/100
- 4ème — Le Marais 88/100
- 5ème — Quartier Latin 94/100
- 11ème — Bastille / Oberkampf 94/100
Neighborhood cards
Where to live in Parigi
5ème — Quartier Latin
Student hub5ème — Quartier Latin: The historic student heart: the Sorbonne, the Panthéon, high schools and bookshops. Very central, cultured and lively, with city center prices but lots of university life
- Room
- 800 EUR
- Studio
- 1,200 EUR
- Apartment
- 1,850 EUR
Safety 78 Student-friendly 94 Nightlife 76 Commute 94
Pros
- student-friendly: 94/100 in this guide.
- Indicative room rent: 800 EUR.
- Useful for Sorbonne Université (Jussieu, Sorbonne).
Cons
- Check the exact block and building before signing.
- Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
- Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles
Student hub13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles: University and up-and-coming in the south-east: the campuses of Paris Cité (Grands Moulins) and Tolbiac, Chinatown, the picturesque Butte-aux-Cailles. More accessible
- Room
- 720 EUR
- Studio
- 1,000 EUR
- Apartment
- 1,550 EUR
Safety 72 Student-friendly 90 Nightlife 66 Commute 88
Pros
- student-friendly: 90/100 in this guide.
- Indicative room rent: 720 EUR.
- Useful for Université Paris Cité (Grands Moulins).
Cons
- Check the exact block and building before signing.
- Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
- Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
11ème — Bastille / Oberkampf
Nightlife11ème — Bastille / Oberkampf: The kingdom of young nightlife: Oberkampf, Bastille, rue de la Roquette. Bars, restaurants and clubs everywhere, a dense, lively neighborhood much loved by young people
- Room
- 780 EUR
- Studio
- 1,100 EUR
- Apartment
- 1,650 EUR
Safety 72 Student-friendly 86 Nightlife 94 Commute 90
Pros
- nightlife: 94/100 in this guide.
- Indicative room rent: 780 EUR.
- Useful for Sorbonne Nouvelle (Nation, near).
Cons
- Check the exact block and building before signing.
- Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
- Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
20ème — Belleville / Ménilmontant
Lower rent20ème — Belleville / Ménilmontant: Popular, multicultural and creative in the east: Belleville and Ménilmontant, street art, markets and neighborhood life. Among the most accessible and lively arrondissements
- Room
- 680 EUR
- Studio
- 950 EUR
- Apartment
- 1,450 EUR
Safety 64 Student-friendly 86 Nightlife 80 Commute 84
Pros
- student-friendly: 86/100 in this guide.
- Indicative room rent: 680 EUR.
- Useful for Sorbonne Nouvelle (by metro).
Cons
- Safety score is 64/100: inspect the exact street and building.
- Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
- Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
Study
Major universities in Parigi
Sorbonne Université
Elite general public (literature, science, medicine; ~55,000 students)
LettersScienceEngineeringMedicineLanguagesHistory
Nearest neighborhoods
Commute from top areas
- 5ème — Quartier Latin5-10 min (Jussieu, Sorbonne)
- 4ème — Le Marais5-15 min
- 13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles10-20 min
Université Paris Cité
General public (Descartes + Diderot merger; ~60,000 students)
MedicineScienceLettersRightEconomyPharmacy
Nearest neighborhoods
Commute from top areas
- 13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles5-15 min (Grands Moulins)
- 10ème — Canal Saint-Martin15-25 min
- 18ème — Montmartre15-25 min
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Public (law, economics, human sciences; ~45,000 students)
RightEconomyPolitical scienceHistory of artPhilosophy
Nearest neighborhoods
Commute from top areas
- 5ème — Quartier Latin5-10 min (Panthéon)
- 13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles10-20 min (Tolbiac)
- 4ème — Le Marais10-20 min
Sciences Po Paris
Large private social science school (international, many courses in English)
Political scienceInternational relationsPublic affairsEconomyJournalism
Nearest neighborhoods
Commute from top areas
- 5ème — Quartier Latin10-15 min (Saint-Germain)
- 4ème — Le Marais10-20 min
- 15ème — Vaugirard15-25 min
PSL — Université Paris Dauphine / ENS
Elite collegiate university (Dauphine, ENS, Mines; world-leading research)
EconomyManagementScienceLettersEngineering
Nearest neighborhoods
Commute from top areas
- 15ème — Vaugirard15-25 min (Dauphine)
- 5ème — Quartier Latin5-10 min (ENS)
- 4ème — Le Marais15-25 min
Rent analysis
Average rent by neighborhood
Indicative monthly asking levels for rooms, studios and apartments.
