Budgets and fares are indicative. Paris costs significantly more than the provinces — adjust figures to your city and lifestyle.

Daily life roadmap

First week (setup) → Weekly routine (groceries, transport, bills) → Optimisation (CAF, subscriptions)

Student checklist — daily life

  • Week 1: SIM/eSIM, transport pass, supermarket map, Lydia/Paylib if useful.
  • Every week: meal prep, shared charges check, CROUS meal planning.
  • Every month: review mobile plan, compare energy offers.
  • Buffer: €200–300 for pharmacy, repairs, last-minute train tickets.

Indicative monthly budget (2026)

ItemParis / IDFLyon, Lille, BordeauxMedium province
Rent (room)€600–950€400–650€300–500
Groceries + eating out€250–400€200–320€170–280
Transport€40–90 (Navigo)€30–60€20–45
Phone€10–25€10–20€10–20
Charges / utilities share€50–100€40–80€35–70
Leisure€80–150€60–120€40–90
Indicative total€1,050–1,550€750–1,150€600–950

Transport

  • Paris: Navigo (zones 1–5), Imagine R for enrolled under-26s.
  • Île-de-France: RER B/C/D — check pass zones.
  • Intercity: SNCF Connect, Ouigo, Flixbus — book early.
  • Vélib’ / scooters — Helmet and local rules.
  • Covoiturage (BlaBlaCar) — Cheap between cities.

Groceries and cooking

  • Discount: Lidl, Aldi, Action — good value.
  • Supermarkets: Leclerc, Carrefour, Auchan, Intermarché.
  • Markets: Fresh produce; compare price per kg.
  • Resto U CROUS — Social-rate meals with carte étudiante.
  • Menu étudiant — Some restaurants offer lunch ~€4–6 (check hours).

Phone and internet

OperatorNote
Free, SFR, Bouygues, OrangePlans often €10–20/month
RED by SFR, B&You, SoshBudget MVNOs
eSIMUseful before RIB for some operators

Energy and flatshare

  • Central vs individual heating — big impact on charges.
  • Switch off standby; 19 °C in winter is an efficient standard.
  • Excel or Tricount to split charges.

Washing machine — quick guide

  1. Separate whites, colours, delicates; empty pockets.
  2. Programs: Coton, Synthétique, Délicat.
  3. Dose detergent — residue causes odours in compact drums.
  4. Air-dry on a rack (dryers rare in flatshares).
  5. Clean filter monthly.

Culture and everyday safety

  • Hours: lunch 12:00–14:00; dinner often after 19:30.
  • Sunday: many shops closed or reduced hours — shop on Saturday.
  • Transport strikes — Follow RATP/SNCF info; bike/walk alternatives.
  • 112 — EU emergencies; 15 SAMU; 17 police.
Aout

Empty cities, reduced offices — close CAF/permit first.

Quick reference

Intense cultural life, lunch break, shops closed on Sunday in many areas. Paris vs provinces = two worlds.

  • Baguette and CROUS canteen
  • Slow but growing digital bureaucracy (Ameli, CAF online)
  • Wine only at the table in many families
  • Winter skiing possible near Alps

Transport

SNCF, TGV, Navigo, TER. BlaBlaCar. Trottinette Lime.

  • SNCF
  • I sail
  • Vélib

Climate and what to pack

Rain northwest; Drier Mediterranean. Coat and umbrella.

  • Canicule Paris rare but possible

Phone and internet

Telephone

Free, Orange, SFR, Bouygues. Flat rate €10–20. WiFi CROUS.

  • Doctolib for doctors

Food and groceries

Good for students

Markets, fromage, pain. Label: “Bonjour” upon entering the shop.

Habits and settling in

Initial formality then cordial. Documents in French. Strikes to consider in the calendar.

  • Bise regional
  • Associative meetings
Deep dive (optional)

Go deeper

Key numbers

ServiceNumber / note
Medical emergency (SAMU)15
Police / gendarmerie17
Fire brigade18
European emergency112
Violence against women (anonymous)3919 (check hours on official health pages)
Duty pharmacies3237 (paid call—check current pricing)
Student mental-health supportMon soutien psy — see Ameli
Consumer affairsDGCCRF

Post & pharmacy

La Poste

Letters, parcels, and pick-up points.

Pharmacy

Prescription medicines; local duty-pharmacy rotas or the 3237 line.

Go deeper

Driving licence & ID

Exchange rules, international permits, and minimum ages differ widely. Confirm with the national or state motoring authority in France before driving; rental desks usually require licence plus passport or national ID.

Mobile plans & SIM

Compare prepaid vs contract; you will usually need ID and sometimes proof of address. Ask about number portability, fair-use data caps, and EU/international roaming if you travel outside France.

Groceries & food

Mix discount supermarkets with local markets and food-rescue apps where they operate. Check Sunday opening rules and bag/bottle deposit schemes in France—they affect weekly cost.

Official government portal · Official energy efficiency hub

Trusted sources we used for this content

Official French and EU portals: Eurostat, service-public.fr, impots.gouv.fr, Ameli, OFII, Urssaf, and the Foreign Ministry. Always confirm amounts on the competent site.