Live and work in Paris
Paris… ‘the city of love’. France’s most beautiful city of lights is among the best visited cities in the world. France ‘s capital has a magical appeal for international and French visitors. The city has over 2 million inhabitants and more than 11 million with the suburbs added. Looking at contemporary world cities, Paris is among the ‘Alpha world cities’, just like London, Tokyo and New York.
The positive thing about such a big city is that there is a lot to do in a variety of areas. There is always something to do in Paris and this is what makes living and working in Paris so super attractive. For instance, Paris has a lot to offer in terms of art and culture. For centuries, important works of art have been found in Paris. Today, these works of art can be admired in a number of museums such as the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay. And who doesn’t know the Eiffel Tower? One of the most beautiful and iconic structures in the world. Can you already see yourself lying under the Eiffel Tower with a glass of wine and a baguette 😉
Paris is a city made up of several villages and towns, as it were, that eventually merge into one. This ensures that Paris can be overwhelming on the one hand and incredibly surprising and charming on the other. In short, living and working in Paris has countless advantages. Read on quickly to find out more about life in Paris.
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Working in Paris
Working conditions in Paris
A standard working week in France is 35 hours. There are 11 national holidays in the country and workers in France have a relatively high number of holidays. The French therefore take long holidays in summer and often take an extra day off after a public holiday.
French people attach great importance to food, so they take their time for that. A full 3-course meal is often consumed. So starter, main course and dessert. Work-related matters are often discussed at lunch. In fact, a 3-hour lunch can save a 2-hour meeting. France has a real meeting culture. In short, working in France is a very fun and unique experience.
Salaries in Paris
The set minimum wage in France (also called Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance ) in 2022 is €1,678.95 gross per month.
The average gross income of a worker in Paris is €3,900 per month. This is a lot higher than in most other cities in France.
The work culture in Paris
When you start working abroad, you will naturally have to deal with a different work culture. In this section, we’ll tell you a bit more about the work culture in Paris, so you won’t have any unexpected surprises.
First of all, it is good to know that rules and hierarchy are very important in Paris. Always address your manager as you (vous) and keep in mind that it is not always appreciated if you show too much initiative in the workplace.
Also remind yourself regularly that French people do not communicate as directly. Smalltalk is important, French people never get straight to the point. Always try to build a rapport with your colleague/business partner first, before discussing work-related matters.
Moreover, don’t be surprised if your colleague joins a meeting half an hour late. After all, punctuality is not that important in France.
Networking in Paris
If you are new to Paris, it can be great to quickly get to know locals and other expats. Through networking sites and Facebook groups, you can easily and quickly get in touch with other expats in France and Paris. For example, check out Eventbrite, AllEvents and Internations for a list of networking events in Paris.
There are also several Facebook groups you can join, including Expats in France and Expat Life in France.
Vacancies in France
Still looking for your dream job in Paris or another beautiful French city? Then keep a close eye on our vacancies page, as we regularly post new vacancies abroad here.
Living in Paris
Advantages of living and working in Paris
The city is also known as ‘the city of love’. The city’s rich history and many attractions are important reasons why expats from all over the world choose to live and work in Paris. Moreover, the city is very easy to reach, especially by train the Thalys. You can actually be in Paris with half a day. In addition, public transport in Paris is excellent.
You can actually find everything you need in Paris as well. There are countless restaurants. Typical, traditional French restaurants, but also exotic cuisines like Mongolia, Cameroon and Madagascar can be found everywhere here. The same goes for services and products. You almost can’t think of it or it can be found in Paris.
Paris is a magical and romantic city with artists, businessmen, professionals and fashion gods combining to create a vibrant city.
Living in Paris – Accommodation
Unfortunately, living in Paris is not cheap and finding an affordable flat is fairly difficult. A 1-bedroom flat in the middle of the city quickly costs around €1283 a month. For the same flat on the outskirts of Paris, you will pay around €947 per month.
Paris neighbourhoods are divided into arrondissements. But what is an arrondissement? This is part of the territory of the state. Each arrondissement is a jurisdiction of colleges and officials. It originates from French and literally means ‘rounding off’.
