Finding The Most Affordable Apartments in France Right Now

• Smart Strategies for Affordable Rentals
• The Most Budget-Friendly Cities
• Understanding the Local Rental Market
  • Prime Budget Locations
  • Top Picks for Affordable Living
  • Low-cost French Cities
• 2024 Rent Prices in France up to €1100

It can be challenging to know which French cities are within your monthly spending limit. That said, we will review the top selection of some of the most affordable yet stunning places to live in France, with rent expenses of less than €1000 a month. These cities, no doubt about it, offer expats a high quality of life and the best value for their money.

Regardless, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Instead, it is a collection of both well-known and lesser-known places in France to give you a taste of what’s possible.

To begin with, certain cities in France are simply too costly. For a long time now, Paris has been among the costliest metropoles globally. Luckily, you can still live comfortably in many French cities on a tight budget.

Suppose you have the proper knowledge and are willing to investigate less obvious regions beyond Paris that may provide better prices. In that case, you can raise your chances of locating an apartment that meets your standards without stretching your finances too thin.

Smart Strategies for Affordable Rentals

When looking for an apartment to rent in France, keep in mind the city housing market. Living costs differ greatly from one city or region to another. So, if you’re working with a budget, exploring properties in some of France’s affordable cities might be a smart move.

We suggest beginning your search by defining which cities best suit your spending limit and way of life. Then, use online real estate websites to get an idea of the current rental costs.

Locating reasonably priced rental houses in France necessitates planning ahead. Establish and adhere to your budget first, then use online platforms to widen your search net.

1. Living a bit outside the city center could help you save money without giving up convenience.
2. Explore areas undergoing development with emerging neighborhoods that might offer lower rent while still being close to amenities.
3. Keep a close eye out for listings as they pop up daily; the good ones often tend to go quickly. Sign up for alerts to stay informed about new apartments.

4. If you’re open to it, sharing a flat can cut down your rent and utility expenses significantly.

By following these strategies, you can improve your chances of finding an apartment that meets both your needs and your budget constraints.

The Most Budget-Friendly Cities

It goes without saying that each person has unique spending patterns, costs, and perceptions of what is and is not expensive. Thus, take this list as a loose guide to the city that piques your interest.

Undoubtedly, rental prices can vary depending on whether the apartment is furnished or unfurnished, with furnished places typically costing around 20% more.

For those who are watching their wallets, the Limousin region stands out as the cheapest area in France for renting. It’s definitely worth exploring.

Firstly, you should be aware of France’s most affordable rental options. The Limousin area is presently the least pricey, with Saint Étienne, Béziers, and Châteauroux following behind. Rent rates start here from just about €400/month.

Furnished studios and one-bedroom apartments are ideal homes for singles or couples looking to live comfortably without going over budget.

Understanding the Local Rental Market

Le Parisien created a ranking based on salary, supermarket prices, transportation costs (including fuel and public transport), housing prices (buying or renting), and property taxes. Surprisingly, smaller towns came out on top of the 96 tested cities. French newspaper has compiled a list of towns and cities where you can get more value for your money, and the 20 most wallet-friendly cities in France are:

1. Niort
2. Châteauroux
3. Laval
4. Nevers
5. Belfort
6. Chaumont
7. Épinal
8. Saint-Brieuc
9. Saint-Étienne
10. Rodez
11. Châlons-en-Champagne
12. Quimper
13. Arras
14. Foix
15. Poitiers
16. Le Mans
17. Colmar
18. Montauban
19. Bourg-en-Bresse

20. Nantes

These most affordable cities in France provide a quality of life without breaking the bank, which is quite rare nowadays. By researching and carefully planning, you can discover a place to call home in France without sacrificing your way of life.

Prime Budget Locations

Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne also tops our list, with an average rent of € 7.8 per m², or 400 euros, for a one-bedroom apartment and living costs of around €1,200/month.

Mulhouse

Mulhouse seems to be wonderful news for anyone looking to rent a large, affordable, furnished apartment in France for a short—or long-term period of time, as rents decreased by over 3% (8.3 €/m2) in a single year.

