😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,026 in Toulouse versus $1,973 in Arrest.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,037 in Toulouse versus $3,037 in Arrest.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,047 in Toulouse versus $4,101 in Arrest.
😐Living in Toulouse is roughly 3% more expensive than Arrest, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toulouse51% above, Arrest47% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toulouse
Arrest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.09€14.70
$17.24€14.83
-0.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8€60.0
$73.8€63.4
-5.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.61€10.84
$14.04€12.08
-10.19%
Cappuccino
$3.53€3.03
$4.69€4.03
-24.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65€2.28
$4.07€3.50
-34.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69€1.46
$3.43€2.95
-50.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.08€6.95
$8.08€6.95
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89€5.07
$8.03€6.91
-26.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toulouse
Arrest
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48€1.27
$1.61€1.39
-8.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17€1.87
$2.03€1.75
6.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01€2.59
$2.94€2.53
2.38%
Eggs
$4.28€3.68
$5.16€4.44
-17.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.17€21.65
$25.78€22.17
-2.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.29€12.29
$13.92€11.97
2.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.42€15.85
$19.55€16.82
-5.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30€2.84
$3.59€3.09
-8.08%
Banana(1kg)
$3.04€2.61
$2.48€2.13
22.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.28€2.82
$3.36€2.89
-2.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.55€3.05
$3.76€3.23
-5.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.76€2.38
$2.61€2.25
5.75%
Onion(1kg)
$3.21€2.76
$3.07€2.64
4.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.84€1.58
$1.81€1.56
1.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$0.86€0.74
4.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.96€12.87
$15.15€13.03
-1.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.05€7.78
$6.28€5.40
44.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.04€3.48
$2.79€2.40
44.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07€2.64
$3.98€3.43
-22.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Toulouse
Arrest
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.14€1.84
$1.91€1.64
12.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.5€54.6
$48.14€41.41
31.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09€2.66
$4.55€3.92
-32.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.37€1.18
$2.06€1.77
-33.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.99€35.26
$55.8€48.00
-26.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.79
$2.08€1.79
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K€32.5K
$35.4K€30.4K
6.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K€34.6K
$36.0K€31.0K
11.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toulouse
Arrest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193€166
$247€213
-21.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.68€19.51
$16.64€14.31
36.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.52€31.42
$35.71€30.71
2.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toulouse
Arrest
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.88€34.31
$37.78€32.50
5.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.71€22.98
$18.09€15.56
47.65%
Cinema Ticket
$14.04€12.08
$15.51€13.34
-9.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toulouse
Arrest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$864€744
$874€752
-1.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.9K€16.2K
$8,764€7,539
115.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toulouse
Arrest
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125€108
$116€99.9
7.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.14€42.27
$47.71€41.04
3.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$129€111
$126€108
2.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165€142
$155€134
5.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toulouse
Arrest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$880€757
$767€660
14.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$697€600
$621€534
12.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,537€1,322
$1,408€1,212
9.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,180€1,015
$1,065€916
10.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,362€5,472
$4,263€3,667
49.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,307€2,844
$3,359€2,889
-1.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toulouse
Arrest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,994€2,575
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.71
3.55
4.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Toulouse: June 1, 2026
Last update for Arrest: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $880 in Toulouse and $767 in Arrest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Toulouse vs $74.0 in Arrest. Groceries flip the comparison at $411 vs $405, with Arrest cheaper for home cooking.
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
Toulouse vs Arrest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arrest cheaper than Toulouse?
Arrest is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,039 in Toulouse and $2,960 in Arrest to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Toulouse and Arrest?
Rent for a central apartment: $880 in Toulouse versus $767 in Arrest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $864 in Toulouse versus $874 in Arrest. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Toulouse and Arrest?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Toulouse. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Toulouse or Arrest?
At $1,973 in Arrest versus $2,026 in Toulouse, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Arrest but tight or insufficient in Toulouse. The gap between the two cities makes Arrest the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Toulouse or Arrest more family-friendly?
For families, Arrest is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Toulouse, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Toulouse or Arrest?
Safety-wise, Toulouse and Arrest 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Arrest gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Toulouse. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.