These French apartments are way more affordable than you'd think.
Compared with New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, real estate in Paris is a bargain. Admittedly, apartment sizes are generally smaller in Paris than in the U.S., but if you’re looking for a petit one-bedroom in the City of Light, it might cost you less than buying in your own city. This is even more possible if you’re willing to forego traditionally popular areas, like Saint-Germain and the Marais and concentrate your search on this list of the most affordable places in Paris to buy a pied-à-terre.
In mid-2024, the average rate per square meter (10.76 square feet) in Paris was 9,770 euros*. If you consider 40 square meters (about 430 square feet) to be a comfortably sized one-bedroom apartment, that makes 390,000 euros the average price. However, an apartment could cost up to 30 percent less in up-and-coming neighborhoods.
“Between now and the end of 2024 is actually a really good time to buy in Paris because prices have been declining and will continue decreasing due to high inflation and interest rates,” Annabelle Dreyfus, a Paris-based independent real estate agent for Leggett International, says.
While this makes owning real estate in Paris extra enticing, Dreyfus adds that if Americans want to buy in France they’ll either need to pay the total cost upfront in cash or have at least half the down payment as it’s very hard for Americans to get a loan in France because of FATCA (The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act).
In addition to focusing your search on the most affordable areas to buy in Paris, Dreyfus has some useful pointers to bear in mind. “Look for older buildings,” she suggests. “They might not offer the same amenities as newer ones, but they generally cost less.” Since foreigners usually prefer buildings with older Parisian charm, this consideration actually works in your favor.
You should also check the apartment’s energy rating, since a level of ‘A to E’ will be required to rent out a property in Paris as of 2028—just in case you might wish to do so in the future. What’s more, most Parisian buildings are co-ops, not condos. Before making an offer, ask to review the minutes of the last few annual meetings to see if any major (and costly) projects are scheduled. Similarly, check the monthly co-op fees, which can vary widely depending on whether there’s a live-in building manager, an elevator, or other extra services. If these factors haven’t scared you off, you’re ready to start perusing Paris real estate listings.
*Rate source: Notaries of Paris
District: 20th arrondissement
Median home price: 288,000€
The most affordable, safe part of the city to buy in right now is this district on the upper slopes of Belleville (seen here). Traditionally a working-class and bohemian neighborhood, the area has a lot of charming pockets as long as you stay away from the concrete jungle of the Place des Fêtes. The best of them are within the Mouzaïa quarter, a cluster of small lanes lined with tiny, flower-laden houses next to the Buttes-Chaumont park.
District: 13th arrondissement
Median home price: 297,000€
At first sight, this mostly modern part of Paris might not seem appealing. However, it has some fabulous secret spots, and there are tempting advantages to its 1970s high rises. The towers may be far from quintessentially Parisian, but they boast sweeping views of the city, and some have shared rooftop terraces and pools—a rarity in Paris. Dreyfus recommends avoiding the buildings right on Les Olympiades plaza, since its apartment owners have to pay for the maintenance of public spaces. Notable options in the area include Résidence Antoine et Cléopatre, Tour Super-Italie, and Tour Albert. The district does have older Parisian buildings, especially on the side closest to the pretty former village of la Butte-aux-Cailles.
District: 20th arrondissement
Median home price: 313,000€
Another affordable and attractive section of the 20th arrondissement is this sector surrounding Paris’s most famous cemetery (seen here at left). It’s one of the city’s most up-and-coming neighborhoods and one of its best-kept secrets. Once a village outside Paris, Charonne has the charm of Montmartre without the tourists and higher costs. Its narrow lanes hide art studios, bistronomic restaurants, and small independent boutiques.
District: 12th arrondissement
Median home price: 320,000€
Although this family-oriented district in eastern Paris is a little sleepy, the properties here are an extremely good value. It’s not far from the hipper 11th arrondissement and cooler parts of the 12th as well as the Bois de Vincennes, one of Paris’s two large woods that’s ideal for jogging, picnics, and boat rides.
District: 17th arrondissement
Median home price: 328,000€
The gentrification machine has been gradually inching toward this northeast corner of the 17th district, but it still has some reasonably priced gems. On the edge of Les Batignolles, a former village now taken over by trendy young families, the more relaxed Les Epinettes is also within walking distance of Montmartre. It has convenient public transit and a growing number of cool shops and restaurants.
District: 15th arrondissement
Median home price: 336,000€
The 15th arrondissement is known as a safe, quiet, and family-friendly district, so if you’re looking for lively nightlife, you’d be better off in some of the other areas on this list. On the plus side, it’s home to blocks of beautiful historic buildings, the pretty Georges-Brassens Park (seen here), and a nice stretch of the Petite Ceinture promenade, a walkway atop the former light railway that previously encircled the city. It’s also close to Paris’s lesser-known and more affordable flea market, Les Puces de Vanves, so you’ll be able to decorate your new place on the cheap too.
District: 18th arrondissement
Median home price: 350,000€
“If you like Montmartre but can’t afford its steep price tag, Clignancourt is a great value alternative,” Dreyfus says. Found on the northern edge of Montmartre, the area has been slowly gentrifying, but deals can still be found. These are mostly hidden on the streets closer to the Périphérique ring road, where there are quaint narrow lanes with small houses on the edge of the famous Les Puces de Saint-Ouen flea market. A good match for foodies, it’s next to the top-notch Rue de Poteau market street, two biweekly open-air food markets, and a rapidly growing number of innovative bistros. The area has so much going for it, you might not even feel the need to take the short stroll up to touristy Montmartre.
District: 10th arrondissement
Median home price: 353,000€
Another recommendation of Dreyfus’s, this is one of the few areas in central Paris with rates under 9,000 euros per square meter. Once a bit sketchy, the neighborhood has been gradually sprucing itself up, mainly thanks to its new hip residents who put the money saved on their cheaper apartment purchases toward renovations. The eastern side of the sector overlaps with the Canal St-Martin (seen here), a favorite place for Parisians to stroll, browse cool boutiques, and sip craft beer on café terraces.
District: 10th arrondissement
Median home price: 353,000€
“Although the 11th arrondissement has become progressively trendy, this far east section of the district is still affordable,” Dreyfus says. Sometimes called Paris’s ”Brooklyn,” the 11th is known for its modern coffee shops, creative contemporary restaurants, and chill ambiance. These attractive features come paired with great parks, good public transport links, and proximity to one of the city’s best food markets, le Marché d’Aligre.
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