How much do you need to earn to live here, after France takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once France's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Bordeaux is roughly €1,950/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think €2,302/month gross (€1,705 net after ~26% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €800 Cheapest neighborhood (Saint-Michel) | €950 Median neighborhood | €1,150 Premium neighborhood (Centre / Saint-Pierre) |
| Groceries | €310 | €372 | €465 |
| Transport | €47 | €47 | €47 |
| Utilities | €143 | €143 | €143 |
| Dining & Entertainment | €160 | €192 | €240 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | €1,460 | €1,704 | €2,045 |
€1,950/month gross
€2,302/month gross
€2,843/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 5 neighborhoods in Bordeaux.
Saint-Michel
10 min by walk
€800 - €1,000
Bastide
15 min by tram
€850 - €1,050
Caudéran
18 min by tram
€850 - €1,050
Centre / Saint-Pierre
5 min by walk
€1,050 - €1,250
Chartrons
12 min by tram
€1,000 - €1,200
Caudéran
18 min by tram
€850 - €1,050
All 5 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after France's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least €1,950/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Bordeaux. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for €2,302/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for France.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 5 neighborhoods in Bordeaux is approximately €1,010/month. Rents range from €800 in Saint-Michel to €1,250 in Centre / Saint-Pierre.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Bordeaux cost approximately €310. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in France are progressive. At the budget salary level of €1,950/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 25%. At the comfortable level of €2,302/month, it rises to approximately 26%. This includes income tax and social contributions.