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Paris is an expensive city, with the Marais ranking among its priciest neighborhoods—but it offers unmatched access to the city's cultural, historical, and architectural heart. Living in this vibrant district costs around €2,860 per month for a couple.
Hands down, no contest, in so many ways, Paris is the best place in the world to seek out what qualifies for many as a rich and full life.
Café afternoons and Michelin-starred nights… gallery openings and museum exhibitions… seasonal celebrations and centuries-old festivals… bookstores and antique shops… luxury brands and farmers markets… fashion weeks and dance clubs… conversation groups and cooking classes… live theater… live music… movie cinemas showing first-run and foreign flicks (in English)… an active artist community… specialty food shops… spas and salons…
All in a setting of architectural delights and historic landmarks… shady squares and well-tended parks…
Today, the Marais is one of Paris’ most trendy and desirable neighborhoods. The Marais is also home to many restaurants, cafes, and boutiques, many of which stay open on Sundays, an unusual practice in France.
The Marais still retains so much of the medieval character that was bulldozed in the 19th and 20th centuries for bigger and better structures in other parts of the City of Light—but thankfully not the medieval smell.
The most prevalent smell these days emanates from the numerous seductive boulangeries (bakeries) and pâtisseries (pastry shops).
To live in the Marais is to live in the heart—geographic, cultural, historical, architectural, and social—of this city that is considered by so many to be the ground zero of refined western culture.
The Marais oozes culture and history. The neighborhood has an excess of historical sites and museums.
The day-to-day life here is vibrant and active.
Reviewed By Kathleen Peddicord
Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.
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Hands down, no contest, in so many ways, Paris is the best place in the world to seek out what qualifies for many as a rich and full life.
Café afternoons and Michelin-starred nights… gallery openings and museum exhibitions… seasonal celebrations and centuries-old festivals… bookstores and antique shops… luxury brands and farmers markets… fashion weeks and dance clubs… conversation groups and cooking classes… live theater… live music… movie cinemas showing first-run and foreign flicks (in English)… an active artist community… specialty food shops… spas and salons…
All in a setting of architectural delights and historic landmarks… shady squares and well-tended parks…
Today, the Marais is one of Paris’ most trendy and desirable neighborhoods. The Marais is also home to many restaurants, cafes, and boutiques, many of which stay open on Sundays, an unusual practice in France.
The Marais still retains so much of the medieval character that was bulldozed in the 19th and 20th centuries for bigger and better structures in other parts of the City of Light—but thankfully not the medieval smell.
The most prevalent smell these days emanates from the numerous seductive boulangeries (bakeries) and pâtisseries (pastry shops).
To live in the Marais is to live in the heart—geographic, cultural, historical, architectural, and social—of this city that is considered by so many to be the ground zero of refined western culture. The Marais oozes culture and history. The neighborhood has an excess of historical sites and museums.
Of course this could-be utopia is not without its drawbacks. Paris is an expensive city and the Marais is one of its most expensive neighborhoods. For access to the heart of Paris, there is no better location. The cost of living for this prime location amounts to 2,860 euros per month.
| Expense | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HOA Fees | NA | HOA fees are not typical in apartments in Paris. |
| Property Taxes | 0.25% of apartment value | There are two property taxes: taxe d’habitation (like an occupancy tax; paid by renter if property is rented) and taxe foncière (the actual property tax). Taxe foncière works out to about 0.1% (0.001) of the estimated value of the apartment. Taxe d’habitation is about twice the amount of the taxe foncière. In total, assume about 0.25% of the value of an apartment. |
| Transportation | 50 | 3 euros for Vélib subscription, 33.80 euros for 20 metro/bus tickets, plus a couple car rides or allowing for some Vélib overages. |
| Gas | NA | Some apartments in Paris use gas for heating, but it’s not common. |
| Electricity | 70 | |
| Water | 10 | |
| Water | 10 | |
| Cell Phone | 20 | Basic plan with unlimited calls, texts, and 4G data. |
| Internet and Cable | 36 | Cheapest basic package with fiberoptic internet speed. |
| Household Help | 45 | 3 hours per week; 15 euros per hour. |
| Entertainment | 620 | A couple’s cost of eating out once a week at a mid-range, local restaurant: 40 per meal; drinks twice a week at a nearby watering hole: 8 euros per drink; movie theater trip twice a month: 11 euros per ticket. |
| Groceries | 400 | Basic items for a couple. |
| Gym membership | 37 | Basic gym membership. |
| Medical appointment | 25 | Basic clinic appointment; specialists usually charge 50 euros. Health care prices are regulated according to the public health care system and can range from 25 to 80 on the public side, but can be as high as 130 for a simple consultation on the private, non-regulated side. |
