What budget?

• Private studio apartment: €450 to €650
• Shared apartment: €300 to €450 per person

Expected utilities:

• Electricity/Gas: €30 to €60
• Home insurance: €5 to €10
• Internet/Phone: €15 to €35

Before moving in, you’ll also need to provide a security deposit (equivalent to one month’s rent, sometimes two for furnished apartments), and sometimes pay an agency fee.

An important point for international students: most landlords require a guarantor, which can be a real hurdle when you arrive in France without a local network. The Visale guarantee (free, through Action Logement) is supposed to solve this problem, but it isn’t always accepted by private landlords, it’s best to check during the viewing whether the property accepts it. CROUS residences and some private student residences are a lower-rent alternative, but spaces are limited and aren’t enough to house everyone.

Also note: As of July 1^st, 2026, non-EU students (from countries outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland) are only eligible for APL (housing assistance from the CAF) if they receive a means-tested scholarship from the CROUS. European students, apprentices, and those in paid employment are not affected by this change.