Nice neighbourhoods in Paris
Are you going to live and work in Paris soon? But don’t know yet which neighbourhood you want to live in? Check out an overview of the nicest neighbourhoods in Paris below:
Latin Quarter
In the fifth arrondissement you will find the Quartier Latin. Quartier Latin is also known as the student district of Paris, but it also attracts many artists and basically anyone who likes a good time. Another plus of this district is that rents are a lot more reasonable.
Le Marais
Le Marais can safely be called one of the most atmospheric districts of Paris. This historic district is located in the third and fourth arrondissement on the north side of the Seine.
Saint Germain des Prés
Saint Germain is the perfect district if you are looking for cosy pavement cafés. There are an awful lot of them here. This district is located in the sixth and seventh arrondissements on the left bank of the Seine.
La Villette
La Villette is a district outside the centre of Paris. Also called a green district. This used to be a neighbourhood with a bad reputation but has greatly improved in recent years. The centrepiece of this district is the Bassin de la Villette.
Montmartre
You probably know the Montmartre district from the world-famous Sacre Coeur. The white basilica that is located on a hill and offers stunning views over the city. But the rest of this district is also well worth a visit. A completely different part of Paris! It almost resembles a village.
Transport in Paris
How does the metro work in Paris?
Public transport, as we said, is fine in Paris. The best way to see as much of Paris as possible is to use public transport. Public transport is incredibly fast, easy and certainly not too expensive.
Metro and RER
From Sunday to Thursday, the metro in Paris runs from about 05:30 to 00:40. On Fridays and Saturdays, the metro runs a little longer, usually until 1:40am.
Multiple visits
If you are staying in Paris for more than one day and plan to travel a lot by public transport, it is convenient and inexpensive to buy a Paris Visite Pass. With this card, you can travel for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days with unlimited public transport in Paris.
Paris metro fares
A single ticket costs €1.90. If you want to save money, you can buy 10 single tickets at once. This costs €14.50 and is often cheaper than a card that allows unlimited travel.
One day of unlimited travel within Paris costs €13.20 with the Paris Visite Pass. So for nine metro journeys or more in a day, travelling with the Paris Visite Pass is cheaper than with the 10 individual tickets in one (Valid in zones 1 to 3).
How do the buses work in Paris?
Would you like to see more of Paris while travelling around the city? Then you can choose to use the buses in Paris. There are around 59 different bus routes in Paris. Buses that run in the city itself can be recognised by their two-digit number. Buses running between the suburbs and the city have a three-digit number.
Besides the regular bus, you can also travel on the Montmartrobus. This bus takes you past all the main points in the Montmartre district. The bus tickets are exactly the same as on the regular bus.
Then there are also night buses (Noctiliens). These buses run between 0:30 and 5:30. For the night buses, you can use the same tickets as in the regular bus and metro. The Paris Visite Pass is also valid on these night buses. Just check which zones you can travel in with your pass.
Eating in Paris
In total, over 44,000 restaurants can be found in Paris. Ranging from 3-star restaurants to many bistros and cafés where you can order a simple snack. Virtually every cuisine in the world is represented in Paris. There are plenty of catering establishments with a cosy terrace in Paris. In Paris, ordering a drink on a terrace is often more expensive than ordering one inside at the bar. And if you want to eat, the differences are even greater. From a cheap (and usually pretty good) menu to expensive, very expensive.
We’d like to give some tips for affordable authentic bistros in Paris:
La Régalade Saint-Honoré (Louvre/Les Halles)
The second address of a Parisian well-known chef, Bruno Doucet, which he opened a few years ago in the hip little neighbourhood between Centre Pompidou and Rue de Rivoli. This bistro kitchen offers homemade pâtés and elegant main dishes such as confit leg of lamb and fish fried on the skin with vegetable puree. Yummy!
Le Miroir (Abbesses/Montmartre)
At chef Sébastien Guénard, who previously worked in an Alain Ducasse restaurant, you’ll eat delicious high-quality local produce. Such as soups with forgotten vegetables, roast duck with honey sauce or chicken with morels. Incredibly creatively prepared. Only downside: the wines by the glass here are on the pricey side,
Bistrotters (Montparnasse)
Bistrotters is an unknown gem in a nondescript street in Paris’ 14th arrondissement. At this old bistro with a young team in the kitchen, you will enjoy delicious and surprising dishes (such as fried chicken livers with roasted fennel and cheesecake of Saint-Nectaire from Auvergne!).
