Top Student Cities in France 2027
Compare and explore the best cities for international students in France: Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Nantes and Lille.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
2 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Paris gets the headlines, but France has a dozen excellent student cities, most of them far cheaper. Here are eight of the best for international students, compared on rent, cost level, vibe and what each is best for. Rents and scores are ScholarshipUnion estimates.
Quick comparison
| City | Rent / month | Cost level | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | €700–1,200 | Very High | Iconic & intense | Arts, fashion, business |
| Lyon | €450–700 | Medium | Foodie & friendly | Engineering, food science |
| Toulouse | €400–600 | Medium | Pink city, warm vibes | Aerospace, tech |
| Bordeaux | €450–650 | Medium | Elegant & vibrant | Wine studies, business |
| Strasbourg | €400–550 | Medium | Franco-German charm | EU politics, law |
| Montpellier | €380–550 | Low-Medium | Young & sunny | Medicine, budget sun |
| Nantes | €380–500 | Low-Medium | Creative & green | Design, quality of life |
| Lille | €350–500 | Low | Friendly & connected | Business, travel hub |
City profiles
Each city scored out of 5 for affordability, nightlife and how international-friendly it is.
City of Light and home to the largest cluster of universities and grandes écoles. Iconic & intense; best for arts, fashion, business. Rent €700–1,200 a month.
Gastronomic capital of France. Foodie & friendly; best for engineering, food science. Rent €450–700 a month.
Airbus headquarters. Pink city, warm vibes; best for aerospace, tech. Rent €400–600 a month.
Capital of a world-famous wine region. Elegant & vibrant; best for wine studies, business. Rent €450–650 a month.
Seat of the European Parliament. Franco-German charm; best for eu politics, law. Rent €400–550 a month.
One of France’s sunniest big cities. Young & sunny; best for medicine, budget sun. Rent €380–550 a month.
A mechanical elephant lives here. Creative & green; best for design, quality of life. Rent €380–500 a month.
A short train ride from Paris, Brussels and London. Friendly & connected; best for business, travel hub. Rent €350–500 a month.
Compare two cities
| Category | Paris | Lyon | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability | |||
| Nightlife | |||
| International | |||
| Rent / month |
Choosing your city
If budget matters most, Lille, Montpellier, Nantes and Toulouse give you the most room. If you need a particular industry, follow it: aerospace in Toulouse, EU politics and law in Strasbourg, engineering and food science in Lyon, arts, fashion and business in Paris. Then check what your monthly budget looks like on Cost of Living and how to find a room on Accommodation.