How Much Does It Cost to Study in Paris for One Year? 2024 Tuition, Living Expenses & Budget Tips
While writing this, I finally sat down and calculated how much I actually spent in the first year. The total turned out to be a bit over budget 🥲
Below is my real-life expense record—I tried to save money but didn’t deprive myself too much.
🎓 **Tuition: €8,600**
Tuition was the biggest expense.
First year: Art Management + Language Prep Course – €8,600
Second year: Master’s at EFAP – tuition increased to €12,800
Looking back, the prep course was completely unnecessary—a slightly poor decision.
🏠 **Rent: ~€9,400**
Shared single room in central Paris: €900/month
A few months without housing allowance + some issues with subletting (will share more in a separate post later)
The location and environment were decent, but finding a reliable place was harder than expected…
Rent: €900 × 12 – housing allowance (~€1,400) = €9,400
🍽 **Monthly Living Expenses: €600 × 12 = €7,200**
Transport pass (with CSS): €22.2
UGC cinema card (unlimited weekend movies): €19.9
Free mobile plan: €9.99
Electricity + internet: ~€50
Groceries: €250
Skincare & supplements: €50
Eating out: ~€120
Museums/shopping/gifts: ~€80
If I weren’t so into going out, this part could have been reduced a lot.
✈️ **Travel: ~€1,960 total**
November: 5 days in Berlin – €450
February: 5 days in Barcelona + Nice – €730
March: Brussels + Bruges + Ghent – €180
April: Day trip to Dijon – €100
May: Giverny (Monet’s village) – €50
June: 4-day road trip in Normandy – €450
🧾 **Other Expenses: ~€1,540**
Student insurance + stamp tax: €153
DALF C1 exam fee: €215 (glad I passed in one go!)
Tennis club annual fee: €650
Furniture + small appliances: ~€450
Home insurance: €72
🟰 **Total Estimated First-Year Expenses:**
Tuition: €8,600
Rent: €9,400
Living expenses: €7,200
Travel: €1,960
Other expenses: €1,540
**Total: ~€28,700 ≈ ¥224,000 RMB (at 7.8 exchange rate)**
That’s my first-year expense breakdown!
Aside from rent and daily costs, everything else can be adjusted based on personal lifestyle. To cut down on commute time and have more time for fun, I sacrificed a bit of living space by choosing a shared apartment in central Paris—though having good roommates is key.
If you have any questions about studying abroad expenses, feel free to leave a comment below!
The prep course added a chunk to the first-year cost, which felt unnecessary. It’s smart to track expenses, even if you overspend a bit. Budgeting while studying in Paris requires balancing priorities. Small choices matter when money is tight.
The tuition cost surprised me, especially the prep course. It’s smart to track expenses but hard to stick to a strict budget. Saving on food helped a bit, but rent was still a big chunk. Realistic and honest—good for planning.