Essentials
- City
- Paris, Île-de-France, France
- Population
- 2.1 million (City proper), 13 million (Metro area)
- Internet Speed
- Fiber widespread; 400-800 Mbps common; Free Wi-Fi in 260+ parks and public libraries
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: BNP Paribas, Société Générale
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (Eau de Paris); over 1,200 public fountains including sparkling water ones
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
- SIM Card
- Free Mobile (5G plan for €19.99/mo with 250GB), Orange, SFR, Bouygues
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and N26 are widely used; BNP Paribas for traditional high-street banking
- Accommodation
- Paris Attitude (furnished), Seloger (long-term), Blueground, Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless payments (CB/Apple Pay) accepted everywhere from boutiques to bakeries
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (capped at 120 days/year), Sonder, Highstay
- Budget Accommodation
- The People Paris Marais (from €45/night), Generator Paris (from €35/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Marais (3rd/4th Arr.) for history; Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th Arr.) for luxury
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Canal Saint-Martin (10th Arr.) or Charonne (11th Arr.) for community and cafe culture
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Station F (13th Arr. - €200/mo), WeWork (Lafayette), Morning Coworking (various locations - day pass €30)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Hubsy (Châtelet/Arts et Métiers - €6/hour including snacks/coffee), Dose (Mouffetard)
- Networking Events
- Station F events, Meetup.com 'Silicon Sentier', French Tech Central
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Paris, Expats in Paris Facebook Group, 'Môm' on Fridays for mixers
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Bolt, G7 (The official taxi app - highly reliable)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Vélib' Métropole (€3.10 for 45 mins), Lime, Dott
- Best Beach Nearby
- Deauville (Inner-city train from Saint-Lazare, 2 hours away)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air France (Hop!), Transavia
- Top International Airline
- Air France, Delta, Emirates (CDG Airport)
- Highway Access
- A1 (North/Lille), A6 (South/Lyon), Périphérique ring road
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare du Nord (Eurostar/Thalys), Gare de Lyon (TGV South)
- Public Transport Passes
- Navigo Semaine (€30.75/week for all zones), Navigo Liberté+
- Regional Travel
- SNCF TER/TGV to Bordeaux (2h), Lyon (2h), or London (2h15)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hôpital Américain de Paris (Neuilly - English speaking), Pitié-Salpêtrière
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Village (Opera), Modo Yoga (11th Arr. - €25/class)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Neoness (€30/mo), Basic-Fit (multiple), L'Usine (High-end - €180/mo)
- Laundry Services
- Laverie Libre Service (Every second block), Groom Box (Pickup service)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, Deliveroo, Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Steak Frites at Le Relais de l'Entrecôte (€29), Duck Confit
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Wild & The Moon, Le Potager de Charlotte (9th/10th Arr.)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Cédric Grolet Opéra, Pierre Hermé, Angelina (Hot Chocolate)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lidl, Franprix, Marché d'Aligre (12th Arr.)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, Veepee
- Grocery Delivery
- Monoprix online, Cajoo/Flink (10-15 min delivery)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rue de Lappe (11th Arr.), Oberkampf, Pigalle (9th Arr.)
- Local Brewery
- BapBap (11. Rue Sahut-Louvier), Paname Brewing Company
- Wine Bars
- Septime La Cave, Frenchie Bar à Vins, Le Barav
- Street Food Stalls
- Marché des Enfants Rouges (Couscous/Galettes), Rue des Rosiers (L'As du Fallafel)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Big Mamma Group (Italian), Kunitoraya (Japanese/Udon)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Museums & Art Venues
- Musée d'Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection
- Historical Sites
- Arc de Triomphe, Panthéon, Catacombs of Paris
- Religious Sites
- Sacre-Coeur Basilica, Sainte-Chapelle
- Annual Events
- Fête de la Musique (June 21), Bastille Day (July 14), Paris Fashion Week
- Cultural Districts
- Montmartre (Artisan/Bohemian), Saint-Germain (Literary)
- Theater Venues
- Opéra Garnier, Comédie-Française, Théâtre du Châtelet
- Local Markets
- Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen (Antiques), Marché Bastille
- Music Scene
- La Cigale, Le Bataclan, Caveau de la Huchette (Jazz)
- Street Art
- Boulevard Vincent Auriol (13th Arr.), Rue Denoyez (Belleville)
- Cooking Classes
- Le Cordon Bleu, Alain Ducasse Education (Rue du Ranelagh)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Perrotin, Thaddaeus Ropac (Marais)
- Historic Buildings
- Hôtel de Ville, Palais Royal
- Local Heritage
- Café culture (UNESCO recognition of the 'Bistro heritage')
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Fontainebleau Forest (40 mins by train), Bois de Boulogne
- National Parks Nearby
- Vexin Français Regional Nature Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Coulée verte René-Dumont (Elevated park path), Canal de l'Ourcq
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Rooftop of Galeries Lafayette
- Birdwatching Locations
- Parc Montsouris, Jardin des Plantes
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly prohibited in city limits; designated BBQ areas at Base de Loisirs in suburbs
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- La Poste, Relais Colis (Pickup points in shops), DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Store (Opera/Beaugrenelle), WeFix (mostly in malls)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Place de la République, Parc de Choisy
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française, Mairie de Paris (low-cost evening classes: cours d'adultes)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève (Student favorite), BNF François Mitterrand
- Community Centers
- Centquatre-Paris (19th Arr. - large cultural space)
- Gaming Lounges
- Milk (62 Rue d'Aboukir), Meltdown (e-sports bar)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Club Berri, Club Circus Paris (Gambling is restricted to private clubs)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €11,500/m²; 20m² ≈ €230,000
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €7,500/m²; 20m² ≈ €150,000 (e.g., Montreuil or Ivry)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €12,800/m²; 45m² ≈ €576,000
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €6,800/m²; 45m² ≈ €306,000
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €13,500/m²; 70m² ≈ €945,000
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €6,200/m²; 70m² ≈ €434,000
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Flat tax / Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique)
- Tax System
- Resident-based; worldwide income for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% plus a high-income surcharge up to 4%
- VAT
- 20% (Standard), 5.5% (Food/Books)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to companies holding 50%+ of foreign entities in low-tax jurisdictions
- Property Tax
- Yes (Taxe Foncière), varies by arrondissement
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 7-8% (Notary fees and transfer taxes)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Expat regime (Article 155 B) offers exemptions for 8 years for recruited employees; Freelancers (Micro-entrepreneur) have simplified social charges.