CostToStudy.com • 2026 Student Cost Estimate
Paris Student Budget Calculator 2026: Rent, Tuition and Monthly Costs
A Paris budget depends first on the housing route: a confirmed Crous room, a private shared flat and a furnished studio create different monthly costs, deposits and aid-payment timelines.
Figures are planning estimates. Confirm programme fees, visa requirements and housing terms with the relevant official provider before making payments.
Paris Student Cost Estimator
Choose a campus area, housing type, lifestyle level and tuition route, then press Calculate Estimate.
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Rent, food, transport, insurance, phone and personal spending.
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Twelve months of living costs plus selected tuition.
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Annual cost plus arrival setup, deposit and early administration costs.
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Estimated gap after available budget and confirmed support.
Score: 0/100
Planning Estimate
User-Adjustable Estimate
Use the tuition amount in your admission documents and the rent, charges and deposit stated in your housing contract.
Monthly Cost Split for an Average Shared Flat
This chart models a common Paris student route: shared flat, average lifestyle and public non-EU bachelor tuition excluded from monthly living cost.
Fallback: rent is usually the largest monthly item in Paris, followed by food and personal spending.
CAF Changes the Later Rent Cost, Not the Move-In Bill
Housing aid should not be deducted from the deposit, first rent or first-month budget. Caf de Paris states that a student must already have accommodation before applying. The right begins in the month after the move-in and application, while the first payment generally takes about two months. [S1]
Key collection
Application can begin
The lease, landlord details, rent information and bank details are needed for the application.
Move-in month
No housing-aid entitlement
The initial budget must cover the full contractual rent and any deposit without relying on a CAF payment.
First transfer
Usually delayed
Caf de Paris advises allowing about two months before the first payment reaches the student.
Students in a shared flat may still qualify, but each tenant makes a separate application and CAF divides the eligible rent according to the number of flatmates. [S1]
A Low Crous Rent Is an Allocation Outcome
Crous accommodation can reduce recurring rent, but a listed residence price should not be treated as an offer. Crous Paris describes Résidence Rollin in the 5th arrondissement as strongly demanded and advises applicants to select a substitute preference to improve their chances of receiving housing in Paris. [S2]
| Unit | Listed Rent | Occupancy | Included in the Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1, 18 m² | €379.22 per month [S2] | One student | Rental charges, kitchenette, bathroom and internet access |
| T1, 21 m² | €414.86 per month [S2] | One student | Rental charges, kitchenette, bathroom and internet access |
| T1 bis, 21 m² | €309.56 per person [S2] | Two students | Rental charges and the facilities stated in the residence listing |
| T1 bis, 40 m² | €418.63 per person [S2] | Two students | Rental charges and the facilities stated in the residence listing |
These figures describe one residence rather than a Paris-wide rent level. A practical budget needs a private-market fallback until a room allocation is confirmed in writing.
Paris Does Not Have One Public-University Tuition Rate
For the 2026–2027 academic year, the standard public registration fee is €178 for a national licence degree and €255 for a national master degree. Public institutions may set separate prices for their own diplomas. [S3]
International students can fall under differentiated registration fees depending on their legal situation, programme and the institution’s exemption decision. [S4] The published differentiated rates are €2,902 for a licence and €3,950 for a master. Reduced differentiated rates of €1,934 and €2,633 apply to specified additional registrations, such as an extra course when a student is enrolled in more than one programme at the same institution. [S3]
| Degree Route | Standard Rate | Differentiated Rate | Reduced Differentiated Rate (Listed Additional Registrations) | Budget Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National licence | €178 [S3] | €2,902 [S3] | €1,934 [S3] | Confirm the rate and any exemption with the admitting institution. |
| National master | €255 [S3] | €3,950 [S3] | €2,633 [S3] | Use the amount stated in the enrolment or fee notice. |
| Doctorate | €398 [S3] | Not applicable | Not applicable | Doctoral students pay the national registration fee; differentiated non-EU tuition does not apply. |
| Institution diploma or private programme | Set by the provider | Set by the provider | Provider rules apply | Do not substitute a national public fee for the programme invoice. |
The city affects housing and transport far more than the national public fee schedule. Students comparing Paris with other French destinations can separate these layers through national French study-cost planning.
CVEC Is Separate From Tuition
The Contribution de vie étudiante et de campus is €105 for 2026–2027. Students covered by the charge must obtain the payment or exemption certificate and provide it during administrative enrolment. Certain groups, including eligible scholarship students and some exchange students, are exempt. [S5]
2026–2027 amount
€105
A separate student-and-campus-life contribution rather than part of the national tuition amount.
Payment stage
Before enrolment
The institution requests the CVEC certificate during administrative registration.
Exemption route
Certificate still matters
An exempt student obtains an exemption certificate instead of paying the contribution.