| Neighborhood cards | Room | Studio | Apartment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5ème — Quartier Latin | 800 EUR | 1,200 EUR | 1,850 EUR |
| 4ème — Le Marais | 850 EUR | 1,250 EUR | 1,900 EUR |
| 11ème — Bastille / Oberkampf | 780 EUR | 1,100 EUR | 1,650 EUR |
| 10ème — Canal Saint-Martin | 750 EUR | 1,050 EUR | 1,600 EUR |
| 13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles | 720 EUR | 1,000 EUR | 1,550 EUR |
| 15ème — Vaugirard | 750 EUR | 1,050 EUR | 1,600 EUR |
| 18ème — Montmartre | 700 EUR | 980 EUR | 1,500 EUR |
| 20ème — Belleville / Ménilmontant | 680 EUR | 950 EUR | 1,450 EUR |
Cheapest: 20ème — Belleville / Ménilmontant, 18ème — Montmartre, 13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles
Mid-range: 13ème — Butte-aux-Cailles, 10ème — Canal Saint-Martin, 15ème — Vaugirard
Premium: 4ème — Le Marais, 5ème — Quartier Latin, 11ème — Bastille / Oberkampf
Safety
Safety notes
Safer neighborhoods
15ème — Vaugirard, 5ème — Quartier Latin, 4ème — Le Marais
Areas to be careful with
metro and tourist places (very common pickpocketing: Châtelet, Gare du Nord, Trocadéro), areas of Barbès / Goutte d'Or (18ème) and some parts of the 19ème/20ème in the evening, around the big stations at night
- Paris is a large metropolis: violent crime is relatively low, but petty crime (pickpocketing, bag snatching) is very widespread, especially on the metro, on the RER and in crowded tourist places. Always keep an eye on your phone, wallet and backpack.
- Perception changes greatly from street to street and between day and night: evaluate the building, street and evening commute, not just the name of the arrondissement.
- For late returns the Noctilien (night buses) cover the whole city and the region; in the busiest areas it is better to move accompanied and on illuminated streets.
Student perspective: Students: the 5ème (Quartier Latin) is the academic heart, the 13ème is the most accessible hub (Paris Cité, Tolbiac); the 11ème and 20ème are the liveliest and youngest. To save money, many live in the 19ème/20ème or in suburbs with the RER, and aim for CROUS residences. The Visale public guarantee helps those who do not have a guarantor.
Nightlife
Where to go out
Oberkampf / rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud (11ème)
bars, clubs, young nightlife
One of the most famous night streets in Paris: crowded bars, cocktails and clubs until late, the heart of the 11th nightlife.
Canal Saint-Martin (10ème)
canal bar, aperitifs, summer
The banks of the canal are filled with people for aperitifs and picnics; trendy bar and brunch in a young and “bobo” atmosphere.
Bastille (11ème/12ème)
pubs, discos, going out
Around rue de Lappe and rue de la Roquette, the historic exit area with pubs and clubs, very popular with young people.
Le Marais (3ème/4ème)
LGBTQ+ bars, cocktails, chic clubs
Heart of LGBTQ+ nightlife and trendy cocktail bars, in a historic and trendy context.
Belleville / Ménilmontant (20ème)
alternative bars, concerts, art scene
The most alternative and multicultural area of the Parisian night, among cheap bars, concerts and underground culture.
