Cost of Living Comparison Between Toulouse and Melun Cost of Living Comparison Between Toulouse and Melun

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,985 in Toulouse versus $1,764 in Melun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,055 in Toulouse versus $2,642 in Melun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,126 in Toulouse versus $3,519 in Melun.

Living in Toulouse is roughly 13% more expensive than Melun, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toulouse 48% above, Melun 32% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Toulouse
Melun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.07 โ‚ฌ14.56
$13.21 โ‚ฌ11.27
29.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 โ‚ฌ59.0
$55.4 โ‚ฌ47.21
24.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.75 โ‚ฌ10.87
$13.73 โ‚ฌ11.71
-7.14%
Cappuccino
$3.55 โ‚ฌ3.02
$3.15 โ‚ฌ2.68
12.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 โ‚ฌ2.24
$1.78 โ‚ฌ1.51
47.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 โ‚ฌ1.49
$2.10 โ‚ฌ1.79
-17.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.88 โ‚ฌ6.72
$7.56 โ‚ฌ6.45
4.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85 โ‚ฌ4.99
$5.84 โ‚ฌ4.98
0.17%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Toulouse
Melun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 โ‚ฌ1.22
$1.52 โ‚ฌ1.30
-5.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 โ‚ฌ1.87
$1.74 โ‚ฌ1.48
25.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.97 โ‚ฌ2.53
$3.01 โ‚ฌ2.57
-1.33%
Eggs
$4.14 โ‚ฌ3.53
$3.96 โ‚ฌ3.38
4.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.95 โ‚ฌ21.29
$22.15 โ‚ฌ18.89
12.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.45 โ‚ฌ12.32
$13.00 โ‚ฌ11.09
11.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.90 โ‚ฌ15.27
$24.18 โ‚ฌ20.63
-25.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.38 โ‚ฌ2.88
$3.71 โ‚ฌ3.17
-8.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.94 โ‚ฌ2.51
$2.18 โ‚ฌ1.86
34.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 โ‚ฌ2.71
$2.40 โ‚ฌ2.05
32.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.58 โ‚ฌ3.06
$3.28 โ‚ฌ2.80
9.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.79 โ‚ฌ2.38
$1.91 โ‚ฌ1.63
46.07%
Onion (1kg)
$3.27 โ‚ฌ2.79
$2.11 โ‚ฌ1.80
54.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 โ‚ฌ1.55
$1.59 โ‚ฌ1.36
13.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 โ‚ฌ0.81
$0.68 โ‚ฌ0.58
39.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.03 โ‚ฌ12.82
$13.46 โ‚ฌ11.48
11.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.80 โ‚ฌ7.50
$9.02 โ‚ฌ7.70
-2.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.05 โ‚ฌ3.45
$2.35 โ‚ฌ2.01
72.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 โ‚ฌ2.61
$4.48 โ‚ฌ3.82
-31.70%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Toulouse
Melun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.12 โ‚ฌ1.81
$2.32 โ‚ฌ1.98
-8.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.7 โ‚ฌ54.3
$49.15 โ‚ฌ41.92
29.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 โ‚ฌ2.61
$4.70 โ‚ฌ4.01
-34.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 โ‚ฌ1.13
$1.90 โ‚ฌ1.62
-30.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.76 โ‚ฌ34.77
$31.85 โ‚ฌ27.17
27.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 โ‚ฌ1.76
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.78
-1.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K โ‚ฌ31.7K
$36.9K โ‚ฌ31.5K
0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4K โ‚ฌ34.4K
$38.0K โ‚ฌ32.4K
6.27%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toulouse
Melun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 โ‚ฌ160
$198 โ‚ฌ168
-5.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.43 โ‚ฌ19.13
$23.33 โ‚ฌ19.90
-3.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.69 โ‚ฌ30.45
$28.39 โ‚ฌ24.21
25.71%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Toulouse
Melun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.01 โ‚ฌ34.13
$36.63 โ‚ฌ31.24
9.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.24 โ‚ฌ22.38
$18.45 โ‚ฌ15.74
42.22%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 โ‚ฌ11.72
$10.57 โ‚ฌ9.02
29.90%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Toulouse
Melun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$859 โ‚ฌ733
$571 โ‚ฌ487
50.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.2K โ‚ฌ15.5K
$8,459 โ‚ฌ7,216
114.69%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Toulouse
Melun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$124 โ‚ฌ106
$90.9 โ‚ฌ77.6
36.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.74 โ‚ฌ42.43
$36.15 โ‚ฌ30.84
37.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 โ‚ฌ110
$86.7 โ‚ฌ74.0
48.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 โ‚ฌ140
$104 โ‚ฌ88.9
57.51%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Toulouse
Melun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 โ‚ฌ724
$771 โ‚ฌ658
10.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$704 โ‚ฌ600
$597 โ‚ฌ509
17.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,559 โ‚ฌ1,329
$1,229 โ‚ฌ1,049
26.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,174 โ‚ฌ1,001
$910 โ‚ฌ776
28.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,267 โ‚ฌ5,346
$4,209 โ‚ฌ3,590
48.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,593 โ‚ฌ3,065
$3,022 โ‚ฌ2,578
18.87%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Toulouse
Melun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,003 โ‚ฌ2,562
$2,555 โ‚ฌ2,179
17.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.71
3.69
0.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Toulouse: April 21, 2026

Last update for Melun: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $849 in Toulouse and $771 in Melun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toulouse pays 18% 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: $69 in Toulouse vs $55 in Melun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 vs $385 per month, with Melun 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 Melun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Toulouse and Melun?
Toulouse and Melun differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,985 vs $1,764 including rent). Melun is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Toulouse or Melun?
Toulouse pays 18% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Toulouse and Melun?
Rent for a central apartment: $849 in Toulouse versus $771 in Melun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Toulouse or Melun?
All in, you'll spend $1,985 per month in Toulouse versus $1,764 in Melun โ€“ a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Toulouse and Melun?
A monthly transit pass in Melun runs roughly 30% less than in Toulouse. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,764 in Melun versus $1,985 in Toulouse, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Melun but tight or insufficient in Toulouse. The gap between the two cities makes Melun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Toulouse and Melun?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ€“ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Toulouse or Melun safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Toulouse and Melun are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Toulouse or Melun?
Expats usually find Melun gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 13% less than in Toulouse. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Toulouse vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities