Moving to Marseille? 2025 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

Marseille was founded in 600 BC giving it a rich, historic past, and the oldest city in France. Situated on the southern border of France, Marseille is a popular tourist trap, full of landmarks such as the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, a Romanesque-Byzantine church, giving any visitor a cultural welcome.

If you are considering moving to Marseille, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in France’s second-largest city.

Quick Marseille Facts:

Population: 873,076 (2021 estimate)
Official Language: French (de facto) with many other languages being spoken, including English, Spanish, German, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese and Polish.
GDP Per Capita: $44,418 USD (2023 estimate)
Oldest City: Marseille is the oldest city in France and was founded in 600 BC.
Currency: Euro (EUR). As of 2024, £1 = €1.20, $1 USD = €0.89, $1 CAD = €0.66, $1 AUD = €0.61

Sections

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Marseille

The table below shows the estimated cost of hiring a 20- or 40-foot container from some of the largest global cities, and shipping it to Marseille:

Origin City	20FT	40FT
Beijing	$3,800 - $3,900	$6,800 - $7,000
Berlin	$2,500 - $2,600	$4,700 - $4,900
Chicago	$3,400 - $3,500	$6,200 - $6,400
Chongqing	$3,900 - $4,000	$7,000 - $7,200
Delhi	$3,600 - $3,700	$6,600 - $6,800
Dubai	$3,000 - $3,100	$5,600 - $5,800
Houston	$3,500 - $3,600	$6,300 - $6,500
Los Angeles	$3,450 - $3,550	$6,250 - $6,450
Madrid	$2,600 - $2,700	$4,800 - $5,000
New York City	$3,300 - $3,400	$6,100 - $6,300
Paris	$2,500 - $2,600	$4,700 - $4,900
Phoenix	$3,450 - $3,550	$6,250 - $6,450
Rome	$2,600 - $2,700	$4,800 - $5,000
Shanghai	$3,850 - $3,950	$6,900 - $7,100
Sydney	$4,000 - $4,100	$7,100 - $7,300
Toronto	$3,400 - $3,500	$6,200 - $6,400
Vancouver	$3,450 - $3,550	$6,250 - $6,450
Vienna	$2,550 - $2,650	$4,750 - $4,950

All figures are in USD;
The rates above are estimates only and may have changed since the time this article was updated (September 2024). They are based on the lowest estimated rate from sites such as Freightos, Flexport, or Maersk;
To get a more accurate idea of the cost for you, please use the quote form at the top of this page;
Please also see our guide to international container shipping.

2. Marseille Housing Costs

Housing in Marseille is very affordable compared with other major cities around the globe. Prices obviously vary from area to area but the figures below will indicate what’s available at what price.

Monthly Rental Prices in Marseille:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: €693+
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: €550+
3 bedroomed flat in City Centre: €1,380+
3 bedroomed flat outside the City Centre: €1,000+

Marseille Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: €4,600+
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: €3,225+

Marseille Housing Cost Comparison:

This is how rents in Marseille compare with other cities around the globe.

London is 67% more expensive
Paris is 48.5% more expensive
New York is 77.3% more expensive
Los Angeles is 69.1% more expensive
Toronto is 53.9% more expensive
Vancouver is 56.7% more expensive
Sydney is 59.8% more expensive
Melbourne is 43.3% more expensive
Dubai is 52.6% more expensive

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs:

Share a Flat or House: Marseille is divided into 16 arrondissements, each one having its own character. There are opportunities for flat/house shares in many areas. With a house/apartment share you will have your own room, or, for a cheaper option, you can share a room. The bathroom/s will be shared with other people in the house. There are many flats available for shared rental as well. Have a look at RoomLaLa and Nestpick to find someone you can get on with to share the costs with you.
Different Areas – Different Prices: Like most cities, the accommodation options in the city centre are apartments only. As you move out of the centre of Marseille, so you will find houses, especially in the villages on the outskirts of the city. The 7th and 8th arrondissements are upmarket areas with different characters. The 8th is on the coast and the 7th is behind it, with lovely views over the city and coastline. Le Roucas Blanc and Bompard are particularly pretty places to live. If you need to be near the nightlife of Marseille, then live in Cours Julien or Place Jean Jaurès, these areas rarely sleep. The oldest part of Marseille, Le Panier, is in the process of being restored and has a distinct Bohemian flavour, with artists’ workshops popping up everywhere.

3. Marseille Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs

Marseille has some outstanding restaurants, especially on the seafood front. It also has a good selection of grocers, markets and supermarkets.