Brest  

Brest is a highly affordable city for students, offering studios for as little as € 350 per month. The average rental price per square meter stays at € 8.3.

Limoges

Rents, averaging €8.9 per m², are decreasing by 2.5% in just one year, with rent at approximately €450/month and living costs at around €1,350/month.

Besançon                

If you were wondering why Besançon had such a high proportion of young people (6.8% of the population), the main reason is because the rent there is cheap (€ 9.6 per m²). Indeed, it’s among the most affordable locations in France to get lovely rental apartments.

Perpignan

A genuine French location in the sun, offering some of the most affordable rates at €9.7/m2, with rent at approximately €500/month and living costs at around €1,350/month.

Clermont-Ferrand

The average price seen in Clermont-Ferrand is € 10.2 per m².

Nîmes

Nîmes stands out as one of the most budget-friendly places to live in France, with living costs 13% below the average. Expats could comfortably manage € 1,050 per month here.

At an average of € 9.5 per square meter, Le Mans rents are among the lowest in France. Angers‘s cozy apartments for rent remain accessible in terms of (10.4 € / m²), the 10th cheapest city to find accommodation in all French regions.

Top Picks for Affordable Living

Châteauroux

Châteauroux, nestled in the heart of the Frances Val de Loire region, is a quaint town known for its affordable property prices. For expats looking to settle down in one-bedroom apartments in the city center, go for €420 per month! Living expenses are quite reasonable, totaling €1,200 monthly for a person covering rent, groceries, and utilities.

Lannion

Lannion is a town nestled along the northwest coast of France in the beautiful region of Brittany. The average monthly expenses total around €1,000, covering rent, groceries, and utilities. Living costs in Lannion are notably lower than the average, with one-bedroom apartments renting for €320 per month. This town is increasingly attracting young professionals due to its expanding job market and affordable cost of living.

Grenoble

The cost of living near the French Alps is slightly higher but reasonable, given its size. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Grenoble starts at around €700 per month, which is still affordable, given the fact that rent is about 60% less than in Paris.

Le Havre

Le Havre offers a cost of living of around €1,100 per month. It is conveniently located near the English border city of Dover, making it easy to travel to destinations like London and Brighton if you’re craving a weekend getaway. One-bedroom flats for rent in this area range from €400-€500 (outside the city center) to around €700 per month for a well-located apartment.

Strasbourg 

Although not the cheapest city in France, Strasbourg offers a more budget-friendly option compared to Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Nice. Living expenses in Strasbourg are 30% lower than those in Paris.

You will love that life in Lille is about 28% cheaper than in Paris, and living in Toulouse is 31% cheaper than living in the French capital. On average, the cost of living in Nancy, rent inclusive, is 61% cheaper than in Paris. 

Low-cost French Cities

You will undoubtedly love that Dijon can be up to 50% cheaper than Paris. Not to mention that it is impossible to ignore that the cost of living in Caen can be up to 40% cheaper than in Paris. 

The average monthly cost of living in Toulon is estimated to be €1,300, which is notably more budget-friendly than cities such as Paris and Versailles. One-bedroom apartment rentals in Toulon range from €550 to €600 per month, making them appealing choices for those seeking affordable living options.

Saint Étienne stands out because of its affordability. Living expenses in Saint Étienne average €1,200 per month, and housing costs are relatively low, ranging from €450 to €600 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. Its proximity to Lyon and Grenoble further adds to its charm as a location for those exploring different parts of France.

Moving on to Metz, the estimated monthly cost of living hovers around €1,250, including housing expenses of €450-€570 per month for a one-bedroom apartment), groceries, leisure activities, and transportation.

In Nîmes, the cost of living is quite reasonable, averaging € 1,200 per month. This covers rent (€450-€650 for a one-bedroom apartment) and other living expenses. At the same time, living in Nantes averages around €1,430 per month, with housing costs ranging from €600-€700 for a one-bedroom apartment. Interestingly, Nantes stands out as a city where rent costs are 48% lower than in Paris.

2024 Rent Prices in France up to €1100 (average rent for a 2-bed or 75 sqm apartment)

References to living expenses sourced from Numbeo.com.