by Manuel
Paris is without any doubt one of the most beautiful, culturally rich and party-intensive cities in Europe. It is also on nowhere near bon marché – French for “kind to your wallet”! It is incredibly expensive, believe me, I have had my taste of what it means to get by in the City of Love when I spent one year here studying… or rather enjoying myself whilst doing just enough courses at Uni so I would not lose my scholarship! So, I want to share my personal experience and help you get the best bang for your buck.
- Food and daily needs
Like in all big cities there are tons of supermarket chains to choose from, and there are some which offer decent products for affordable prices. The ones you will see most often are Franprix, Carrefour and Monoprix. All 3 are not particularly inexpensive, but they are the ones you will see most of the time.
Franprix
The chain with the most supermarkets in Paris, Franprix has at least one store in almost every neighborhood. Stores carry the brand “Leader Price,” one of the cheapest store brands available. Franprix offers decent produce, frozen selections and general grocery needs. Many locations are even open on Sundays and until 10 pm at night! This is by far the most popular supermarket choice. Prices are generally acceptable as long as you stick to Franprix’s own brand and labels and do not go overboard with meat products.
Carrefour
The Walmart of France, Carrefour offers a huge variety of brand name and generic goods. Smaller Carrefour markets within Paris and larger Carrefour superstores just outside of the city limits offer a huge variety of food, beverages but also basic technical equipment, office supply, computer and laptops and even sports gear. Prices as far as groceries are similar to those of Franprix and a little bit above.
Monoprix
Whenever anyone asks where to buy something, Monoprix is usually a good answer. Comparable to Target in the US, Monoprix also doubles as a great grocery store with inexpensive Monoprix brand products. Every arrondissement has at least one large Monoprix store in addition to smaller shops, called Daily Monop’, for a quick sandwich or can of beans. If you cannot shop at local stores Monoprix is the place to go.
Tipp: If you can, always choose local stores over the chains. Merchants and vendors are happy to help and sometimes even give you a reduction in exchange for a little chat, especially when it comes to buying a baquette you should always go to one of the many bakeries at the corner – bread is always fresh and warm and tastes wonderful.
- Leisure activities
There is so much to do in Paris. This abundance of possibilities can be overwhelming at times. Of course, you will have visited the Eiffel Tower, l’Arc de Triomphe, le Louvre, Sacré Coeur and most likely gone on a little trip down the Seine. All classics and totally legit. However, doing all these highly popular and typically touristy stuff can quickly burn a hole in your pocket. Here are some of the many things you can do either for little or no money at all, which will also show you a different side of Paris…
- Take a walk in one of Paris’s beautiful parks. Jardin du Luxembourg, Jardin du Trocadéro (not far from the Eiffel Tower), Jardin des Tuileries or Bois de Boulogne are only some of the many green spaces. Also see: https://www.parisinfo.com/visiter-a-paris/parcs-et-jardins/parcs-jardins-bois
- Visit the Père Lachaise Cemetery, where you will be vowed how many celebrities are buried there. It is also perfect for finding peace and quiet from the rush of the big city. https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71470/Cimetiere-du-Pere-Lachaise
- Visit the Louvre. Not really an inside tip, you might say, but before you judge, let me add the following. Students under 25 years of age can enter the Louvre for free 😉
- Go and have a coffee in one of the traditional Parisian cafés, just sit there, listen and observe. You can learn more about the city and its ways than any tourist guide could ever tell you.
- Ride the Metro (Paris’s subway) is not free of charge but a cultural spectacle of its own. Musicians, boardwalk artists, graffiti and the melting pot of all parts of society in a world of its own right under the city creating a whole other dynamic. Just dive in and find out for yourself.
Special Tip: There are guided tours provided by locals, where you learn about the non-touristy side of the city. It does not cost a lot and the experience is worth every penny. https://greeters.paris/en/
- Nightlife
What could be more important to a student’s life? Exactly! While there are uncountable possibilities to party, having a pint or dancing until dawn, there are some places that can very easily drain your savings before the evening has even really started. Being a student, one has to know how to party without blowing everything in one night. Easier said than done, you might think. Let me give you a hand here…
- First and most important: Alcohol is expensive no matter where you go. If you really want to save money go to Monoprix or Carrefour and get a multipack of Kronenbourg or 1664 – not the best beers in the world, but it does its job and you will have enough, so 1 or 2 drinks at the bar or club will suffice. You can thank me later!
- If you do not live in the center of Paris and have to get home after a long night out, check the schedule of the Noctilien – that’s what the night busses are called – in advance. Nothing worse than having to wait in the cold for over an hour. Been there, done that, not great.
- Check if there are discounts for foreign students especially if you are a girl – I know, sexism at its finest, but more often than not you can get in for free before a certain time of the night.
- Top 3 Places to party and enjoy music: MIX, Duplex and Supersonic
MIX …http://mixclub.fr/
… also called Mix Club is THE Erasmus student’s destination!
+ Legendary Parties, great DJs, always packed, special discount for foreign students
– Drinks are expensive, rather remote from any other club
Duplex … http://www.leduplex.com/
a club, bar and restaurant right behind the Arc de Triomphe le Duplex has everything a party location needs.
+ centrally located, great location, great for hip hop lovers, discounts available, table reservations possible
– expensive entrance fee and drinks
Supersonic … http://supersonic-club.fr/
… the remodeled OPA is now a night club for all kinds of live acts (mostly rock)!
+ free entrance (mostly), live acts, great variety of music, decent prices, centrally located right at the Bastille – there really are none as long as you enjoy rock music
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