Inexpensive Restaurant: €14.00 – €15.00
Takeout Coffee: €2.70 – €3.00
Bottle of Coke: €2.00 – €2.50
1L of Milk: €1.10 – €1.20
Loaf of Bread: €1.50 – €1.70
12 Eggs: €3.80 – €4.00
1kg Chicken: €9.40 – €10.00
1kg Beef: €26.00 – €30.00
1kg Apples: €2.75 – €3.00
1kg White Rice: €1.90 – €2.00

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.

New York restaurants are 32.3% more expensive and groceries are 33.6% more expensive than Marseille.
Los Angeles restaurants are 25.2% more expensive and groceries are 13.7% more expensive than Marseille.
London restaurants are 16.7% more expensive and groceries are 16.7% cheaper than Marseille.
Paris restaurants are 6.6% more expensive and groceries are 13.3% more expensive than Marseille.
Toronto restaurants are 9.8% more expensive and groceries are 3.1% more expensive than Marseille.
Vancouver restaurants are 7.4% more expensive and groceries are 6.9% more expensive than Marseille.
Sydney restaurants are 11.1% more expensive and groceries are 15.1% more expensive than Marseille.
Melbourne restaurants are 9.5% more expensive and groceries are 16.2% more expensive than Marseille.
Dubai restaurants are 5% cheaper and groceries are 35.5% cheaper than Marseille.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:

Know Your Supermarkets: Marseille has a good selection of supermarkets and independently owned food stores. At the cheaper end are Carrefour, Monoprix and Super U. The artisan market in the Vieux Port is a must for those who enjoy fresh, organic produce. There is also a fish market in the area which sells the catch of the day. The Marché de la Plaine is another excellent market which is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on Place Jean-Jaurès. Visit Hédiard-Bataille delicatessen at 18 Rue Fontange for some of the best food and wine in the city.
Find Cheap Eats: The character of Marseille ensures that there are restaurants which will offer good food at reasonable prices. Have a look at the following sites to see which restaurants tantalise your taste buds – Trip Advisor, Olive Magazine and Yelp.

4. Marseille Alcohol Costs

Marseille has a wide variety of bars and clubs, ranging from the spit and sawdust variety to high-end clubs. The following is a list of basic prices of beer and wine from the supermarket and restaurants.

Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: €5.50- €6.00
Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: €4.50 – €5.00
Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: €2.20 – €2.80
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: €2.30 – €3.50
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: €7.00 – €9.00

How To Drink For Less in Marseille:

Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials over weekends and public holidays.
Marseille offers many opportunities to have a good night out without breaking the bank. Have a look at the following sites to find where your favourite tipple is on special – Trip Advisor, The Culture Trip and Marvellous Provence.
Scour the areas around the port and the city centre to find the best alcohol deals.

5. Marseille Transportation Fares

Marseille has an efficient transport system of buses, 2 tram lines and 2 metro lines. RTM allows you to plan your journey with online timetables and the ability to buy tickets online.

Here are some example ticket costs.

Adult single – €1.90
One day ticket for bus, tram and metro – €5.20
Monthly season ticket for bus, tram and metro – €50.00

How To Save Money on Public Transport:

Buy a 10-trip card for €13.60
Buy a group card for 4 passengers for €4.90
Buy a bike. Cycling is encouraged in the city.
Walk. Depending on where you live and work, walking is certainly an option.

6. Cost of Internet in Marseille

Internet in France is reasonably priced but note that broadband is not available everywhere in the country. Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:

Orange: €23.99 a month (Fiber broadband up to 500mb)
SFR: €19.99 a month (Fiber broadband up to 500mb)

7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure

Marseille’s Mediterranean climate gives you glorious summers and mild winters. July and August are the hottest months with an average temperature of 24°C. The cold month is January, with an average temperature of 7°C. October is the wettest month, with 70mm of rain falling.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

Pair of Jeans: €80 – €100
Summer Dress: €20 – €60
Running Shoes (Trainers): €90 – €110
Business Shoes: €140 – €150
Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): €25
Deodorant: €5
Shampoo: €4
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): €2
Gym Membership: €30 per month
Movie (cinema) Ticket: €12

Source: Numbeo and Expatistan

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Marseille

Everyone in France drives on the right. Driving in Marseille is fine but parking is expensive and scarce.

If you’re moving to Marseille from within France, you’ll be able to keep your license but need to update your address to your new Marseille one.

If you live in the EU and have a driving licence from an EU country, then you can drive on that licence. If you are from a non-EU country then you will need to get a French licence after being in the country for a year.

If you are taking a car with you to France, you can drive it for 6 months without registering it in France and paying French vehicle registration tax. After the 6 months period, you have 30 days to register it.

