Cost of Living: New York vs France (Paris)
How expensive is France compared with New York City? The national price level of everyday spending versus the New York metro area, and the salary — in US dollars and EUR — that buys the same standard of living.
Salary converter
Before taxes. Income tax, sales tax and benefits differ a lot between places and aren’t included.
The numbers
- Cities
- Paris
- Price level vs US average
- 82.8 (New York metro: 112.6)
- Exchange rate (2025 avg.)
- 1 USD = 0.885 EUR
- Purchasing-power parity
- 1 USD of US-average spending ≈ 0.733 EUR
- Source
- World Bank, PPP conversion factor for private consumption ÷ exchange rate (2025); New York: BEA 2024
⚠️ This is France’s national average. Major cities — especially Paris — are usually more expensive, mostly because of rent, so treat this as a lower bound for big-city living.
Frequently asked questions
Is France cheaper than New York?
Yes. France is 26% cheaper than the New York metro area overall (index 74, New York = 100).
What salary in France equals $100,000 in New York?
About $73,533 a year (about €65,075 at purchasing-power parity) buys the same standard of living in France as $100,000 in the New York metro area, before taxes.
Is Paris more expensive than France’s national average?
Usually, yes. The comparison here uses France’s national average price level; large cities such as Paris typically cost more than the national figure, especially for rent.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank price levels of household consumption for 2025 (purchasing power parity conversion factor divided by the market exchange rate), compared with BEA’s 2024 figure for the New York metro area.