What is the monthly cost of living in Pau?

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

Is Pau expensive compared to other cities in France?

Each city has a different affordability index. Pau's index is 6.0 (higher is better).

Cost of Living

Cost of Living in Pau

arrondissement of Pau, France

Avg. Salary

2,733

€/mo

City Centre Rent

650

€/mo

Population

80,441

Affordability Index

6.0

Estimated Monthly Budget in Pau

👤

Single Person

1,165

€/mo

✓ Covered by salary

👫

Couple

1,922

€/mo

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Family of 4

3,029

€/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 Pau in 2026. The average net salary in Pau is 2,733 €, while a one-bedroom city-centre apartment rents for 650 €/month — 24% 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 Pau

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 Pau

Restaurants

7 items

Bottled Water (0.33 Liter)

+13%

–

Cappuccino (Regular Size)

-11%

–

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

-11%

–

Domestic Draft Beer (0.5 Liter)

-20%

–

Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant

-2%

–

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

-25%

–

Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 0.33 Liter Bottle)

-25%

–

Markets

19 items

Apples (1 kg)

+11%

–

Bananas (1 kg)

-4%

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

+18%

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

+12%

–

Bottled Water (1.5 Liter)

—

Chicken Fillets (1 kg)

-5%

–

Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro)

-10%

–

Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter Bottle)

+67%

Eggs (12, Large Size)

+10%

–

Fresh White Bread (500 g Loaf)

+6%

–

Imported Beer (0.33 Liter Bottle)

+66%

Lettuce (1 Head)

-22%

–

Local Cheese (1 kg)

+4%

Milk (Regular, 1 Liter)

-6%

–

Onions (1 kg)

-4%

Oranges (1 kg)

-25%

Potatoes (1 kg)

-1%

Tomatoes (1 kg)

+1%

White Rice (1 kg)

-56%

–

Transportation in Pau

Transportation

8 items

Gasoline (1 Liter)

–

Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price)

-54%

–

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)

-49%

–

Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff)

—

Taxi 1 km (Standard Tariff)

+74%

Taxi Start (Standard Tariff)

—

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

+6%

–

Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car)

+3%

–

Utilities & Services in Pau

Utilities (Monthly)

3 items

Basic Utilities for 85 m2Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage)

-58%

–

Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher)

+2%

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

+84%

–

Childcare

2 items

International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child

-64%

–

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

-52%

–

Food & Restaurants in Pau

Restaurants

Bottled Water (0.33 Liter) 2 €

Cappuccino (Regular Size) 3 €

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

Domestic Draft Beer (0.5 Liter) 5 €

Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant 15 €

Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 43 €

Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 0.33 Liter Bottle) 2 €

Markets

Apples (1 kg) 3 €

Bananas (1 kg) 2 €

Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 kg) 22 €

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 8 €

Bottled Water (1.5 Liter) —

Chicken Fillets (1 kg) 11 €

Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 11 €

Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter Bottle) 4 €

Eggs (12, Large Size) 4 €

Fresh White Bread (500 g Loaf) 2 €

Imported Beer (0.33 Liter Bottle) 5 €

Lettuce (1 Head) 1 €

Local Cheese (1 kg) 18 €

Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 1 €

Onions (1 kg) 2 €

Oranges (1 kg) 2 €

Potatoes (1 kg) 2 €

Tomatoes (1 kg) 3 €

White Rice (1 kg) 1 €

Transportation in Pau

Transportation

Gasoline (1 Liter) 2 €

Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 23 €

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 1 €

Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) —

Taxi 1 km (Standard Tariff) 3 €

Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) —

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 32,133 €

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

Utilities & Services in Pau

Utilities (Monthly)

Basic Utilities for 85 m2Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 78 €

Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 30 €

Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 28 €

Childcare

International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 3,950 €

Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 382 €

Below national average Above national average

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