The cost of student living is rising again and is 35% higher than its 2017 level.

The cost of student living has increased by 1,66% in one year and by more than 35% since 2017, according to the annual survey published Monday, August 17, by the National Union of Students of France (UNEF). UNEF estimates that the average monthly out-of-pocket expenses now reach €1,300 after deducting any financial aid, which is €74 more than projected for 2025. These estimates come from the student union and should therefore be considered its assessment of the situation.

Housing remains the largest expense. In the private sector, the average monthly rent is estimated at €627,11, a 2,87% increase year-on-year. It reaches €426,36 in CROUS residences, representing a 1,04% increase. Transportation costs average €278,59 per year for a non-scholarship student, while food prices have risen by 0,87%.

Foreign and overseas students are particularly affected.

Since 2017, university registration fees have reportedly increased by 37%, largely due to the Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC). Created in 2018 with a starting price of €90, the CVEC is set to rise to €105 for the upcoming academic year. According to the UNEF student union, this accumulation of expenses is leading more students to work alongside their studies, cut back on essential spending, or, in the most dire situations, drop out altogether.

The student union asserts that international students from countries outside the European Union face twice the cost, primarily due to differentiated tuition fees and the elimination of certain housing allowances. Students from France's overseas territories reportedly pay between €314 and €408 more per year than those from mainland France. The UNEF (National Union of Students of France) also denounces the broader underfunding of universities and CROUS (Regional Centers for Student Services), as well as the insufficient number of student accommodations.