Why choose Reims for your next move? Living in the city of champagne

Reims suits people who want a real city without Paris prices. With 177,674 inhabitants in 2023 according to INSEE, it is the largest city in the Champagne area, a university town and an employment hub: the city alone counts 94,230 jobs, more than the number of working residents. The TGV puts Paris roughly 45 minutes away, which makes Reims a practical base for anyone who still needs to go to the capital from time to time.

It is also a city of tenants. INSEE counts 70.1% of Reims households as renters in 2023, and nearly eight homes in ten are flats. This guide covers what daily life costs, which neighbourhoods suit which lifestyle, and how to find and secure a rental in Reims.

Who lives in Reims

Reims is a young city. People aged 15 to 24 make up 19.3% of the population, and pupils and students account for 16.1% of residents aged 15 to 64, according to the 2023 census. The Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne and several business and engineering schools keep a steady flow of students, which shapes the rental market: studios and small flats are in constant demand, especially from July to September.

The city also attracts families and working people looking for more space than they could afford in the Paris region. Households here move often: 19.1% had moved into their current home less than two years before the census. That turnover means flats come up regularly, but well-priced ones do not stay on the market for long.

Work and daily life

Many of the area's jobs are concentrated in the city itself, so living centrally often means a short commute. Unemployment remains a point to watch: the census unemployment rate for 15 to 64 year olds was 16.5% in 2023, higher among the young. If you are moving without a job offer, look into your sector before you sign a lease.

What renting in Reims costs

Reims stays affordable by French standards. The government's rent map (Carte des loyers), based on 2025 listings, puts the average asking rent for a flat in Reims at €13.1 per square metre per month, charges included. Small flats cost more per square metre than large ones:

• Studio or one-bedroom flat (1 to 2 rooms): about €15.0/m² per month, so around €550 for a typical 37 m² flat.
• Flats with 3 rooms or more: about €13.7/m² per month.
• Houses: about €11.8/m² per month, for a much smaller supply.

In practice, our Reims rental guide gives ranges of roughly €380 to €650 a month for a studio, €500 to €800 for a two-room flat (T2) and €700 to €1,100 for a three-room flat (T3). Add €30 to €150 a month of service charges depending on the building, plus compulsory home insurance.

Upfront costs

Plan for your first month's rent and a deposit. French law caps the deposit at one month's rent excluding charges for an unfurnished flat and two months for a furnished one, as Service-Public.gouv.fr explains. If you go through a letting agent, fees are capped by law too. For a studio, a move-in budget of €1,500 to €2,000 is usually enough; for a larger flat, count €2,500 to €3,500.

A market that is easier than Strasbourg

LocService, a French rental platform, considers in its 2026 review of student housing in the Grand Est that students heading for mid-sized cities such as Reims, Nancy or Mulhouse should find a more accessible market than in Strasbourg, both in price and in the number of properties available. That does not mean there is no competition: in late summer, studios near the campuses go fast.