😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,965 in Toulouse versus $1,760 in Bethune.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,003 in Toulouse versus $2,724 in Bethune.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,041 in Toulouse versus $3,689 in Bethune.
😐Living in Toulouse is roughly 12% more expensive than Bethune, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toulouse46% above, Bethune31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toulouse
Bethune
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.56€15.13
$17.78€15.32
-1.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8€60.2
$68.6€59.1
1.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.61€10.87
$13.71€11.81
-8.02%
Cappuccino
$3.40€2.93
$3.25€2.80
4.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63€2.26
$2.90€2.50
-9.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$1.99€1.72
-16.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.05€6.94
$6.78€5.84
18.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82€5.01
$5.73€4.93
1.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toulouse
Bethune
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43€1.23
$1.36€1.17
5.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.19€1.89
$1.74€1.50
25.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.15€2.71
$3.04€2.62
3.62%
Eggs
$4.29€3.70
$4.08€3.52
5.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.79€22.22
$22.67€19.53
13.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.76€12.72
$13.10€11.29
12.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.47€15.92
$23.72€20.44
-22.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.79
$3.10€2.67
4.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94€2.54
$2.24€1.93
31.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.18€2.74
$2.48€2.14
28.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.44€2.96
$3.26€2.81
5.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.83€2.44
$1.97€1.70
43.65%
Onion(1kg)
$3.21€2.77
$2.10€1.81
52.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82€1.57
$1.47€1.27
23.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.81
$0.60€0.52
56.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.71€12.67
$13.72€11.82
7.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.19€7.91
$7.89€6.80
16.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.02€3.46
$1.81€1.56
122.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.68€2.31
12.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Toulouse
Bethune
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03€1.75
$1.83€1.58
10.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.5€56.5
$52.2€44.96
25.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.96€2.55
$2.47€2.13
19.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39€1.20
$1.82€1.57
-23.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.31€35.59
$40.26€34.69
2.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.80
$2.09€1.80
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.7K
$38.1K€32.9K
-3.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K€34.3K
$37.5K€32.4K
6.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toulouse
Bethune
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$183€158
2.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.23€19.15
$23.36€20.13
-4.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.44€31.40
$29.10€25.08
25.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toulouse
Bethune
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.28€33.85
$38.33€33.02
2.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.86€23.14
$18.34€15.80
46.46%
Cinema Ticket
$13.87€11.95
$10.36€8.92
33.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toulouse
Bethune
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$859€740
$577€497
48.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.4K€15.9K
$8,691€7,488
112.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toulouse
Bethune
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125€108
$89.5€77.1
39.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.87€42.10
$36.36€31.33
34.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125€108
$77.7€66.9
60.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161€138
$101€87.4
58.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toulouse
Bethune
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$867€747
$772€665
12.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$682€588
$613€528
11.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,321
$1,369€1,180
12.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,171€1,009
$1,077€928
8.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,389€5,505
$4,493€3,871
42.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,339€2,877
$3,570€3,076
-6.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toulouse
Bethune
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,956€2,547
$3,812€3,285
-22.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.71
3.69
0.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Toulouse: June 8, 2026
Last update for Bethune: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $867 in Toulouse and $772 in Bethune. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bethune pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Toulouse vs $69.0 in Bethune for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $414 vs $373 per month, with Bethune 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
Toulouse vs Bethune: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Toulouse or Bethune?
Bethune wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Toulouse. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bethune the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Toulouse or Bethune?
On paper, Bethune earns 29% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Toulouse vs Bethune?
Rent for a central apartment: $867 in Toulouse versus $772 in Bethune. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Toulouse and Bethune?
Childcare runs $859 in Toulouse versus $577 in Bethune. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Toulouse or Bethune?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Toulouse. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Toulouse or Bethune?
At $1,760 in Bethune versus $1,965 in Toulouse, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bethune but tight or insufficient in Toulouse. The gap between the two cities makes Bethune the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Toulouse or Bethune?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bethune delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,760 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bethune hard to pass up.
How safe is Toulouse compared to Bethune?
Safety-wise, Toulouse and Bethune 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 Bethune gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Toulouse. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.