What is the monthly cost of living in Besancon?

The cost of living in Besancon varies by lifestyle. See the detailed price breakdown below covering housing, food, transport, and utilities.

Is Besancon expensive compared to other cities in France?

Each city has a different affordability index. Besancon's index is 5.0 (higher is better).

Cost of Living

Cost of Living in Besancon

Grand Besançon Métropole, France

Avg. Salary

1,875

€/mo

City Centre Rent

503

€/mo

Population

118,489

Affordability Index

5.0

Estimated Monthly Budget in Besancon

👤

Single Person

675

€/mo

✓ Covered by salary

👫

Couple

1,114

€/mo

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Family of 4

1,755

€/mo

Estimate includes: rent (1BR city centre) + weekly groceries (15 staples) × 4 + monthly transport pass + utilities (water/electricity) + internet + mobile plan + 4 restaurant meals/month. * Approximate, varies by lifestyle.

We present a detailed cost of living analysis for Besancon in 2026. The average net salary in Besancon is 1,875 €, while a one-bedroom city-centre apartment rents for 503 €/month — 27% of monthly income. Use the detailed table below to compare prices with other cities in France.

Figures shown are sourced from Numbeo and the latest local resident surveys, updated August 2026. Percentages (+X% or -X%) show the price difference vs. the France national average — green means below average, red means above.

Calculate Your Budget in Besancon

Enter your monthly salary to see expense breakdown

My monthly net salary

Rent

Food

Transport

Utilities

Eating out

Remaining for savings & leisure

* Estimate based on local average prices. Actual expenses vary by lifestyle.

Price Breakdown by Category

Food & Restaurants in Besancon

Restaurants

7 items

Bottled Water (12 oz)

-49%

–

Cappuccino (Regular Size)

-11%

–

Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal)

-11%

–

Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint)

-6%

–

Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant

-2%

–

Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks)

-8%

–

Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle)

-29%

–

Markets

19 items

Apples (1 lb)

-10%

–

Bananas (1 lb)

+4%

–

Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb)

-32%

–

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

+26%

–

Bottled Water (50 oz)

+35%

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

-26%

–

Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro)

-2%

–

Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle)

+30%

–

Eggs (12, Large Size)

+10%

–

Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf)

-45%

–

Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle)

+3%

–

Lettuce (1 Head)

-22%

–

Local Cheese (1 lb)

-8%

–

Milk (Regular, 1 Liter)

-6%

–

Onions (1 lb)

+4%

–

Oranges (1 lb)

-4%

–

Potatoes (1 lb)

+8%

–

Tomatoes (1 lb)

-29%

–

White Rice (1 lb)

–

Transportation in Besancon

Transportation

8 items

Gasoline (1 Liter)

–

Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price)

-13%

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)

+1%

–

Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff)

-11%

–

Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff)

+8%

–

Taxi Start (Standard Tariff)

-37%

–

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car)

+4%

–

Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car)

+3%

–

Utilities & Services in Besancon

Utilities (Monthly)

3 items

Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage)

-48%

–

Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher)

+6%

–

Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data)

-15%

–

Childcare

2 items

International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child

-41%

–

Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child

-62%

–

Food & Restaurants in Besancon

Restaurants

Bottled Water (12 oz) 1 €

Cappuccino (Regular Size) 3 €

Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 10 €

Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 6 €

Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant 15 €

Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 53 €

Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 2 €

Markets

Apples (1 lb) 1 €

Bananas (1 lb) 1 €

Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 6 €

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 9 €

Bottled Water (50 oz) 1 €

Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 4 €

Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 12 €

Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 3 €

Eggs (12, Large Size) 4 €

Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 1 €

Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 3 €

Lettuce (1 Head) 1 €

Local Cheese (1 lb) 8 €

Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 1 €

Onions (1 lb) 1 €

Oranges (1 lb) 1 €

Potatoes (1 lb) 1 €

Tomatoes (1 lb) 1 €

White Rice (1 lb) 1 €

Transportation in Besancon

Transportation

Gasoline (1 Liter) 2 €

Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 44 €

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 2 €

Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 27 €

Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 3 €

Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 3 €

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 31,325 €

Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 30,900 €

Utilities & Services in Besancon

Utilities (Monthly)

Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 100 €

Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 31 €

Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 13 €

Childcare

International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 6,500 €

Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 300 €

Below national average Above national average

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