✦ Cost of living
Marseille
Marseille, France
US = 100
In plain terms: Marseille is about 3% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $800/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing95−5%
- Food & groceries105+5%
- Transport76−24%
- Utilities110+10%
- Healthcare82−18%
- Goods & services105+5%
Is Marseille expensive?
Not really — Marseille indexes at 97 against a US average of 100, so a month here lands within a few percent of a typical US city. Expect the surprises in individual lines rather than in the total.
Of the 87 cities we track, Marseille ranks #51 by overall cost — 36 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Marseille costs
One person
$2,380/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$3,380/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$5,920/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $620 | $800 | $1,600 |
| Food & groceries | $480 | $700 | $1,180 |
| Transport | $460 | $670 | $1,120 |
| Utilities | $220 | $330 | $550 |
| Healthcare | $230 | $340 | $570 |
| Goods & services | $370 | $540 | $900 |
| Total per month | $2,380 | $3,380 | $5,920 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Marseille
France's oldest and second-largest city — a sunny, diverse Mediterranean port with a gritty edge, cheaper than Paris or Nice. Turquoise calanques on its doorstep and a fierce local identity make up for rougher infrastructure.
- Currency
- Euro (€ EUR)
- Languages
- French
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Internet
- 150 Mbps
- English
- Fairly common
- Safety
- 52/100
- Climate
- ❄ 9°C · ☀ 24°C · 300 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- E · 230V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Le Panier · Vieux-Port · Cours Julien · La Plaine
About
“Gateway to the Mediterranean”
France's oldest and second-largest city — a sunny, diverse Mediterranean port with a gritty edge, cheaper than Paris or Nice. Turquoise calanques on its doorstep and a fierce local identity make up for rougher infrastructure.
- Currency
- Euro · EUR
- Languages
- French
- Coordinates
- 43.30, 5.37
- Emergency
- 112
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
45%
Income tax
progressive
20%
VAT / sales
22%
Social (employee)
25%
Corporate
30%
Capital gains
$2,600
Avg net salary
per month
Plus high social charges.
Visas & residency
Talent Passport for skilled workers, founders and researchers.
✈ Schengen: 90/180 days visa-free for many passports.
Skilled workers, founders, investors.
Permanent residence after ~5 yrs. Citizenship after ~5 yrs.
Quality of life
Quality of life
70/100
Safety
52/100
Healthcare
84/100
Pollution
46/100
Internet
150 Mbps
Jan avg
+9 °C
Jul avg
+24 °C
Sunny days
300/yr
Walkability
78/100
Public transit
70/100
Family-friendly
66/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Moderate
- Expat community
- Medium
- Coworking spaces
- 20
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Marseille without a car?
75/100
Car-free score
78/100
Walkability
70/100
Public transport
Yes — Marseille scores 75/100 on our car-free score, so commuting, errands and nights out all work on foot or by public transport. Most residents here can skip car ownership entirely, and the savings go straight into the rest of the budget.
Transport in Marseille indexes at 76 against a US average of 100 — about 24% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Marseille ranks #46 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Marseille — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$800
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$620
- Inexpensive meal$15
- Monthly transit pass$45
- Utilities (monthly)$160
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Marseille, FR expensive to live in?
Marseille, FR's cost-of-living index is 97 (US average = 100) — about 3% cheaper than a typical US city — and it ranks #51 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $2,380 a month and a family of four around $5,920, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Marseille, FR?
Marseille, FR's cost-of-living index is 97 (US average = 100) — about 3% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $800 per month.
What are the average living costs in Marseille, FR?
Living costs in Marseille, FR are about 3% cheaper than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 97 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $800. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Marseille, FR?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $800 per month, and around $620 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in France?
France has a top income-tax rate of 45% and a VAT or sales tax of 20%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Marseille, FR?
Marseille, FR averages around +9 °C in January and +24 °C in July, with roughly 300 sunny days a year.
Is Marseille, FR safe?
Marseille, FR scores 52 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Marseille, FR without a car?
Marseille, FR scores 75/100 on our car-free score — 78/100 for walkability and 70/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
❖ Compare Marseille with…
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Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.