Largest City in France

2026 comparison

Bordeaux vs Paris: 2026 comparison

Paris has more inhabitants than Bordeaux: 2,119,412 versus 271,552, or 7.8 times as many. Paris is both larger (105 km² versus 49.4 km²) and more densely populated (20,108 inhabitants per km² versus 5,501).

The median apartment price is higher in Paris: €10,116 per m² versus €4,375. The median standard of living is higher in Paris (€33,650 a year versus €27,590).

The two cities are 497 km apart as the crow flies.

BordeauxParis
BordeauxParis497 km as the crow flies

Bordeaux

City in Gironde

Gironde33Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Population
271,552 inhab.
9th in France · 1st in its department
Area
49.4 km²
Density
5,501 per km²
Full profile of Bordeaux

Paris

City in Paris

Paris75Île-de-France

Population
2,119,412 inhab.
1st in France
Area
105 km²
Density
20,108 per km²
Full profile of Paris

Population

Population and demographics

Municipal population since 1876

BordeauxParis

Population: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
Population inhab.More populous: Paris7.8 times as high271,5522,119,412More populous: Paris7.8 times as high
Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Bordeaux+7.6 pts+4.2%−3.3%Stronger growth: Bordeaux+7.6 pts
Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Bordeaux+16 pts+10.0%−5.6%Stronger growth: Bordeaux+16 pts
Density per km²Denser: Paris3.7 times as high5,50120,108Denser: Paris3.7 times as high
Under 15More young people: Bordeaux+0.7 pt13.4%12.8%More young people: Bordeaux+0.7 pt
65 and overMore seniors: Paris+2.7 pts15.0%17.7%More seniors: Paris+2.7 pts
People per householdLarger households: Paris+0.071.771.84Larger households: Paris+0.07

Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census

Housing

Real estate prices and housing

Housing: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Paris2.3 times as high4,37510,116More expensive: Paris2.3 times as high
Median house price €/m²More expensive: Paris2.7 times as high5,14813,990More expensive: Paris2.7 times as high
Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Paris2.0 times as high16.032.1More expensive: Paris2.0 times as high
House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Paris+59%15.524.7More expensive: Paris+59%
Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Paris+0.2 pt33.0%33.2%More homeowners: Paris+0.2 pt
Share of housesMore houses: Bordeaux+20 pts20.3%0.8%More houses: Bordeaux+20 pts
Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Paris+2.8 pts20.4%23.2%More social housing: Paris+2.8 pts
Second homesMore second homes: Paris+3.0 pts6.9%9.9%More second homes: Paris+3.0 pts
Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Paris+3.2 pts6.8%9.9%More vacant homes: Paris+3.2 pts
Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Bordeaux+28 pts49.54%21.21%Higher rate: Bordeaux+28 pts

Sources: DGFiP (DVF), Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, Ministry for the Ecological Transition (SRU), DGFiP, local taxation

Income and jobs

Residents’ income and jobs

Income and jobs: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Paris+22%27,59033,650Higher: Paris+22%
Poverty rateHigher: Bordeaux+2.1 pts18.9%16.8%Higher: Bordeaux+2.1 pts
Average taxable income per householdHigher: Paris+61%€36,660€58,947Higher: Paris+61%
Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Paris+6.9 pts52%59%More taxpaying households: Paris+6.9 pts
Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Paris+4.5 pts74.3%78.8%Higher: Paris+4.5 pts
Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Bordeaux+1.4 pt11.8%10.5%Higher: Bordeaux+1.4 pt

Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census

Local life

Town hall and fiber internet

Local life: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
MayorThomas CazenaveEmmanuel Grégoire
Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)union of the centreunion of the left
Premises with fiberTie96%96%Tie

Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep

Shops and facilities

Shops, leisure and transportation

Shops and facilities: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Paris+45%86.82,356 in total126.026,708 in totalMore shops per capita: Paris+45%
Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+49%24.7671 in total36.97,824 in totalMore per capita: Paris+49%
Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+36%72.41,965 in total98.720,911 in totalMore per capita: Paris+36%
Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+4%7.4201 in total7.71,632 in totalMore per capita: Paris+4%
Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+26%1.541 in total1.9402 in totalMore per capita: Paris+26%
Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris2.6 times as high3.183 in total7.91,682 in totalMore per capita: Paris2.6 times as high
Passenger train stationsMore stations: Paris+32234More stations: Paris+32

Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Health

Health care

Health: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Bordeaux+14%6.35.5Better access: Bordeaux+14%
General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bordeaux+30%16.6452 in total12.82,722 in totalMore per capita: Bordeaux+30%
Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Bordeaux+28%42.21,145 in total33.17,007 in totalMore per capita: Bordeaux+28%
Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+8%10.7290 in total11.52,446 in totalMore per capita: Paris+8%
Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Paris+3%3.9107 in total4.1864 in totalMore per capita: Paris+3%
HospitalsMore facilities: Paris+10320123More facilities: Paris+103

Practitioners and facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print); access to doctors includes those in neighboring communes. Sources: Ministry of Health (DREES), APL, INSEE, facilities database (BPE), Ministry of Health (Finess)

Education

Schools and colleges

Education: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
Primary schoolsMore schools: Paris+708125833More schools: Paris+708
Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Paris+19832230More middle schools: Paris+198
High schoolsMore high schools: Paris+20241243More high schools: Paris+202
Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Paris+658120778More facilities: Paris+658

Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)

Recorded crime

Offenses recorded by the police

Recorded crime: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Bordeaux+36%6.95.1Higher rate: Bordeaux+36%
Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Paris+16%39.145.1Higher rate: Paris+16%
Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Paris+4%5.15.3Higher rate: Paris+4%
Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bordeaux+81%3.11.7Higher rate: Bordeaux+81%
Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Bordeaux+64%14.79.0Higher rate: Bordeaux+64%

Offenses recorded in the commune by the police and gendarmerie, per 1,000 inhabitants (per 1,000 homes for burglaries); this is not the actual crime level. Rates for the latest published year. Source: Ministry of the Interior (SSMSI)

Climate

Temperature, sunshine and rain

Climate: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
Average temperatureWarmer: Bordeaux+1.0 °C14.3°C13.3°CWarmer: Bordeaux+1.0 °C
Sunshine h/yearSunnier: Bordeaux+21%2,0701,717Sunnier: Bordeaux+21%
Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Bordeaux+32%884667Wetter: Bordeaux+32%
Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Bordeaux+12 days/year124112More rainy days: Bordeaux+12 days/year
Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Bordeaux+4 days/year2622More frost days: Bordeaux+4 days/year
Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Bordeaux+10 days/year3121More hot days: Bordeaux+10 days/year

Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals

Natural hazards

Natural disasters and prevention

Natural hazards: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Bordeaux+305020More declarations: Bordeaux+30
Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Paris+213More plans: Paris+2
Radon potentialLow, with aggravating factorsLow

Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN

Land

Area, terrain and administrative areas

Land: Bordeaux and Paris compared
CriterionBordeauxParisDifference
Area km²Larger: Paris2.1 times as high49.4105Larger: Paris2.1 times as high
Town hall elevationHigher: Paris+25 m9 m34 mHigher: Paris+25 m
Coastal communeSameNoNoSame
Density grid (INSEE)SameLarge urban centreLarge urban centreSame
DepartmentGironde (33)Paris (75)
IntercommunalityBordeaux MétropoleMétropole du Grand Paris
Urban unitBordeauxParis
Functional areaBordeauxParis

Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications

Summary

Bordeaux vs Paris at a glance

Summary table: Bordeaux and Paris
CriterionBordeauxParis
Population inhab.271,5522,119,412
Change over 10 years+10.0%−5.6%
Density per km²5,50120,108
Median apartment price €/m²4,37510,116
Median house price €/m²5,14813,990
Apartment rent €/m²16.032.1
Property tax (combined rate)49.54%21.21%
Median standard of living €/year27,59033,650
Unemployment rate (census)11.8%10.5%
Premises with fiber96%96%
Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year6.35.5
Home burglaries per 1,000 homes6.95.1
Average temperature14.3°C13.3°C
Sunshine h/year2,0701,717
Area km²49.4105

More comparisons

Compare with other towns

Compare two other towns

FAQ

Bordeaux vs Paris: your questions

Which is the larger city, Bordeaux or Paris?

By population, Paris: 2,119,412 inhabitants versus 271,552 for Bordeaux (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Paris is the 1st largest city in France, Bordeaux the 9th. By area, Paris is also the larger (105 km²).

How far is Bordeaux from Paris?

Bordeaux and Paris are 497 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.

Where is real estate more expensive, in Bordeaux or Paris?

To buy an apartment, Paris is more expensive: €10,116 per m² (median price), versus €4,375 in Bordeaux (+131%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).

Where is the standard of living higher, in Bordeaux or Paris?

In Paris, half of the residents have a standard of living above €33,650 a year, versus €27,590 in Bordeaux (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).

Which city is sunnier, Bordeaux or Paris?

Bordeaux: 2,070 hours of sunshine a year on average, versus 1,717 in Paris (climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each town).

Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures

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