Dépôt de Garantie and Caution Are Different
The dépôt de garantie is the cash deposit paid under the lease. A caution is normally the person or guarantee arrangement that covers a tenant’s unpaid obligations. For a principal-residence lease, the maximum deposit is one month of rent excluding charges for an unfurnished home and two months for a furnished home. A mobility lease cannot require a deposit. [S6]
| Contract Route | Maximum Deposit | Typical Contract Length | Planning Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unfurnished principal residence | One month of rent excluding charges [S6] | Normally at least three years | The student may also need furniture and household equipment. |
| Furnished student lease | Two months of rent excluding charges [S6] | Nine months when used as a student lease | A larger deposit may be due, but required furniture is supplied. |
| Mobility lease | No deposit permitted [S6] | One to ten months | Eligibility and contract conditions must fit the mobility-lease route. |
The Paris First-Month Payment Stack
The first month combines payments that do not appear together in a normal monthly total. The timing matters as much as the annual sum.
| Payment | Likely Timing | Amount Basis | Cash-Flow Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental deposit | At lease signing | Up to one or two months of rent excluding charges, according to lease type | Do not confuse the refundable deposit with a guarantor requirement. |
| First rent and charges | At or before key collection | The signed housing contract | CAF should not be deducted from this payment. |
| CVEC | Before administrative enrolment | €105 unless exempt [S5] | The payment or exemption certificate is needed for enrolment. |
| Public registration fee | During enrolment | Student status, degree and institution decision | An institution may permit three equal payments; the first is paid at enrolment. [S4] |
| Transport subscription | At the chosen subscription start | Age, residence, course status and selected fare | An annual pass can be paid by direct debit, but eligibility must be checked first. |
| Housing-aid gap | First weeks after moving | Full contractual rent | The right starts later and the first payment is generally delayed. |
Imagine R Is an Annual Commitment
For 2026–2027, the Imagine R student pass costs €401.30 for twelve months including the administration fee. It is intended for eligible students under 26 who live in Île-de-France and travel across zones 1–5. [S7]
Annual price
€401.30
Equivalent to about €33.44 per month when divided across twelve months.
Eligibility screen
Under 26 + Île-de-France
The pass is not a universal student fare. Age, residence and post-secondary study conditions apply.
The pass can begin on September 1, October 1, November 1, December 1 or January 1. A student using monthly direct debit should also account for the provider’s collection timing and the administration fee included with the first instalment. [S7]
How the Paris Estimate Is Built
The calculator combines a housing amount, campus-area adjustment and monthly allowances for food, transport, insurance, phone service and personal spending. The selected lifestyle level adjusts recurring costs. Annual tuition and the configured arrival allowance are then added to the twelve-month living estimate.
The official 2026–2027 amounts in the editorial sections are separated by student status and payment type. Private rent, institution-owned diplomas, private programmes, optional insurance and personal spending do not have one official Paris-wide price, so the corresponding calculator entries remain adjustable planning inputs.
CAF is excluded from the starting budget because eligibility, amount and payment date depend on the completed application. A Crous residence price is treated as a residence-specific example rather than a guaranteed housing rate.
Questions About a Paris Student Budget
Can CAF housing aid pay the first month’s rent?
No. Caf de Paris states that entitlement begins in the month after the move-in and application, and the first transfer generally takes about two months. The first rent and deposit therefore need separate funding. [S1]
Does every non-EU student pay €2,902 or €3,950?
No. The fee depends on the student’s situation, degree, institution and any exemption or reduced-rate decision. Doctoral students are not subject to differentiated non-EU tuition and pay the national Doctorat registration fee. The admission and enrolment documents should identify the applicable route. [S4]
Does a low Crous rent mean a room will be available?
No. Crous Paris identifies Résidence Rollin as strongly demanded and recommends a substitute housing preference. A private-market fallback remains useful until the allocation is confirmed. [S2]
How much can a Paris landlord request as a deposit?
For a principal-residence lease, the legal maximum is one month of rent excluding charges for an unfurnished home and two months for a furnished home. A mobility lease cannot include a deposit. [S6]
Is the Imagine R pass available to all university students?
No. The student pass is subject to conditions including being under 26, living in Île-de-France and following eligible post-secondary education. [S7]
Official Sources
- [S1] Caf de Paris — Student Housing Aid Information Applies to: 2026–2027 eligibility timing, application documents, first-payment delay and shared-flat applications. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S2] Crous Paris — Résidence Rollin Applies to: residence demand warning, unit rents, included facilities and rates effective from September 1, 2026. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S3] Service Public — University Registration Fees for 2026–2027 Applies to: €178 Licence, €255 Master and €398 Doctorat national rates; €2,902 and €3,950 differentiated rates; €1,934 and €2,633 reduced rates for listed additional registrations; and the Doctorat exception from differentiated tuition. Checked: August 27, 2026.
- [S4] Étudiant.gouv — Registration Fees Applies to: differentiated-fee eligibility, exemptions and the optional three-instalment payment route. Checked: August 27, 2026.
- [S5] Étudiant.gouv — CVEC: An Essential Enrolment Step Applies to: the €105 CVEC for 2026–2027, certificate timing and listed exemption groups. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S6] Service Public — Differences Between Unfurnished, Furnished and Mobility Leases Applies to: lease duration and maximum deposit rules for unfurnished, furnished and mobility leases. Checked: July 17, 2026.
- [S7] Île-de-France Mobilités — Imagine R Student Pass Applies to: the 2026–2027 annual price, age and residence conditions, validity period and payment schedule. Checked: July 17, 2026.