Currency / Cost of life

Currency On January 1st 2002, the Euro became the single currency in most EU countries.

One Euro is worth about 6.55957 francs. But how much is it in your currency? Currency converter: www.xe.com/ucc  

Information about money in the Daily Life section.  Living standards Average net wage per employee: €21,735 per year. Average gross savings of households: €1,900, or 15.4% of the available income. Consumptioncam04.gif(part of the average household budget)

  24.5% Housing, lighting, heating
  17.7% Food, drinks, tobacco
  17.6% Transport and communications
  9.4% Leisure and culture
  5.9% Household equipment and upkeep
  5% Dressing
  3.4% Health
  16.5% Other goods and services (restaurants, journeys…)

Source: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs       Wage income The gross monthly amount of the guaranteed minimum wage (SMIC) is €1,254 for 35 working hours per week. Gross hourly wage rate: €8.27. Cost of life

  • Food (Restaurant)

 

Cheap meal: from €10 Average meal: from €15 to €30 Quality meal: from €30

  • Accommodation (Hotel. Prices per person and per night.)

Cheap room: from €25 to €30

Average room: from €40 to €60 Quality room: from €100

  • Grocery (Average prices in a supermarket)
Milk butter (250g) from €1.15
Milk (1 litre) from €0.80
Natural yoghurt (x 4) from €0.90
Chocolate (100g) from €1.73
Pasta (500g) from €0.68
Rice (1kg) from €0.59
Caster sugar (1kg) from €1.40
Eggs (x6) from €1.26
Apples (1kg) from €2.30
Potatoes (1kg) from €0.85
Beer (6x33cl) from €2.80
Mineral water (1.5 litre) from €0.18
Orange juice (1 litre) from €0.52
Wine (75cl) from €1.50
Baguette from €0.80

Advices relative to money VAT (value added tax) is 19.6% on most products. It is 5.5% on food, medication and books, and 33% on watches and cameras. Prices generally include the VAT and are marked TTC (inclusive of all tax). Hotel and restaurant bills comprise compulsory 10 to 15% of the service. Tips is not necessary, though the habit is to leave a few coins in a restaurant. No matter the amount of the taxi fare, the tip is around €1. Bargaining is used only on flea markets. Sources: Lonely Planet (  http://www.lonelyplanet.fr ) and Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ( http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr )