Average Rent in Paris 2026: What You'll Pay by Arrondissement

Paris rents have risen steadily despite rent control legislation. The gap between what the law allows and what landlords charge has narrowed in recent years following tougher enforcement — but navigating the Paris rental market still requires knowing where the real numbers sit.

The city median for an unfurnished 1-bedroom is roughly €1,200–1,500 per month depending on location. Furnished adds €150–250 to that figure. What you actually pay depends heavily on which arrondissement you target.

Rent by Arrondissement (2026)

Paris has 20 arrondissements arranged in a spiral from the 1st at the centre outward. Prices follow that geography closely, with the central arrondissements commanding a significant premium.

Central Paris (1st–4th Arrondissements)

The historic core: Île de la Cité, Le Marais, Châtelet. High demand, limited supply, tourist-heavy in parts.

Property Type	Unfurnished	Furnished
Studio (< 30m²)	€1,100–1,500	€1,300–1,700
1-bedroom (30–50m²)	€1,700–2,200	€1,900–2,500
2-bedroom (50–70m²)	€2,400–3,200	€2,700–3,600

Left Bank and Prestigious 6th/7th (5th–7th Arrondissements)

Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Latin Quarter, Invalides. High prestige and consistently among the priciest areas in the city.

Property Type	Unfurnished	Furnished
Studio	€1,050–1,400	€1,250–1,650
1-bedroom	€1,600–2,000	€1,850–2,300
2-bedroom	€2,200–3,000	€2,500–3,400

East-Central Paris (11th–12th Arrondissements)

Bastille, Oberkampf, Nation. More residential, popular with younger professionals and creative workers. Better value than the central core.

Property Type	Unfurnished	Furnished
Studio	€950–1,200	€1,100–1,400
1-bedroom	€1,300–1,600	€1,500–1,850
2-bedroom	€1,800–2,400	€2,000–2,700

Northern Paris (18th–20th Arrondissements)

Montmartre, Belleville, Ménilmontant. Increasingly gentrified in parts (particularly the 18th around Abbesses), but still significantly cheaper than central arrondissements.

Property Type	Unfurnished	Furnished
Studio	€850–1,100	€1,000–1,300
1-bedroom	€1,200–1,500	€1,400–1,750
2-bedroom	€1,600–2,100	€1,800–2,400

Suburbs and Petite Couronne (92, 93, 94 Departments)

Areas just outside the périphérique: Boulogne-Billancourt, Vincennes, Saint-Denis, Issy-les-Moulineaux. Metro and RER access to central Paris in 20–40 minutes.

Property Type	Unfurnished	Furnished
Studio	€750–950	€900–1,100
1-bedroom	€900–1,200	€1,050–1,400
2-bedroom	€1,300–1,700	€1,500–1,900

Compare Paris costs against other European cities on SpendVerdict.

Rent Control in Paris: Encadrement des Loyers

Paris operates a rent control system called encadrement des loyers, reintroduced in 2019 and extended multiple times since. The system sets reference rents (loyer de référence) per square metre for each neighbourhood and property type, with landlords allowed to charge up to 20% above the reference (the upper bound).

Enforcement was initially weak. Since 2022, the city has increased inspections and penalties. Renters can now lodge complaints via the Mairie de Paris if they believe they're being charged above the upper limit, and successful challenges result in rent reductions applied retroactively.

In practice: most landlords listing through established agencies are compliant. Private listings on platforms like Leboncoin or SeLoger show more variation. If you're signing an unfurnished lease, it is worth cross-checking your per-metre rate against the official reference table for your neighbourhood, available on the Paris city website.

The system applies to unfurnished (bail nu) and furnished (bail meublé) rentals, but the reference rates differ. Furnished rentals have historically carried a higher reference rate to account for the furniture and equipment provided.

Furnished vs Unfurnished: What the Distinction Means

The difference is not just about whether there's a sofa.

Unfurnished (bail nu): Standard 3-year lease, renewable automatically. Landlord cannot terminate without cause during the lease. More stable tenure for tenants. Deposit capped at 1 month's rent.

Furnished (bail meublé): Standard 1-year lease (or 9 months for students), renewable. More flexible for landlords but also more appropriate for shorter stays. Deposit capped at 2 months' rent. Higher monthly cost, but all white goods and furniture included.

For anyone planning to stay more than 18 months, an unfurnished lease is almost always cheaper over time despite the furniture acquisition cost. For stays under 12 months, a furnished lease provides more flexibility and avoids the administrative overhead of sourcing furniture.

Year-on-Year Trend

Paris rents have risen approximately 3–5% per year over 2022–2025, outpacing both official inflation and the encadrement reference increases (which are linked to the IRL index, typically 1–2% per year). The gap is most pronounced in the most sought-after arrondissements, where demand from international arrivals and short-term let conversions continues to compress supply.

Suburbs have seen faster proportional growth as residents priced out of inner Paris have moved outward. The 93rd department (Seine-Saint-Denis), historically the cheapest area, has seen above-average increases driven partly by infrastructure investment ahead of the 2024 Olympics.

Upfront Costs to Budget For

Paris rental upfront costs are significant and often catch arrivals off guard.

Cost Item	Unfurnished	Furnished
Security deposit (caution)	1 month's rent	2 months' rent
Agency fees (honoraires)	Capped at ~13–15€/m² for tenant share	Same
First month's rent	Full rent amount	Full rent amount
Moving costs (average)	€400–1,200	€300–800
Furnishing / essentials	€1,500–4,000	€0–500

For a 1-bed unfurnished in the 11th at €1,400/month, total move-in costs typically run €4,000–6,000 before you've bought a single item for the flat.

Agency fees are split between landlord and tenant under the Alur law, with the tenant's share capped per square metre based on location. For most Paris flats, expect to pay €600–1,200 in agency fees as the tenant.

What Salary Do You Need?

Using the conventional 30% net income benchmark as a maximum (not a target):

Rent	Required Net Monthly	Approximate Gross (French tax)
€1,200 (studio, 11th–20th)	€4,000	€60,000–65,000
€1,400 (1-bed, 11th–12th)	€4,667	€72,000–78,000
€1,700 (1-bed, central)	€5,667	€90,000–100,000
€2,000 (2-bed, 11th–12th)	€6,667	€108,000–120,000

Paris median gross salary is approximately €35,000–38,000 per year, which translates to roughly €2,300–2,500 net per month. At that income level, a shared flat or studio in the outer arrondissements is the realistic entry point.

Use the SpendVerdict calculator to check your own salary against Paris rent figures.

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