According to a study, Nice would be the most expensive major city to live as a couple. The Azurian capital also appears among the most costly for students, according to Unef. These two observations raise questions about the daily cost of living on the Côte d’Azur.
Nice attracts with its Mediterranean setting. The city offers opportunities for walks, sunsets, and seaside strolls. But these moments of relaxation often collide with another aspect of the area: the cost of daily living. A study conducted by Voyance Tchat looked into the cost of a romantic day in the largest French cities. It includes a meal for two, a hotel night, a movie session, a bottle of wine, and a taxi ride. The results place Nice at the top of the ranking.
According to data from Voyance Tchat, a tête-à-tête dinner costs €80. A night at a 3-star hotel reaches €137. Two movie tickets average at €28. The bottle of wine costs €7. A 5 km taxi ride amounts to €10.40. The total forms €276.40. It is the highest amount in the ranking. The score for romantic expenses reaches 9.74 out of 10.
The study specifies that “Nice is the most expensive city for couples in 2025.” It also details that this total is “well above the average (around €209).” The cost of a romantic evening can thus be a deterrent. However, Nice also offers free activities. A walk on the Promenade des Anglais, a discovery of Vieux-Nice or a viewpoint over the Bay of Angels require no budget. These alternatives offer couples affordable moments.
Other cities follow Nice in the ranking. Annecy occupies the second place with a total of €263. Paris comes in third with €251.80. In these two cases, the data shows a similar trend: meals, lodging, and transportation weigh on the bill. The study, however, reminds that each city also offers strolling areas and free places, often used as complements to paid outings.
A costly city for students too
The question of the cost of living in Nice does not only concern couples. Students also feel this pressure. The National Union of Students of France (Unef) publishes a report annually on the cost of student living. According to this ranking, Nice is the most expensive provincial city for students. It ranks within the top 7 most costly cities in the country.
The student union points out that Paris tops with an estimated monthly cost of €1626.76. They speak of an “alarming observation of student precariousness that is becoming deeply rooted in the landscape of French higher education.” After the Paris region, Nice stands out for its level of expenses. In Nice, “a student spends an average of €1370.15 per month”, according to union data. This amount reflects a 5.15% increase in cost of living in one year.
The largest expense remains rent. The Unef data indicates that “rent prices in Nice are the highest in France” after those in Île-de-France. The average reaches €675 per month for a student. The union highlights that these rents have increased by 2.46% in the private sector in one year. CROUS accommodation also shows a rise. Transport and food follow the same trend, increasing the weight of the monthly budget.
Already in 2024, Nice was ranked high regarding student life. The trend is confirmed. These figures remind us that the city combines an attractive lifestyle with significant expenses. This dual observation concerns different audiences, be they young people in training or couples looking to enjoy a moment together.
The data from Voyance Tchat and those from Unef thus describe a similar reality: the cost of living in Nice remains high, whether it’s a romantic evening or a study month. The city’s appeal endures, but it comes with budgetary constraints for those who wish to enjoy it.
