Cost of Living Comparison Between Paris and Roubaix Cost of Living Comparison Between Paris and Roubaix

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,617 in Paris versus $1,696 in Roubaix.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,087 in Paris versus $2,611 in Roubaix.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,557 in Paris versus $3,526 in Roubaix.

Living in Paris is roughly 54% more expensive than in Roubaix, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Paris 96% above, Roubaix 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paris
Roubaix
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.33 €15.18
$17.76 €15.56
-2.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0 €62.2
$69.0 €60.5
2.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.02 €12.29
$13.93 €12.21
0.65%
Cappuccino
$4.77 €4.18
$3.66 €3.20
30.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17 €3.65
$3.30 €2.89
26.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €2.97
$2.14 €1.87
58.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.23 €7.21
$7.89 €6.91
4.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.91 €6.93
$5.92 €5.19
33.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paris
Roubaix
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 €1.38
$1.19 €1.05
31.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.09 €1.83
$1.58 €1.38
32.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.92 €2.56
$3.02 €2.64
-3.31%
Eggs
$4.92 €4.31
$2.07 €1.81
137.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.17 €22.93
$13.32 €11.67
96.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.15 €12.40
$9.10 €7.97
55.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.45 €17.04
$13.52 €11.85
43.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.45 €3.02
$1.02 €0.89
238.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.50 €2.19
$1.19 €1.04
110.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.42 €2.99
$2.34 €2.05
46.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.85 €3.38
$2.86 €2.51
34.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 €2.29
$0.74 €0.65
252.70%
Onion (1kg)
$2.95 €2.58
$0.94 €0.83
213.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.89 €1.66
$1.54 €1.35
22.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.77
$0.22 €0.19
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.80 €12.97
$12.33 €10.80
20.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.24 €8.10
$8.45 €7.40
9.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 €2.40
$2.32 €2.03
18.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 €3.62
$4.44 €3.89
-6.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Paris
Roubaix
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.88 €2.52
$2.02 €1.77
42.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$103 €90.0
$48.39 €42.40
112.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.50 €8.32
$2.44 €2.14
289.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 €1.82
$1.87 €1.64
10.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$54.8 €48.01
$39.99 €35.03
37.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.15 €1.88
$1.99 €1.75
8.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K €31.3K
$28.5K €24.9K
25.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K €31.6K
$28.5K €24.9K
26.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paris
Roubaix
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 €221
$179 €157
40.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.02 €14.91
$23.55 €20.63
-27.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.45 €31.06
$29.72 €26.04
19.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paris
Roubaix
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.10 €34.25
$38.14 €33.41
2.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.23 €16.85
$17.98 €15.76
6.95%
Cinema Ticket
$15.54 €13.62
$11.49 €10.07
35.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paris
Roubaix
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$879 €770
$565 €495
55.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K €13.1K
$8,473 €7,423
76.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paris
Roubaix
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 €98.9
$91.0 €79.7
24.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.12 €41.28
$37.28 €32.66
26.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 €108
$85.7 €75.1
44.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 €140
$105 €92.4
51.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paris
Roubaix
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,654 €1,449
$766 €671
116.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,186 €1,039
$625 €548
89.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,604 €3,158
$1,412 €1,237
155.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,274 €1,993
$1,096 €960
107.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.6K €12.8K
$4,107 €3,598
256.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,985 €8,748
$3,025 €2,650
230.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paris
Roubaix
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,578 €3,135
$1,794 €1,572
99.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.55
3.69
-3.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Paris: July 21, 2026

Last update for Roubaix: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,654 in Paris and $766 in Roubaix. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Paris pays 99% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71.0 in Paris vs $69.0 in Roubaix for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $413 vs $260 per month, with Roubaix cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Paris vs Roubaix: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Paris or Roubaix?
Roubaix wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Paris. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Roubaix the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Paris or in Roubaix?
Average pay runs 99% higher in Paris, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Paris compared to Roubaix?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,654 in Paris versus $766 in Roubaix. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Paris and in Roubaix?
Dining out is cheaper in Roubaix – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $71.0 in Paris. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Paris compared to Roubaix?
All in, you'll spend $2,617 per month in Paris versus $1,696 in Roubaix – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Paris or in Roubaix?
At $1,696 in Roubaix versus $2,617 in Paris, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Roubaix but tight or insufficient in Paris. The gap between the two cities makes Roubaix the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Paris or Roubaix?
Both work as nomad bases, but Roubaix delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,696 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Roubaix hard to pass up.
How safe is Paris compared to Roubaix?
Safety-wise, Paris and Roubaix are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Roubaix gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Paris. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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