France Cost of Living Update: July 2026 — Paris Rent Up 2.1%, Groceries Stable

By Richard Hammond | Published 2026-07-20

## France Cost of Living: July 2026 Monthly Update Every month, we track real cost changes across France to help you plan your relocation budget with confidence. Here is what changed in July 2026. ### Key Headlines | Category | Change | Direction | |----------|--------|----------| | Paris Rent (1-bed) | +2.1% | Seasonal demand | | Lyon Rent (1-bed) | +0.8% | Slight increase | | Groceries (national avg) | +0.2% | Stable | | Energy/Utilities | -4.0% | Summer pricing | | Dining Out | +1.5% | Tourism season | | Public Transport | 0% | No change | | Healthcare (mutuelle) | 0% | Annual pricing | ### Housing Market Paris continues to see seasonal rent increases as summer demand peaks. The average 1-bedroom apartment in central Paris now costs **EUR 1,180/month** (up from EUR 1,156 in June). However, this remains significantly below the 2023 peak of EUR 1,250. **Regional highlights:** - **Bordeaux**: Stable at EUR 780/month for a 1-bed (no change) - **Toulouse**: Slight decrease to EUR 690/month (-0.5%) - **Nice**: Up 1.8% to EUR 1,050/month (Riviera summer demand) - **Nantes**: Stable at EUR 650/month - **Montpellier**: Up 0.9% to EUR 720/month ### Groceries and Daily Expenses The French grocery market remains remarkably stable. The average weekly shop for a couple costs approximately **EUR 85 to EUR 110**, unchanged from June. Key items: - Baguette: EUR 1.10 (unchanged) - Litre of milk: EUR 1.15 (unchanged) - Dozen eggs: EUR 3.80 (+EUR 0.10) - Bottle of wine (supermarket): EUR 5 to EUR 8 (unchanged) - Restaurant meal (plat du jour): EUR 14 to EUR 18 (+EUR 0.50 average) ### Energy and Utilities Good news for summer arrivals: energy costs dropped 4% as France moves to summer tariff pricing. The average monthly utility bill for a 2-bed apartment is now **EUR 120/month** (down from EUR 125 in winter peak). ### What This Means for Your Budget If you are planning to move to France in late 2026, here is our updated monthly budget recommendation: | Lifestyle | Single Person | Couple | Family of 4 | |-----------|--------------|--------|-------------| | Comfortable (major city) | EUR 2,200 to EUR 2,800 | EUR 3,200 to EUR 4,000 | EUR 4,500 to EUR 5,500 | | Comfortable (mid-size city) | EUR 1,600 to EUR 2,100 | EUR 2,400 to EUR 3,000 | EUR 3,500 to EUR 4,200 | | Comfortable (rural) | EUR 1,200 to EUR 1,600 | EUR 1,800 to EUR 2,300 | EUR 2,800 to EUR 3,400 | ### Use Our Free Tools - [Cost of Living Calculator](/calculator) — Compare your US city costs with any French region - [City Cost Comparison](/cost-of-living/compare) — Compare 2-3 French cities side-by-side - [Moving Cost Estimator](/moving-cost-estimator) — Calculate shipping and relocation costs - [Budget Planner](/budget-planner) — Build a personalised monthly budget ### Next Update Our August 2026 update will be published in the first week of September. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive it directly in your inbox. --- *Data compiled from Numbeo, INSEE, SeLoger, and our own client relocation data (30 to 40 moves per month). All figures represent averages and may vary by exact location and lifestyle.*