Cost of Living · FR vs US
🇫🇷 Paris vs 🇺🇸 New York: what everyday life costs
Monthly essentials: $1,761 in France vs $2,410 in United States — 36.85% more expensive.
Biggest differences
Much cheaper in United States
- ⛽ Petrol/gasoline, 1L: 10.47%
- 🍻 Imported beer, 330ml bottle: 10.65%
- 👟 Running shoes (brand): 10.67%
Closest to France prices
- 🏢 Rent: 3-bedroom, city center: +42.62%
- 🏡 Rent: 1-bedroom, outside center: +42.62%
- 🏙️ Rent: 1-bedroom, city center: +42.62%
The full basket (32 items)
| Item | France | United States | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| 🏙️ Rent: 1-bedroom, city center | $1,227 | $1,750 | +42.62% |
| 🏡 Rent: 1-bedroom, outside center | $982 | $1,400 | +42.62% |
| 🏢 Rent: 3-bedroom, city center | $2,244 | $3,200 | +42.62% |
| Food out | |||
| 🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $13.62 | $18.00 | +32.16% |
| 🍽️ Dinner for two, mid-range | $56.74 | $75.00 | +32.18% |
| 🍔 Fast-food combo meal | $8.54 | $11.00 | +28.81% |
| Groceries | |||
| 🥛 Milk, 1L | $0.90 | $1.10 | +22.22% |
| 🍞 Bread, fresh loaf 500g | $2.61 | $3.20 | +22.61% |
| 🥚 Eggs, dozen | $2.78 | $3.40 | +22.3% |
| 🍗 Chicken breast, 1kg | $8.16 | $10.00 | +22.55% |
| 🍚 White rice, 1kg | $3.27 | $4.00 | +22.32% |
| 🍎 Apples, 1kg | $3.92 | $4.80 | +22.45% |
| 🧀 Local cheese, 1kg | $9.80 | $12.00 | +22.45% |
| 💧 Water, 1.5L bottle | $1.63 | $2.00 | +22.7% |
| Drinks | |||
| 🍺 Domestic beer, pint (draught) | $4.54 | $6.00 | +32.16% |
| 🍻 Imported beer, 330ml bottle | $7.23 | $8.00 | +10.65% |
| ☕ Cappuccino | $3.78 | $5.00 | +32.28% |
| 🥤 Coke/Pepsi, 330ml | $1.88 | $2.30 | +22.34% |
| Transport | |||
| 🚇 Public transport, monthly pass | $50.44 | $65.00 | +28.87% |
| 🎫 Public transport, one-way | $2.13 | $2.75 | +29.11% |
| 🚕 Taxi start (normal tariff) | $3.03 | $4.00 | +32.01% |
| 🛣️ Taxi, per km | $1.36 | $1.80 | +32.35% |
| ⛽ Petrol/gasoline, 1L | $0.86 | $0.95 | +10.47% |
| Utilities & comms | |||
| 💡 Basic utilities, 85m² apartment | $155 | $200 | +28.87% |
| 🌐 Internet, 60Mbps+ unlimited | $54.32 | $70.00 | +28.87% |
| 📱 Mobile plan, 10GB+ data | $34.92 | $45.00 | +28.87% |
| Lifestyle | |||
| 🏋️ Gym membership, month | $37.83 | $50.00 | +32.17% |
| 🎬 Cinema seat | $10.59 | $14.00 | +32.2% |
| 💈 Men's haircut | $22.70 | $30.00 | +32.16% |
| 👖 Jeans (mid-range brand) | $49.69 | $55.00 | +10.69% |
| 👟 Running shoes (brand) | $81.32 | $90.00 | +10.67% |
| 💻 Coworking hot desk, month | $189 | $250 | +32.18% |
Estimated from World Bank — Consumption price levels with per-item elasticity — model figures, not quotes. Compare any pair in the interactive tool.
Related
Frequently asked questions
- How much more expensive is United States than France?
- A single person's monthly essentials run about $2,410 in United States versus $1,761 in France — 36.85% more. Rents differ the most; world-priced goods like petrol and electronics the least.
- What does a beer cost in United States?
- A domestic draught pint is roughly $6.00 in United States, versus about $4.54 in France.
- How much is rent in United States compared to France?
- A 1-bedroom city-center apartment is estimated at $1,750/month in United States versus $1,227/month in France (+42.62%). Housing is the most locally-priced item in the basket.
- How are these prices estimated?
- Curated US baseline prices scaled by each country's purchasing-power price level with per-item elasticities (housing 1.4, services 1.1, groceries 0.8, world-priced goods 0.4) — model estimates for orientation, not quotes.