Ma Biche
A restaurant with a French classic vibe. This bistro is located in the trendy part of Montmartre. The small living room restaurant is full of flea-market furniture and the table features beautiful brocante crockery (no plate is the same!). You’ll find mostly side dishes like green lentils simmered for hours in red wine and goose fat (mmm 😋) or artisan sausages with organic mashed potatoes. There is also always a good vegetarian dish of the day.
Going out in Paris
If you are going to live and work in Paris, we can definitely recommend exploring the nightlife. Going out in Paris is hip, although it is also very much see and be seen. Cafés are usually open until 02:00 and clubs until around 05:00. Clubs don’t get crowded until after midnight.
The districts below are good places to go out:
Bastille
Nightlife in Bastille is vibrant but also incredibly busy. The clubs and pubs are mainly frequented by young people and tourists. The clubs charge hefty entrance fees. At Barrio Latino (46-48 rue du Faubourg-St. Antoine), you can indulge in salsa music and at weekends there is more dance music. Opposite is Sanz Sans, a stylish bar/restaurant/club.
Oberkampf
A little further north is the Oberkampf district. Not as hip as it once was, but it has a very relaxed atmosphere. There are plenty of quirky nightlife spots and every now and then you can enjoy live music.
Le Marais
Le Marais is the heart of Paris’ gay scene, but is also crowded with straight thirty-somethings. This results in a neighbourhood full of trendy wine bars, good restaurants and many terraces.
Latin Quarter
The lively Latin Quarter is packed with nightlife spots. The crowd consists of students, tourists and 30+ locals. Not the hippest place to go out, but it is always fun.
Champs Elysées and Faubourg St Honoré
Feel like going out in style in Paris? Then go to the clubs around the Champs-Élysées, like club Queen. Lounge at Buddha Bar or Hôtel Costes. Don’t forget to put on your best outfit.
Montmartre
The raw edge of Parisian nightlife can be found in Montmartre. For a full evening’s entertainment, visit the famous and renowned club the Moulin Rouge.
Cost of living in Paris
As we mentioned earlier, Paris is not exactly cheap. For instance, shopping in Paris is about 18% more expensive than in Amsterdam.
For a three-course dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant, you pay an average of €60 in Paris. A 0.33-litre bottle of beer in a restaurant costs on average €6 and for a cappuccino you pay around €3.65.
Furthermore, 1 kg of cheese in Paris costs around €16.23 and for 1 kg of chicken breast you pay around €12. In addition, a cinema ticket costs €13 and for a gym subscription you pay an average of €35 per month in Paris.
The landscape and nature of Paris
As soon as you think of Paris, you naturally think of the Eiffel Tower, the mighty Champs-Élysées and the cute little tables on the pavement. But Paris is also the place to be for nature lovers. Hiking, cycling and boating through nature.
Below, we have listed five special nature experiences in Paris:
Strolling in Jardin des Tuileries
This extraordinary garden gets its name from the tile factories that originally stood here.
Stroll along the pretty avenues and admire the beautiful flowerbeds and lawns. Settle down by one of the two large ponds. Grab a free chair and sit wherever you like. You’ll also find cosy cafés everywhere.
Boating in Bois de Boulogne
On the banks of the Seine, in the middle of the 16th arrondissement, lies Bois de Boulogne. This is a large, 19th-century park with oak trees, beeches, chestnuts and some nice little lakes. Here it is possible to hire a boat for a rowing trip. Be sure to linger on the little islands you can row to, as there are several performances during the summer and weekends.
Bike tour of Paris’ hidden gardens
Start south at Place Stalingrad with the Canal Saint-Martin on your right. When the canal goes underground, continue along Boulevard Richard Lenoir until you reach Bastille. Cross the square here and continue on Avenue Daumesnil where you can climb the aqueducts and take an intermediate walk through the Viaduc des Arts garden.
Culture in Paris
Fashion, architecture, delicious food and good wine: some of the things French culture is known for. It is a varied and rich culture with influences from all over the world.
French people are very polite. For example, when you meet someone for the first time, it is customary to say sir and ma’am first. You may only call the person by his/her first name when indicated. In addition, the French are also fond of giving and receiving compliments. In this way, French people show their friendliness and respect.
