How much should I budget per month for food and groceries in Paris?
A single person can plan around EUR 200 to 350 per month for food and groceries in Paris. The lower end is possible when you cook at home, while eating out often pushes the budget higher. A national student guide suggests about EUR 300 as an average monthly food budget.
You can typically plan around EUR 200 to 350 (approx INR 21,794 to 38,140) per month for food and groceries in Paris. The lower end works if you cook most meals yourself, and frequent restaurant meals will push it higher. A national student guide puts an average food budget at about EUR 300 (approx INR 32,691) per month and notes that Paris costs more than other French cities.
Typical grocery prices in Paris
| Food item | Price range (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 litre | 1.00 to 1.99 (approx INR 109 to 217) |
| Bread, 500 g | 1.00 to 3.75 (approx INR 109 to 409) |
| Rice, 1 kg | 2.00 to 3.00 (approx INR 218 to 327) |
| Eggs, 12 | 2.40 to 6.00 (approx INR 262 to 654) |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | 8 to 17 (approx INR 872 to 1,852) |
| Apples, 1 kg | 2 to 4 (approx INR 218 to 436) |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | 1 to 2.50 (approx INR 109 to 272) |
Eating out adds to the monthly total
- Restaurant meal: EUR 15 to 25 (approx INR 1,635 to 2,724)
- Fast-food meal: EUR 7 to 10 (approx INR 763 to 1,090)
- Mid-range three-course meal for two: EUR 60 to 90 (approx INR 6,538 to 9,807)
A student who eats out a few times a week can spend roughly EUR 100 to 250 (approx INR 10,897 to 27,242) extra per month, depending on where and how often.
My Advice
Build your budget around home cooking and treat restaurant meals as a planned extra. Shopping for basics like rice, eggs and seasonal fruit keeps the total near the lower end, and you can review your spending after the first month to adjust.
This information is available on: campusfrance.org
How much will a month in France cost you?
Rent, food and travel. A real monthly budget, city by city.
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