You probably don’t need me to tell you that living in Paris is expensive. The city consistently ranks among the top ten most expensive in the world, right up there with the likes of London, New York City, Singapore, and more. But while I do concede that Paris is a costly hometown, I’ve managed to live on a strict budget here. Sounds impossible? Maybe, but many of my friends and I have made it our reality. I admit it’s hard and requires a lot of gumption, willpower, and sacrifice, but when done right, you’d be surprised at how much you can actually save money in Paris.
Contrary to popular belief, living on a budget in Paris is not impossible. There’s so much you can do to save money and still live comfortably in one of the world’s most notoriously expensive cities. Many Parisians do them even when they don’t need to stick to a budget!
Set a Budget
First things first, you'd do well to set a budget. I've always found it easy to get a little too loose with my spending, no matter where I am, but it's especially worrying in a notoriously expensive city like Paris. So I come up with a specific number that I must never surpass when I go about my daily expenses. I'm not going to share it here because that's my business, but I will say that it's near the average estimated monthly costs of a single adult living in Paris, which is €1,059.00 per month, on top of rent. I'm lucky because I live with a roommate, so I get to save a bit from rent, too.Settle Down in The Suburbs
This might come off as hypocritical since I live in central Paris, but I suggest living in the Paris suburbs if you want to stay in a more affordable place in the city. I didn't do it myself because I was lucky enough to score a nice place that I share with my good friend. But for those who aren't as fortunate, the outer-city suburbs are a great alternative. My friends who live in Issy-les-Moulineaux tell me that they've spent less since moving there than they did when they lived in any of the arrondissements.Commute Instead of Driving
Do you know how much a car in Paris costs? Depending on the model and brand, it'll cut you back about €30,000.00 to €40,000.00, possibly even more. Sure, it's just one big purchase, but that's still a lot of money! You could've used all that cash for rent, eating out, shopping, and more. Far be it from me to judge other people on how they spend their money, I just can't wrap my head around spending tens of thousands of bucks to buy a car in Paris when the city already has a famously efficient public transport system.Stick to The Subway for Transport
As for the best way to get around Paris when you need to save money, just take the subway! I take the Paris Metro myself pretty regularly, and I often find that I only spend a little below €100.00 for it per month. That may seem like a big number, but considering that it spans over 30 days and gets me all over this big city, it's still a good deal. I do have friends who drive around, and they say it's not that bad, money-wise, but they also complain about traffic a lot, too.Get a Roommate
10 out of 10, will recommend—get a roommate! Not only will you get to save a lot by only paying half your month's rent, but living with someone is a big help. I consider myself a fairly independent woman, but there are some things I simply need help with, and my roommate was a godsend in every bit of them. We got an unfurnished rental apartment in Paris and had to set up all our furniture ourselves. What would've taken me a couple of months to do on my own, my roommate and I organized the entire place in a little over two weeks!Cook at Home
My friends and family back home consider me weird for cooking for myself in Paris. For them, Paris is the ultimate food capital of the world, boasting the most amazing restaurants. What they tend to forget, however, is that eating out often will take a huge chunk of my money. And I wouldn't want that because I'd rather spend my disposable income traveling than eating small portions of French food that'll cost me about €10.00 to €50.00 per meal. Moreover, I'm a pretty good cook if I do say so myself! My friends always rave about it every time I invite them over.Only Eat Out on Special Occasions
I do cook for myself most of the time, but that isn't to say I don't go out to eat in Paris. Do you think I'm crazy? I'm not gonna waste this opportunity of living in a city that boasts Michelin-starred restaurants and world-famous diners! I think I even checked off every famous spot my local friends recommended to me within the first three years of my staying here. And yes, that also includes the upscale ones! I was still able to save money because I only ate out on special occasions, namely my birthday, my friends' birthdays, the time I got promoted at work, etc.Shop at Flea Markets
For those asking where I buy my groceries, I usually go to many flea markets. I'm lucky because there's one that opens up every weekend near my place, so that's where I go to get my produce and some seasonings. Many stalls there also sell delicious French and other European delicacies that my roommate and I have fallen in love with. So thanks to our shopping in flea markets in Paris, we've been able to expand our palette. I've also gone as far as to do most of my clothes shopping in flea markets. The bargains I got from them are some of the best investments I’ve ever made since moving here!Go Thrift-shopping
As I mentioned previously, I now do most of my clothes shopping in flea markets. It's not that I can't afford to go to the mall or even the famous department stores in Paris; I simply love getting my hands on rare finds that won't cost me that much. There are so many awesome vintage shops in Paris, and more than half of them sell their exquisite pieces at incredibly low prices. Sure, they may be secondhand, but they're usually in such pristine condition that it barely matters.Head to the Park Often
Thank God for the parks in Paris! They are my safe spaces and have helped keep my sanity since I first moved to Paris. As much as I love living in this dreamy city, it does get overwhelming at times. Anyone and everyone will need to take a break once in a while, else they risk losing their humanity! And I'm not exaggerating! Paris is beautiful, but it will eat you if you let it! Hence, I often escape to the park, specifically Paris's more underrated parks, to clear my head and forget my daily troubles for at least an hour. My personal favorite is Jardin de la Nouvelle France since it's always quiet here and it's not too far from my place.Contrary to popular belief, living on a budget in Paris is not impossible. There’s so much you can do to save money and still live comfortably in one of the world’s most notoriously expensive cities. Many Parisians do them even when they don’t need to stick to a budget!
