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Life cost in Paris


satelite
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Hi everyone!

I am moving to Paris in the near future with my wife on a longer period - several years.

My net monthly salary will be 3k euros.I have to rent a flat and cover all other normal/usual life expenses per month.

Is that enough for normal life there?

Thanks
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I think that this question is impossible to answer since it isn' t clear what you mean by a 'normal' life: your idea of a 'normal' life is possibly very different from mine. However, 3k per month sounds enough to live very well anywhere in France,including Paris, and down here in the Gers it would be a princely sum, enabling me to visit some very good restaurants and stock up on some very good wines!
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Thanks Gondrin.

By "normal" life expenses I mean pass the month with all relevant costs (flat rent, food, transport...etc) without using allowable minus on your account for example.

Without any restorans or night clubs or similar.

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I know a couple who work and rent in Paris, they told me that €2500 of their joint incomes dissapears immediately before they do anything.

I dont know what kind of lifestyle they live, what arrondissment they live in  or how big their apartment is but I think it is only an F2.

Have you taken a look at the rental prices in Paris? Pay attention to the surface areas, many studios are only 12m2.

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Although nothing like the size of London, Paris is a largish place, where exactly will you be working as that will determine (presumably) where you live. My initial thought is that's not a huge amount of money to live on in the city centre where rents can be horrendously high, en par with London in places. Added to that, it isn't easy to find somewhere to rent in central Paris, especially if you're a foreigner. Unlike London, where so many local people own, most Parisiens rent and always have the advantage when it comes to finding the best places at the better rents. If you can, see if you're employer can help you out through the HR dept if possible. Budget-wise, local taxes are possibly lower, public transport is far cheaper, utilities about the same, ditto food and once you've found the family places in your quartier eating out will be more reasonable too. What mounts up are things like laundry (if you live in a city centre flat where can you dry sheets, for instance?) and running a car/parking can be a nightmare too. Great experience though; there really is nowhere else on earth quite so good to live.
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Found these two sites with rental properties available in Paris:

www.seloger.com

www.pap.fr

Gives an idea of what is available and at what prices. Clearly the rent is going to be a major expense. I'm afraid that I had underestimated the actual costs - living in the middle of nowhere is very cheap! - and maybe 3k isn't such a large amount to iive on in Paris
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[quote user="satelite"]Hi everyone!

I am moving to Paris in the near future with my wife on a longer period - several years.

My net monthly salary will be 3k euros.I have to rent a flat and cover all other normal/usual life expenses per month.

Is that enough for normal life there?

Thanks
[/quote]

If your asking, I feel that maybe you already have doubts? so the kindest answer is NO.

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Hi Satelite, I have lived in Paris for the past two years and it really is a wonderful opportunity but VERY expensive. As someone has already suggested you look at Seloger, this will give you a flavour of the prices of apartments. For the two of you, 1600 euro per month will get you a one bed apartment in one of the nicer arrondissments but this will probably only be 50m2.

You can shop for food quite cheaply if you go to the areas in the north such as Belleville. Other than these areas the price of a leg of lamb is 28 euro per Kilo and I have been stung 19 euros for a chicken !!

If you like to socialise, you can get a pint during happy hour for 4 euros and a bottle of corona normally costs around 7 euro in a decent bar. Maybe these are cheaper in one of those "blokey" tabac bars in the less appealing districts.

The summer is great, the aupairs in Paris live on 400 euro per month with accomodation, they picnic in the parks and sit on Pont des Artes with bottles of wine in the evenings... better atmosphere than any bar !!

To be honest if your 3,000 euro is gross of tax, I really dont think your standard of living will be great. If it is net, it will be do-able but there will not be much highlife. Good luck, it is an amazing city
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[quote user="Just Katie"]Hi Satelite, I have lived in Paris for the past two years and it really is a wonderful opportunity but VERY expensive. As someone has already suggested you look at Seloger, this will give you a flavour of the prices of apartments. For the two of you, 1600 euro per month will get you a one bed apartment in one of the nicer arrondissments but this will probably only be 50m2. You can shop for food quite cheaply if you go to the areas in the north such as Belleville. Other than these areas the price of a leg of lamb is 28 euro per Kilo and I have been stung 19 euros for a chicken !! If you like to socialise, you can get a pint during happy hour for 4 euros and a bottle of corona normally costs around 7 euro in a decent bar. Maybe these are cheaper in one of those "blokey" tabac bars in the less appealing districts. The summer is great, the aupairs in Paris live on 400 euro per month with accomodation, they picnic in the parks and sit on Pont des Artes with bottles of wine in the evenings... better atmosphere than any bar !! To be honest if your 3,000 euro is gross of tax, I really dont think your standard of living will be great. If it is net, it will be do-able but there will not be much highlife. Good luck, it is an amazing city[/quote]

Its got to be net surely,  no one would take a job in London (if costs are similar) for 36k and expect to able to survive, would they??

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Howdy. Saw your post in another forum, and can only reiterate what I said before - it's doable! I know single employees on minimum wage who live in the heart of Paris. Granted, they don't have holidays, have to count every penny and live in tiny studios, but you're talking net salaries of 1000 euros a month.

Even here in the bourgeois 16th, some months my total expenditure, travel, including gas, electricity, food, restaurants etc etc, can be as low as 5-600 euros a month (we have a baby too!). Fortunately we don't have rent or mortgage, but my wife and I's combined net salary is really no more than 3k.

Do your homework, spend wisely, don't feel obliged to keep up with the Jones' with their 1000 euro+ handbags, fur coats and designer clothes.. Granted you may never end up rich, but you can certainly live a decent life in the capital.
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