| TOTAL | 1,313 |
| Expense | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | 2,500 | A one- or two-bedroom apartment in Central Paris. With this budget, you’ll have plenty of options, but you can certainly spend less than this and still be very comfortable and centrally located. |
| Transportation | 50 | 3 euros for Vélib subscription, 33.80 euros for 20 metro/bus tickets, plus a couple car rides or allowing for some Vélib overages. |
| Gas | NA | Some apartments in Paris use gas for heating, but it’s not common. |
| Electricity | 70 | |
| Water | NA | Included in rent. |
| Cell Phone | 20 | Basic plan with unlimited calls, texts, and 4G data. |
| Internet and Cable | 36 | Cheapest basic package with fiberoptic internet speed. |
| Household Help | 45 | 3 hours per week; 15 euros per hour. |
| Entertainment | 620 | A couple’s cost for eating out once a week at a mid-range, local restaurant: 40 per meal; drinks twice a week at a nearby watering hole: 8 euros per drink; movie theater trip twice a month: 11 euros per ticket. |
| Groceries | 400 | Basic items for a couple. |
| Gym membership | 37 | Basic gym membership. |
| Medical appointment | 25 | Basic clinic appointment; specialists usually charge 50 euros. Health care prices are regulated according to the public health care system and can range from 25 to 80 on the public side, but can be as high as 130 for a simple consultation on the private, non-regulated side. |
| TOTAL | 3,803 |
| Expense | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent: | 1,300 | Slightly farther from the heart of Central Paris; basic one-bedroom rental. |
| Transportation | 15 | Sticking strictly to Vélibs and using bus or metro only occasionally; 3 euros for Vélib. |
| Gas | NA | Some apartments in Paris use gas for heating, but it’s not common. |
| Electricity | 35 | Because you’ll have a smaller apartment, it will cost less to power it. |
| Water | NA | Included in rent. |
| Cell Phone | 20 | Basic plan with unlimited calls, texts, and 4G data. |
| Internet and Cable | NA | Using your phone plan, you can easily use the data to connect your home devices to internet instead of paying for Wi-Fi. |
| Entertainment | 75 | This would be for eating out minimally just once a week and always taking advantage of menu deals; visiting museums on free days and going to the movies during discounted hours. |
| Groceries | 300 | All local-brand items only, shopping markets and local vendors along with grocery stores. |
| TOTAL | 1,745 |
The Marais is also a breeding ground for cafe culture, an epicenter of fine cuisine, and home to many a cozy bistro and open air market. Foodies will not be disappointed with the offerings within a stone’s throw of their front door.
Property prices, both for owning and renting, are sky high for very little space. With these heightened prices come more expensive groceries, boutiques, dry cleaners, restaurants—you name it—than in most other neighborhoods, with the notable exception of the other expat-invaded Parisian neighborhood, Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Roughly a quarter of the Marais’ population was born outside Metropolitan France, so as an expat living in this neighborhood, you will certainly not be alone.
For some, it’s actually a negative that so much English can be heard in the streets, cafes, and restaurants of the Marais. But aside from the sheer numbers, the organization of the expat community is impressive.
Few foreign cities have as strong and as established an Anglophone expat community as Paris.
Most importantly, if you’re thinking about entering the Paris property market, here are three critical criteria behind any good purchase…
1. Location. This comes down to both the arrondissement and the neighborhood. Look at things like proximity to food shops and open markets… proximity to parks, gardens, and areas for jogging, for example… and proximity to Metro stops and train stations… these things are important both for your own enjoyment and also for attracting renters…
2. Characteristics. Carefully examine what the building offers—including the façade, the stairwell, the elevator (or lack thereof), a courtyard, etc.—as well as the apartment itself. Valuable characteristics in a Paris apartment include things like parquet, moldings, fireplaces, shutters, and original fixtures and hardware. A cave (underground storage place, intended originally and specifically for wine) is another good characteristic…
3. Price. Again, the most expensive addresses in Paris are found in the 6th, 7th, 1st, 5th, 3th, and 8th arrondissements… in that order. Prices are recorded and reported religiously and reliably by the notaires in Paris, making it easy for you to get an idea of what you should spend for whatever and wherever, exactly, you want to buy…
Reviewed By Kathleen Peddicord
Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.
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In Paris, you can choose from different transport options like the metro, buses, and trams.
For instance, the Mobilité Île-de-France website is useful for planning your route. Also, be prepared to walk quite a bit, sometimes 8 to 16 kms daily.
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