Have a look at this article for further information on driving licences and vehicle purchases in France.

Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Marseille:

Volkswagen Golf: €23,100+
1 litre (¼ gallon) of Gas (petrol): €1.89
Registration Fee (if any): Carte Grise – the cost depends on the size of the vehicle and its CO2 emissions.

Source: Expatistan, Licences

Ways To Save Money on Driving in Marseille:

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Carpoolworld and Drive Me.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Try Uber.

9. Taxes in Marseille

No matter where you live in France, you will pay the same rate of tax. Sales Tax, or VAT (Value Added Tax) is 20% in France and is included in the price that is advertised.

France has two taxes which need to be paid on the property. If you own a property you will need to pay Taxe D’Habitation and Taxe Fonciere. If you rent out your property, then your tenant will be liable for the taxe d’habitation. The amount varies depending on the size of the property and the area it’s in.

Finally, if you decide to buy a flat or house in France, you must pay registration fees. The cost varies but will be a maximum of 4.98% of the purchase price, plus a notaire’s fee of 1.1% of the purchase price.

10. Flight Costs from Marseille

If you do make the move to Marseille, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2023:

New York: €280
Los Angeles: €480
London: €20
Paris: €15
Toronto: €420
Vancouver: €650
Dubai: €145
Sydney: €630
Melbourne: €575
Cape Town: €855
Hong Kong: €520

Other Tips on Moving to Marseille:

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Marseille but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Moving to Marseille Alone

Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be rather daunting. Here are a few tips about settling into Marseille.

Meetups: Marseille has many free meetup groups you can find on Meetup.com. Find groups such as Boost Your Startup in Provence, Hangout in Marseille, Docker Marseille, Hiking Provence and many more.
Attend Local Events: There are lots of events going on in Marseille at any given time. Find out what’s going on from Marseille Tourism and France-Voyage.

12. Moving to Marseilles with a Family

Marseilles has a lot to offer families. History, culture, excellent food, parks and a choice of good schools. Here’s some extra food for thought.

New Parents (or parents to be): Contact the British Embassy in Marseille or the French Embassy in your city, for information on hospitals, and antenatal and postnatal classes.
Live in a Family-friendly Area: The 8th arrondissement, which sits on the coast, is a favourite with families, particularly Michelet, Prado and Paradis. The area has a few small beaches, green spaces and good schools. Longchamp in the 4th arrondissement is also a good family area. It has excellent schools, houses with good-sized gardens and green spaces for play.
Find Things To Do With The Kids: Marvellous Provence, Family Travel Scoop, The Talking Suitcase and Family Traveller all have great ideas for activities and events your kids will love.

13. Moving to Marseille for Work

Moving to Marseille for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move.

Marseille offers jobs in the petrochemical and oil refining industries, electronics, data processing, telecommunications, biomedicine, offshore exploration and engineering, education, finance and, of course, the Port of Marseille is a big employer in the area.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary: The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on Glassdoor.
How to Find Work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Marseille, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: The Local France, Indeed and Job in France. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.

14. Moving to Marseille from Australia

There’s a small group of Australians living in Marseilles. Here’s more food for thought:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of the city of Marseille with the population of a city in Australia, you’d be looking at a city 5% smaller than Perth.
Join Expat Groups: Both InterNations and Expat.com offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Marseille.

15. Moving to Marseille from Canada

There’s a large group of Canadians living in Marseilles. Here are a few extra points to consider:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of the city of Marseille with the population of a city in Canada, you’d be looking at a city midway in population numbers between Ottawa and Vancouver.
Join Expat Groups: Both InterNations and Expat.com offer ways of meeting up with other Canadians in Marseille.

16. Moving to Marseille from the United States

There’s a large group of Americans living and working in Marseille. If you’re considering it, here are a few bonus tips:

Size Comparison: If you look at the population size of Marseille and compare it with a city in the States, you’d be looking at a city midway in population size between Philadelphia and Houston.
Expat Groups: Meeting Americans who are already living and working in Marseille is an excellent way to make friends and learn how to integrate quickly into your new life. InterNations and Expat.com will enable you to meet other expats from the States and other countries.

17. Moving to Marseille from the United Kingdom

There’s a large group of Brits living in Marseille. If you’re considering it, here are a few bonus tips:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Marseille with a city in the UK, you’d be looking at a city 1½ times the size of Birmingham.
Expat Groups: Meeting Brits who are already living and working in Marseille is an excellent way to make friends and learn how to integrate quickly into your new home. Have a look at the following sites to find fellow Brits – InterNations and Expat.com.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Marseille you can start by comparing moving quotes here.