Transport
Getting around Parigi
Paris has one of the most extensive and widespread public transport networks in the world, managed by RATP and SNCF under Île-de-France Mobilités: 16 metro lines, the major RER routes, trams, buses and Vélib' bike sharing. With the Navigo season ticket (or Imagine R for students) you have unlimited travel throughout the region. You don't need a car: it is often slower and more expensive than public transport.
Metro Metro: 16 lines (1-14 plus 3bis and 7bis) very dense, with stations just a few minutes' walk away everywhere in the city; the new automatic lines of the Grand Paris Express are on the wayRER: five major lines (A, B, C, D, E) that cross the city and quickly connect the suburbs, the airports (CDG, Orly) and DisneylandTram and Grand Paris Express: peripheral tram networks (T1-T13) and the great expansion of the automatic metro towards the banlieue in progress
Tram / busThe RATP bus network is widespread and integrates the metro and RER, with night lines (Noctilien) active all night; trams mainly serve the belt and the suburbs. Everything is covered by the Navigo/Imagine R subscription.
TrainParis is the largest railway hub in Europe, with six large stations: TGV for the whole of France (Lyon in ~2h, Marseille in ~3h), Eurostar for London, Thalys for Brussels/Amsterdam and international trains; two airports (Charles de Gaulle and Orly).
Pass info Metro ticket 2.50 EURbus/tram ticket 2.00 EURNavigo Semaine 32.40 EURNavigo Mensuel 90.80 EUR (all zones)Navigo Annual 998.80 EURImagine R Étudiant 393.30 EUR/year (unlimited all zones)employer reimbursement 50-100%
WalkabilityExcellent: Paris is compact and very dense, among the most walkable large cities in the world; almost everything can be reached on foot or in a few metro stops, and the banks of the Seine and the large boulevards invite you to walk.
Bike-friendlinessMuch improved: Vélib' bike sharing is widespread and the cycle network has grown enormously (new paths on many axes, "coronapistes" made permanent); the city is quite flat, with some climbs towards Montmartre and Belleville.
Transport sources Île-de-France Mobilités / RATP — Rete e tariffe del trasporto pubblico di ParigiSNCF — Treni, TGV e collegamenti nazionali e internazionaliVille de Paris — Vélib’ e mobilità ciclabile
Cost of living
Monthly budget estimate
Reference monthly budget 1,100-1,700 EUR/month
single room + utilities + groceries + subscription · excluding university fees
Spending items
Food around 300-450 EUR/month (personal spending) cheap meal ~15 EUR
Transport Navigo Monthly (all areas): 90.80 EUR/month. Students: Imagine R 393.30 EUR/year (~33 EUR/month, unlimited all areas). Metro ticket 2.50 EUR, bus 2.00 EUR
Utilities approximately EUR 230 for 85 m² sharing 60-100 EUR per person
Coffee / bars cappuccino approximately EUR 4.50 cheap meal around 15 EUR
- Paris is among the most expensive cities in Europe for a home: a room often costs 650-900 EUR, a studio apartment (often tiny) easily exceeds 1,000 EUR. Finding a house is difficult: you need a guarantor and a solid dossier; for students there is the Visale public guarantee.
- Transportation is a big plus for students: the Imagine R season ticket costs EUR 393.30 per year (approximately EUR 33 per month) for unlimited travel on the metro, RER, buses and trams throughout the Île-de-France.
- Entire apartment rental: ~1,030 EUR outside the center and ~1,420 EUR in the center for a two-room apartment, according to the Numbeo range for Paris.
- Many students and workers live in the suburbs (banlieues) or in nearby cities connected by the RER, where rents are lower: also consider this option and the CROUS residences for students.
- Food, utilities and coffee costs are estimates for one person based on average Numbeo prices for Paris; Eating in restaurants is expensive, but markets and supermarkets allow you to save.
