Average French household spending is estimated at ~€2,679/month in 2026. A single person can live comfortably on €1,800-€2,500/month (rent included) in most cities outside Paris; most expats find €2,600-€2,800 net monthly salary comfortable outside Paris, closer to €3,500 in Paris. In Paris, 1-bedroom city-center rent runs €1,600-€2,200/month (€1,100-€1,500 in outer arrondissements), with groceries €300-€400/month and non-rent living costs of €1,000-€1,300/month. Paris is 30-50% more expensive than provincial hubs like Lyon, Marseille, Lille, or Bordeaux, where a 1-bedroom apartment runs €650-€1,100/month; rural areas can run at roughly half Paris prices.