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Bordeaux, a city in France is one of the best places to study abroad. The French town offers beautiful surroundings, friendly people, and high standards of living. The City is also known as La Perle d’Aquitaine, or the Pearl of the Aquitaine, and is popular for its vineyard and cultural monuments. However, Bordeaux has a high cost of living compared to the rest of France. Before moving abroad it is important to estimate the cost of living in a city. Therefore, in this article, we have provided the Cost of Living in Bordeaux: accommodation expenses, travel expenses, and more.
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Why Study in Bordeaux?
Bordeaux is situated a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The city is blessed with an Atlantic climate of mild winters and warm summers. Although there are rainy days, the weather is perfect for relaxing according to the expats. There are plenty of reasons why you should study in Bordeaux. These are listed below:
- Study the beautiful French Countryside known for wine production and cultural monuments
- Bordeaux offers plenty of courses to international students. In fact, French language students can benefit the most as the city offers immersive opportunities to test their language skills.
- Students pursuing degrees in art, history, literature, and music can learn the subjects in French.
- Students can opt for courses such as the International Wine Ambassador Diploma, Fashion Design Intensive Program, Creative Writing in the Workplace, and DU European Business Administration, among others
- The city is home to some of the best universities in France. For example, the University of Bordeaux, and Montesquieu University.
Also Read: Cost of Living in France: Rent, Food, Expenses and More
Cost of Living in Bordeaux
Before moving abroad, a student should be aware of the expenses as it is going to play a major role. Generally, the cost of living in Bordeaux is higher than in other areas of France. Below is the estimated cost of living in Bordeaux that an international student can incur.
Cost of Accommodation
The cost of living in Bordeaux covers the accommodation expenses. The average accommodation expense for a family of 4 is INR 285,906.1 (3,202.0€). On the other hand, the expenses for a single person are INR 80,163.8 (897.8€) without rent. The city is 159.5% more than the Indian city, Bangalore.
| Particulars | Expenses |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft). Fully Furnished in an expensive place | €1,528 |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft). Fully Furnished in an average place | €1,080 |
| Utilities 1 month for 2 people (85m2sq flat) | €138 |
| Monthly rent for a furnished studio in an expensive area (480sqft) | €887 |
| Monthly rent for a furnished studio in an average area (480sqft) | €611 |
| Utilities 1 month for a single person (480sqft) | €86 |
| 40” flat screen TV | €367 |
| Internet 8 Mbps (1 month) | €22 |
| Microwave 800/900 watt | €93 |
| Cleaning help (hourly rate) | €15 |
Cost of Transportation
The cost of transportation comes under the cost of living in Bordeaux. A student generally has to pay for transportation passes. In Bordeaux, the transportation expenses in terms of public transport are more affordable than travelling by car as the price of a decent car is approximately €25,598/INR 22.85 lakh.
| Particulars | Expenses |
| Car (Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv) | €25,598 |
| Monthly ticket public transport | €45 |
| 1 litre (1/4 gallon) of gas | €1.77 |
| Taxi trip on a business day | €22 |
Food Expenses
The cost of living in Bordeaux includes food expenses as well. Bordeaux is known for its vineyard. The best of the Bordeaux wines can be the most expensive in the world. However, there are excellent wines available at affordable prices. The prices of essential groceries in Bordeaux are listed below:
| Particulars | Expenses |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant | €9 |
| 1 litre (1 qt.) of whole-fat milk | €1.00 |
| 12 eggs, large | €2.89 |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | €7 |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | €2.12 |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | €6 |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | €1.74 |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | €2.15 |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer | €2.98 |
| Good quality red table wine, 1 bottle | €11 |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | €1.40 |
| Coca-cola (2 liters) | €2.01 |
Also Read: Cost of Living in London for Students
Personal Care Expenses
The personal care expenses of a student can include medical expenses and other essentials. The health expenses are relatively less on the side. It is less expensive than cities like Paris. To calculate the total cost of living in Bordeaux, the personal care expenses need to be added. The exact personal care expenses are listed below.
| Particulars | Expenses |
| Cold medicine for 6 days | €6 |
| 1 box of antibiotics | €6 |
| Private doctor visit (15 min) | €25 |
| 1 box of 32 tampons | €4.71 |
| Hair shampoo 2 | €3.63 |
| toilet paper | €1.89 |
| Tube of toothpaste | €1.88 |
| Standard men’s haircut | €18 |
Cost of Entertainment
The cost of living in Bordeaux consists of entertainment expenses as well. Bordeaux is a city known for sports and leisure activities. For example, golf is a popular sport in the area. For a more relaxed experience, students can check out the movie theatres, beautiful parks, and more. A basic dinner in a pub is less expensive than dinner at an Italian restaurant. The average entertainment expenses in the city are listed below:
| Particulars | Expenses |
| A basic dinner out for two in a neighborhood pub | €40 |
| 2 tickets to the movies | €20 |
| Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant (ex-pat area) | €59 |
| 1 cocktail drink in the downtown club | €10 |
| 1 beer in a neighborhood pub | €5.92 |
| Cappuccino in ex-pat area | €3.50 |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | €407 |
| 1 month of gym membership | €52 |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff | €0.08 |
| 1 package of Marlboro cigarettes | €10 |
Average Tuition Fees in Bordeaux
It is important to calculate the tuition fees while calculating the cost of living in Bordeaux. The tuition fees in Bordeaux for international students vary compared to the local students. Below we have listed the estimated tuition fees for studying in Bordeaux.
| Annual Tuition Fees for International Students | |
| Bachelor’s | Master’s |
| 2770€ | 3770€ |
| Annual Tuition Fees for International Students (Low or Middle-Income countries) | |
| Bachelor’s | Master’s |
| 170€ | 243€ |
Also Read: Study in France for Indian Students 2023
Things To Consider While Moving To Bordeaux
As an international student moving to Bordeaux, the cost of living in Bordeaux needs to be estimated, However, other than this, several things need to be considered along with the expenses. Here we have provided a few tips that will help a student who is planning to move to Bordeaux.
- Ge to know the living conditions in Bordeaux. It includes weather conditions, whether it is a suitable retirement destination, and more.
- Calculate the housing budget and secure a home before moving to Bordeaux
- Estimate the average cost of living as an international student
- Learn about the industries where you can be employed
- Familiarise yourself with the public transport system and learn about the culture
- Learn about the France visa, and apply for one.
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FAQs
Yes. It can be expensive to live in Bordeaux. A family of four can incur a monthly cost of 3,202.0€/INR 2.86 lakh. On the other hand, a single person can incur 897.8€/INR 80,245.36. That is without rent. However, the city is 33.5% less expensive than New York.
Yes. Bordeaux is cheaper than Paris. The cost of living in Bordeaux is 26% less than Paris.
Bordeaux comes under the list of the world’s 35% more expensive cities in the world. The city ranks 52nd out of 151 expensive cities in France, and 3255th out of 9294 cities in the global list. However, the city is still cheaper than Paris.
The Cost of Living in Bordeaux can be a bit expensive. However, there are ways to save money and live comfortably in the city. The transportation, accommodation, and food costs can be affordable with some research. The best part about living in Bordeaux is the high quality of life that the city offers. That is, the city has excellent education, healthcare, and entertainment options. To discover more articles like this one consult the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu.
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