Paris

City Overview

Paris is France's capital and the world's capital of fashion, art, and cuisine. French is dominant; English is workable in business and tourist areas. A strong Chinese student community; the 13th arrondissement has a large Chinatown. Cost of living is high but lower than London.

Cost of Living Snapshot

Source: RichBay editorial estimate — indicative, not guaranteed Estimate baseline: 2026-07-20 · Actual costs vary by location, timing, and personal lifestyle.

Getting Around Paris

16 metro lines densely cover the city; RER connects suburbs. Navigo pass covers all transport. Vélib' bike share and e-scooters are popular.

Main transport

• Métro ↗ A dense grid covering the city proper — a station is rarely more than 500 m away; one flat-fare ticket now covers métro and RER across Île-de-France.
• RER & Transilien Regional express rail crosses the city underground and reaches the suburbs — La Défense, Versailles and both airports.
• Buses & trams Slower but scenic; a slightly cheaper ticket, with an extensive tram ring around the city’s edge.
• Vélib’ & cycling Vélib’ bike share plus hundreds of kilometres of new protected lanes — cycling is now a mainstream Paris commute.
• Taxis & VTC G7 taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely available; fixed taxi fares apply between central Paris and the airports.

Typical costs

Airport access

• Charles de Gaulle (CDG) ↗ RER B reaches central Paris in 30–35 minutes on the €14 airport ticket; Roissybus and fixed-fare taxis are the alternatives.
• Orly (ORY) ↗ Métro line 14 runs direct to Orly (the €14 airport ticket applies); tram T7 and OrlyBus are slower, cheaper options.

Good to know for newcomers

• Get a Navigo Easy card (€2) or load tickets on your phone — magnetic paper tickets stop working across the network during 2026.
• If you commute at all, the monthly Navigo wins quickly — especially since your employer must cover half.
• The métro closes around 01:00 (02:00 Friday–Saturday); Noctilien night buses cover the gap.
• Strikes happen — keep a plan B (Vélib’, bus, walking) and check the RATP / Île-de-France Mobilités apps for live status.

Commuting & where to live

• Paris proper is compact — most intra-muros commutes stay under 40 minutes door to door.
• Rent falls fast beyond the périphérique; a home near an RER A/B/E station often beats a métro-only spot on total commute time.
• Factor the 50% employer reimbursement into any car-versus-transit comparison — it tilts the math heavily toward the Navigo.
• Many Parisians now cycle year-round — on protected lanes a bike is often faster than the métro for trips under 5 km.

Housing & Neighborhoods

Universities in Paris (5)

• Institut Polytechnique de Paris
• PSL University (Paris Sciences et Lettres)
• Sciences Po
• Sorbonne University
• Université Paris Cité

Deep Dive Guides

Why Live Here

• Global center of fashion, art, and cuisine
• Schengen hub — visa-free access to 26 countries
• 13th arr. Chinatown with full Chinese shops and restaurants