Just Landed in Monaco? Your First 7 Days

Coverage is excellent everywhere given the size of the state, with fast 4G/5G and near-universal fibre. Monaco Telecom is the local carrier and the default choice for residents; because Monaco sits inside France, French operators' networks are also usable and roaming is seamless whenever you cross into Beausoleil or Cap-d'Ail. Home fibre from Monaco Telecom typically delivers gigabit speeds and is quick to install.

Typical cost: Prepaid SIM from around €20; monthly mobile plans with generous data roughly €20–40; home fibre broadband bundles from about €30–50.

Monaco uses the euro and is a major private-banking centre, so cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, but everyday prices are among the highest in Europe. Monégasque euro coins are legal tender exactly like French ones, and there is no currency exchange to worry about.

Opening an account: Opening a current account (compte courant) usually requires proof of Monaco residency and can involve minimum deposits and lengthy compliance checks. More retail-accessible options include CFM Indosuez, BNP Paribas Monaco, Banque Populaire Méditerranée and CMB Monaco (Compagnie Monégasque de Banque). Wealth-focused private banks such as Andbank or EFG may set high six-figure thresholds, so ask specifically about a simple everyday account rather than a private-banking relationship.

Cash: Largely cashless — cards and Apple/Google Pay work for almost everything, though small tabacs, the Condamine market and some taxis prefer a few euros in cash. Withdraw at bank ATMs to avoid fees.

Tipping: Service is usually included (service compris) by law. Rounding up or leaving 5–10% for genuinely good restaurant service is appreciated but never expected; a euro or two for a café or taxi is plenty.

New residents must obtain a Monaco residence permit (carte de séjour) rather than a simple address registration. You apply in person through the Direction de la Sûreté Publique with proof of accommodation, proof of financial means (often a local bank reference), a clean criminal record and health insurance. Non-EU nationals must first obtain a French long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) via a French consulate, because you enter Monaco through French territory. There are three residence tiers depending on how long you have held the card (temporaire, ordinaire, then privilégié after roughly ten years), and cards must be renewed. Note there is no separate town-hall address registration as in some EU states — the permit is the registration.

Deadline: Apply promptly after arrival and before your entry stamp or visa validity lapses; the appointment and background checks can take several weeks, so start immediately.

Where: Direction de la Sûreté Publique — Section des Résidents, 9 rue Suffren Reymond, Monaco.

Everything is within walking distance, aided by around 30 free public lifts and escalators that spare you the hills. The CAM bus network links the districts with frequent services, a bike-share (Monabike) and taxis fill the gaps, and most residents genuinely do not need a car. A single CAM ticket is about €1.50 bought in advance or via the app (€2 on board), and multi-trip and monthly passes offer better value for commuters. Parking is scarce and expensive, so many who own a car keep it in a public underground car park rather than on the street.

From the airport: There is no airport in Monaco; the gateway is Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, about 30 km west. Options: the Monacair helicopter shuttle (about 7 minutes, premium price around €150+ one way), the express airport coach (line 110 Nice–Monaco–Menton, roughly 50 minutes, around €22), a private transfer or taxi (45–60 minutes, expect €90+), or the train changing at Nice-Ville for the frequent TER coastal line to Monaco-Monte-Carlo station (scenic and cheap, though you must reach the station from the airport first).

Monaco has one of the most expensive property markets in the world and very limited stock, so most newcomers rent through agencies and must act within hours when a decent flat appears. Leases are typically handled by estate agents charging a commission, and demand consistently outstrips supply. Many residents deliberately rent just over the border in Beausoleil, Cap-d'Ail or Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, where the same money buys far more space while keeping a short walk into the principality.

Typical rent: A one-bedroom flat commonly runs €3,000–5,000+ per month inside Monaco; studios rarely dip below €2,000, and larger or sea-view apartments climb far higher. Equivalent flats in Beausoleil or Cap-d'Ail often cost 30–50% less.

Deposit norm: Usually two to three months' rent as a deposit, plus agency fees frequently equivalent to around one month's rent (or up to 10% of the annual rent). Landlords typically want proof of income several times the rent.

Monaco has a strong public healthcare system centred on the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace (CHPG), with high standards, modern facilities and French-style social insurance for those who contribute. Standards are excellent and waiting times short compared with many countries, and most doctors speak some English alongside French and Italian.

How to access it: Employees and residents contributing to Monaco's social security (Caisses Sociales de Monaco / CCSS) access the public system and are reimbursed for treatment; register through your employer or directly with the Caisses Sociales de Monaco. Choose a médecin traitant (family GP) as your first point of contact, and use the CHPG for emergencies (18 or 112) and specialist care.

Insurance: If you are not covered by the Monégasque scheme — for example, self-sufficient residents living off private means — comprehensive private health insurance is expected and is typically a formal requirement to obtain and renew your residence permit. Many residents also hold a complementary (mutuelle) policy to top up reimbursements.

• Greet with a polite 'Bonjour' in French before switching to English; a formal, courteous tone (using 'vous' and 'Monsieur/Madame') is the norm.
• Dress smartly — Monaco is style-conscious, and casinos, hotels and better restaurants expect neat attire; the Casino de Monte-Carlo enforces a dress code.
• Respect the strict public-decorum rules: walking around bare-chested or in swimwear away from the beach can earn an on-the-spot fine.
• Be discreet about wealth and privacy; residents value low-key manners and understatement over ostentation despite the setting.
• Learn a little French even if you work in English — using it for greetings, thanks and admin shows respect and smooths bureaucracy considerably.
• Be punctual and patient for appointments; Monégasque administration is formal, thorough and unhurried, and rushing officials backfires.
• Respect the Grimaldi royal family and national symbols; casual criticism of the Prince or the principality lands poorly in polite company.

• Prices are extreme, so confirm costs before ordering or booking to avoid genuine bill shock, especially near the Casino and the port.
• The state is small and heavily policed with extensive CCTV — wonderfully safe, but minor infractions like jaywalking or swimwear off the beach are noticed and fined.
• Parking and driving are difficult; tight one-way streets, scarce spaces and expensive car parks frustrate newcomers who insist on bringing a car.
• Bureaucracy is slow and document-heavy; assume every step needs originals, copies and sometimes French translations, and build in weeks not days.
• Grand Prix week (late May) and other big events shut roads, spike prices and fill hotels, so plan any move or errand around the calendar.