Budget sources Numbeo — Costo della vita a ParigiÎle-de-France Mobilités — Navigo e Imagine R, tariffe 2026
Decision guide
Pros and cons of living in Parigi
5 strengths
- Paris has one of the most extensive and widespread public transport networks in the world, managed by RATP and SNCF under Île-de-France Mobilités: 16 metro lines, the major RER routes, trams, buses and Vélib' bike sharing. With the Navigo season ticket (or Imagine R for students) you have unlimited travel throughout the region. You don't need a car: it is often slower and more expensive than public transport.
- Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne: poli di studio rilevanti per la città.
- Students: the 5ème (Quartier Latin) is the academic heart, the 13ème is the most accessible hub (Paris Cité, Tolbiac); the 11ème and 20ème are the liveliest and youngest. To save money, many live in the 19ème/20ème or in suburbs with the RER, and aim for CROUS residences. The Visale public guarantee helps those who do not have a guarantor.
- Paris is among the most expensive cities in Europe for a home: a room often costs 650-900 EUR, a studio apartment (often tiny) easily exceeds 1,000 EUR. Finding a house is difficult: you need a guarantor and a solid dossier; for students there is the Visale public guarantee.
- 5ème — Quartier Latin, 4ème — Le Marais, 11ème — Bastille / Oberkampf sono tra le zone analizzate nella guida.
5 drawbacks
- Paris is a large metropolis: violent crime is relatively low, but petty crime (pickpocketing, bag snatching) is very widespread, especially on the metro, on the RER and in crowded tourist places. Always keep an eye on your phone, wallet and backpack.
- Transportation is a big plus for students: the Imagine R season ticket costs EUR 393.30 per year (approximately EUR 33 per month) for unlimited travel on the metro, RER, buses and trams throughout the Île-de-France.
- Prices from the city center
- Rent, scores and commute notes are indicative and should be verified before real decisions.
FAQ
Questions about moving to Parigi
Is Paris a good city for students?
Yes, a lot: it is one of the largest university centers in Europe, with the Sorbonne, Paris Cité, Sciences Po, the PSL and dozens of grandes écoles, in a city with an extraordinary cultural life. Transportation for students is very cheap (Imagine R ~393 EUR per year). The big obstacle is the cost and difficulty of finding a house: it is better to look well in advance, use the CROUS residences and the Visale guarantee.
Is Paris a good city for workers?
Yes: it is the main economic center of France, home to large companies, multinationals, finance (La Défense), fashion, luxury, tech and culture. The opportunities are many, but the market is competitive and the cost of living is high. The excellent transport network allows you to work throughout the region while also living outside the centre.
Which neighborhoods are worth looking at?
For students: the 5ème (Quartier Latin) and the 13ème (Paris Cité, more accessible), the 11ème and the 20ème for young life. For those who work and seek tranquility: the 15ème and the 12ème. For charm and centrality (with a high budget): the 4ème (Marais) and the 5ème.
Which neighborhoods are cheapest?
The arrondissements to the east and north-east (19ème, 20ème, part of the 18ème) and the 13ème have the most accessible rents while staying in the city. To really save money, many choose the suburbs (Montreuil, Pantin, Saint-Ouen, Ivry) connected by the metro/RER, where rents are lower.
Is public transport convenient?
It is among the best in the world: 16 very dense metro lines, the RER for the region and the airports, trams, buses (including night buses) and the Vélib', all integrated into the Navigo subscription. With Imagine R students travel unlimitedly throughout the Île-de-France for around EUR 33 per month. No car needed.
How much budget is needed?
For a student approximately EUR 1,100-1,700 per month including room, utilities, expenses and subscription; university fees (low in the public sector) are extra. Those who work most often fall between 1,800 and 2,800 EUR, depending on the area and type of accommodation.
How do you find home in Paris?
This is the most difficult part: the market is competitive and you need a solid dossier (employment contract or registration, pay slips, and almost always a guarantor who earns much more than the rent). For students, the Visale public guarantee replaces the guarantor and the CROUS residences offer places at controlled prices (but with a waiting list). Be wary of scams: never pay before seeing the house and signing a contract.