Paris

Cost of living

Paris is a city that is becoming gentrified. The percentage of workers fell sharply between 2007 and 2016 with -17,3 %. This compared with + 7,9 % for managers and + 10,9 % for craftsmen, traders and company directors. At the same times, real estate is soaring with a price per m² that was over 9 890 € in the second quarter of 2019. The number of couples with children, meanwhile, decreases significantly between 2010 and 2016. The cost of living is high, 13 % higher than in the province. However, if we compare Paris to other global cities in the world that welcome expatriates, it remains relative. It is ranked 47th according to Mercer’s 25th international survey on the cost of living for expatriates (for example, Paris is far behind Hong-Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, etc…). Nevertheless, going out in Paris, finding a place to live, you will feel like it’s costing you an arm and a leg ! And it’s not just an impression.

Safety

First of all, in Paris, it is the Paris Police Prefecture which manages the security of the city.
Is Paris dangerous ? This is the question asked by anyone who wants to pack there for a short time, or for an indefinite, longer period of time.
The dangerousness of Paris is relative, but it seems to be increasing in recent years. It was ranked 60th in the 2019 Mercer study on personal safety.
The National Assembly voted on November 17, 2020 the bill allowing the creation of a municipal police force in Paris. It is thus planned to have 5 000 agents in 2024, knowing that they are now 3 300 surveillance agents in Paris.
The Île-de-France region recorded a homicide rate of 1,3 per 100 000 inhabitants in 2018. By way of comparaison, this is, for example, 62 times less than the city of Irapuato in Mexico, whose ratio was 81,4 per 100 000 inhabitants in the same year.
Still in 2018 and according to the Montaigne Institute, Paris spent €176 per capita for security. This amount is far higher than other major French cities. Regarding the number of incivilities per 10,000 inhabitants, it is lower than the 11 other main French cities (260 for Paris against 278).
Without any doubt, you will be able to walk quietly in Paris without being worried. Paris is not dangerous, but as in all big cities, we advise you to keep an eye on your personal belongings when you walk around. If you are stopped in the street to sign petitions, it may be to divert your attention, so stay alert. When walking in a group, divide your means of payment in different bags. In case of theft, go to the first police station.

Employment

Paris is recognized as a leading center for innovation, having even been elected European Innovation Capital in 2017. It is considered the most attractive city in Europe for start-ups and investors. The massive investment in research and development in recent years is bearing fruit, attracting a growing number of researchers.
Paris and more broadly the Île-de-France region is a considerable employment area.
In the space of ten years, the image of Paris has changed considerably. The city is no longer seen as a “museum” city but more as a dynamic economic, innovative and internationally recognized capital.
This technological shift is taking place and the city now has more than 10 000 startups.
The economy of Greater Paris has specific features that are specific to the world’s major metropolises. In fact, the economy is essentially tertiary, since the sector’s weight is 10 percentage points higher than the average of the other regions (75 %). This is due in particular to the strong presence of large corporate headquarters, and the weight of financial services. On the other hand, about industry, it is much less present in Île-de-France than in the rest of the country.
On a global scale Paris ranks 3rd in terms of number of large companies and 1st in Europe, ahead of its main competitors such as London or New York.
Despite the predominance of the tertiary sector, the Île-de-France economy is diversified. Wether in fields such as aeronautics and aerospace, computer and telecommunications technologies, bio-technology and science, or the environment, many leading companies are based there. But they are also many industrial companies, some of which have established their headquarters or maintained production units in the region.
But Paris is equally the hub of France’s and international trade. The city alone accounts for a quater of the country’s imports and around 20 % of its exports. Let us mention United States but also China as the omnipresent economic partners, although the majority of trade is with other European countries.
More specially and in terms of business activity, there are about 13 000 foreign companies in Paris, representing nearly half a million jobs in the region, or 16 % of total employment. Here, the nationalities most represented among these foreign companies are the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.
Moreover, the major French CAC 40 groups, almost all of which are present in Paris, generate the vast majority of their revenues outside France (around 75 %).

Education

The Île-de-France is the main center for higher education in France and Europe. It brings together the academies of Créteil, Paris and Versailles. And represents more than a quarter of national students, or 600 000 people and more than 40 % of public and private researchers.

What are the main Universities in Paris ?

There are 16 universities. The main ones are Université Panthéon-Sorbonne, Université Panthéon Assas Paris 2, Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris 3, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Université Paris Dauphine Paris 9, Université Paris Descartes Paris 5. Then, a dozen major institutions (such as the Institut d’Etudes Politiques – IEP SciencesPo), some forty engineering schools, fifteen business school, four schools of architecture and various art schools (Boule, Duperré, Du Breuil…). They contribute to the richness of higher education within the Île-de-France region. The degree courses are very diversified, leading to a diploma ranging from BAC+2 to BAC+5 or BAC+8.
Regarding the state of university real estate, it has deteriorated a lot in recent years. It is now aging, and its use is sometimes inappropriate compared to other regions of France.

How to define life as a foreign student in Paris ?

By studying in Paris, you will be able to take advantage of the city’s cultural influence. But also of its quality institutions, benefiting from a good reputation among national and international recruiters. The city welcomes many foreign students. His student diversity is a sign of the strong attraction of Parisian universities and the quality of teaching and research conducted there.
The capital offers a wide range of courses, artistic and cultural activities, leisure and sports activities.
Of course Paris can be visited, but also and above all, it can be lived ! 