The French language is also an important part of French culture. It is an official language in 29 countries around the world and over 220 million people can understand and speak it. The French are also incredibly proud of their language and they will really appreciate it if you learn to master it.
What not to miss in Paris
Eiffel Tower
How could it be otherwise. The number one attraction is of course the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris. Enjoy an amazing and unique view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower. An exhibition on the first floor provides more information about the Eiffel Tower. At night, between 21:00 and 24:00, an illuminated Eiffel Tower can be seen every hour. This amazing light show lasts a few minutes.
Louvre
The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world and has been crowded for years. Every year, the Louvre attracts more than 8 million visitors. Some of history’s most famous works of art are on display at the Louvre. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is just about the most famous showpiece in the Louvre.
Disneyland Paris
Who doesn’t know Disneyland! Mickey, Goofy and Donald Duck. A few kilometres outside the city of Paris is Europe’s busiest amusement park: Disneyland Paris. The park opened in 1992 under the name Euro Disney. Since 2002, after the opening of Walt Disney Studios, the theme park has consisted of two parts. Disneyland Paris consists of five different themed areas: Main Street USA, Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland. The park’s most famous rollercoaster is, of course, Space Mountain.
The highlight of a visit to Disneyland Paris is the parade held every day on Main Street USA.
Seine
The Seine represents romance in Paris. You can take several boat trips, passing the many historic buildings that line the Seine, such as La Statue de la Liberté, La Place de La Concorde and L’Assemblée Nationale. There are also boat tours where you can have a romantic dinner with live music. From the water, Paris’ many bridges are even more beautiful to behold. L’amour!
Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
This white-coloured basilica stands atop Montmartre hill. On the green forecourt with huge steps, people often sit and enjoy the beautiful view. The inside of the basilica is also surprisingly beautiful.
Tour Montparnasse
You would think that the view from the Eiffel Tower is the most beautiful view of all. However, if you want a panoramic view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower, Tour Montparnasse in the Montparnasse district of the same name is the best choice. From the roof of this 212-metre-high skyscraper, you have an impressive view of the entire city. The good news is that visiting Tour Montparnasse takes less time than visiting the Eiffel Tower. Just make sure you order your entrance tickets in advance.
Montmartre
For tourists, the Montmartre district is perhaps the most ‘Parisian’ area of Paris. Place du Tertre, where painters sit on terraces and represent the typical Parisian atmosphere of the district, is a real crowd-puller. Montmartre is a neighbourhood you either love or you don’t. Meanwhile, it has become incredibly touristy. We would say just go there, and judge for yourself. Montmartre is also home to the Sacré-Coeur, which is among the city’s most beautiful buildings.
Health care in Paris
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), France has the best healthcare in the world. Besides providing many quality services, French healthcare is also very accessible.
As a resident of France, you are automatically entitled to public healthcare in France. It is possible to get health insurance through your employer, but should you be unemployed and thus unable to pay social security contributions, you are eligible for free government health insurance. Do you have a job and enough money for health insurance? Then 5.5% of your monthly salary goes to the health insurance fund in France.
It is also possible to take out private health insurance in France. Especially for people who often need treatments that are not covered by the basic health insurance, private health insurance can be a good addition. Private health insurance in France is usually a lot cheaper than in the Netherlands or Germany.
Visa and travel insurance Paris
As France is a member of the European Union, you do not need a visa or work permit as an EU citizen. If you are going to work in Paris for more than 3 months, you can apply for a Carte de Séjour, but this is not compulsory.
Safety in Paris
There are currently no particular security risks for travelling to Paris. However, always watch your belongings carefully. Especially in crowded, touristy places in Paris where there can be a lot of pickpockets and purse thieves.
What do you need to arrange in Paris?
Besides arranging accommodation and your health insurance, it is also useful to learn a little French. After all, Parisians will really appreciate it if you adapt and your life in Paris just becomes a lot easier if you master the language a little. After all, the French are proud of their language. Nowadays, you can easily take an (online) French course or create an account on Duolingo.
Open a bank account in Paris
Then it can also be useful to open a French bank account, so that your new employer in Paris can easily transfer your salary. Moreover, this way you avoid paying unnecessary foreign transaction fees. To open a bank account, you will need the following documents:
- A valid identity document – please note that an ID card is not sufficient
- Proof of your residential address in Paris
- You will often also be asked for your last pay slip