Public transportation

In Paris and contrary to popular belief, walking is the mains means of transportation, providing 40 % of daily trips. But, of course, because of its size and population, Paris has a highly developed public transportation network. Thus, the metro serves a large number of destinations within the capital, with 309 stations on 16 lines for a total of 220 kilometers of roads.
Then, the RER (Regional Express Network) serves the Parisian suburbs. But Paris now has, under the impetus of Paris Île-de-France Mobilités, the state, the region and the department, 9 tramway lines for 210 stations and 127 km of roads. After disappearing during the first half of the 20th century, it made its big comeback in 1993 in Seine-Saint-Denis. Every day, 1 million passengers use this mode of transport. The number of passengers using this mode increased by 16,6 % between 2006 and 2018 according to Omnil (Observatoire de la mobilité en Île-de-France).
But the RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) also has a very extensive bus network. It is very complementary to the rail network, and covers the entire territory of the Paris city with 5 million journeys a day for the 10 500 buses that compose it. Click here to access to this RATP bus network.
The French capital also has 6 mainline stations (Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare Montparnasse, Gare de l’Est, Gare Saint-Lazare), and thus serving numerous destinations throughout France and Europe, notably via TGV (high-speed train) lines.

Atmosphere & Culture

A true cultural treasure, Paris no longer counts its historical monuments. It represents in the best possible way the French cultural heritage. Between the Louvre Museum (the most visited in the world with more than 10 million visitors annually), the Eiffel Tower which alone represents one of the majestic faces of the capital, the Arc de Triomphe, the Pantheon, the Basilica of Sacré Coeur of Montmartre, the Georges Pompidou Center… you will have a wide choice ! As the world’s leading touristic city with 34 million visitors in 2019, Paris is full of life.
Crossing the capital forming a diagonal South-East / South-West, the Seine river helps to enrich the capital with unusual places and many famous bridges. We could mention the Pont Alexandre III or the Pont Neuf also called “Le Pont des Amoureux”. Moreover, speaking of love, Paris is also considered as the city of romanticism, the main destination for lovers.
But to immerse yourself more deeply in the city, it is essential to plunge into the arteries of the different districts of the city, to feel the different atmospheres, and to touch the Parisian cosmopolitanism ! Its cafés, all different, warm, rustic, gloomy, authentic, posh, are worth the detour.
But Paris also represents the wide range of French gastronomy, where gustative diversity rhymes with diversity of territories. You will be able to taste the different regional specialties, depending on the neighborhood.
This city is not only famous for its classical facades. It is also home to monuments with remarkable contemporary architecture. You can visit the Louis Vuitton foundation located in the West of Paris, imagined by the architect Franck Gehry. We could also mention, among other things, the Arche de la Défense, which sits among the high towers of the famous Parisian business center (the 2nd in Europe and the 4th in the world in terms of attractiveness). But the architectural imprint of Paris is also the famous Haussmanian style buildings, whose origin is under the Second Empire. When Napoleon III had chosen Baron Haussman to develop the French capital. He imposed a style that is at the origin of the physiognomy of the city.
Capital of fashion, cradle of haute couture, Paris is a must for fashion lovers. Between Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton and others, Paris is the essential center of the sector.

Choose your neighborhood in Paris

According to your tastes and your aspirations, according to your profile, you will find the right shoe for you.
Let’s start with the Montparnasse district, located in the northern part of the 14th neighborhood of Paris. It is know for its numerous commercial signs, as well as for its crêperies, its emblematic and pleasant bistrots. The district is embodied by its Great Montparnasse Tower, its train station and its numerous cinemas. Whether you come here to go shopping on Rue de Rennes or to meet up with friends for a drink in one of the historic bistrots, Montparnasse will precisely meet your expectations.

Let’s continue with the Télégraphe district, located on the heights of the 20th borough, at the top of the hill of Bellevue. Télégraphe is slowly being transformed, old buildings are being rehabilitated and shops are getting a facelift : proof of its dynamism and ongoing development. The proximity to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is a real advantage of the neighborhood, which is still “accessible” for renting and buying. We recommend a detour via the passage of Montenegro, the rue Emile Desvaux and the rue Paul de Kock. These paved roads of the America district are home to pretty little houses, some with colorful facades, typical of the old working-class neighborhoods. Ideal for a Sunday stroll !

Undergoing a major restructuration, the 13th arrondissement (also know as the Chinese district) of Paris, and more particularly the Place d’Italie area, is enriching new green spaces and breathing more air than in the past. Well located in the south of Paris and in the heart of the 13th arrondissement, the Place d’Italie which houses the 13th arrondissement’s town hall, serve as a geographical landmark and meeting point. Haussmannian style, very lively and much used by motorists, it is home to one of the largest shopping centers in Paris (Italy 2). It has also historical monuments, including the monument in memory of Marshal Juin in the central garden, or the war memorial on the Boulevard Auguste Blanqui.
The Asian influence in the neighborhood is strong, as you can observe through the restaurants, stores and businesses. Note that it is precisely in this neighborhood that the Chinese New Year takes place every year, which represent two weeks of strong animations (concerts, exhibitions, conferences…).