Paris in 2026? Here’s how much the Emily in Paris lifestyle will really cost you

The digital marketing agency Searchbloom analysed Glassdoor data to determine how much each fictional character working in marketing, communications, and public relations (PR) would earn in 2025, based on their job title and location.  

The research also used Numbeo data to examine 2025 cost-of-living rates and determine whether each character could realistically afford their fictional lifestyles.  

Emily Cooper, the protagonist of the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris, is revealed to be the lowest-earning character in the study. Working as a Marketing Executive in Paris would earn Emily an annual salary of £36,726.90 (€42,000).

However, the research shows that this wouldn’t be enough to maintain the character’s expensive lifestyle.

Emily’s iconic Paris apartment would realistically cost around £27,545.09 annually to rent.

Utilities are another essential yet pricey expense, and Emily’s bills would add up to £1,972.60 a year.

The character is also frequently seen dining out at restaurants across Paris. Eating out at least twice a week in the city would result in an annual cost of £2,693.39.

Other expenses, such as regularly taking taxis across the city, going out for cocktails at least twice a week, and purchasing daily cups of coffee, would also add up to a high annual cost of £3,717.91.

Emily is often spotted wearing a selection of luxury brands, ranging from Chanel to Hermes. One of her most expensive pieces is the Vassilis Zoulias yellow-printed jacket from season two, priced at £44,889.83.

It’s estimated that Emily’s lavish wardrobe would cost around £63,853.73 per year to upkeep.

Based on these figures, it’s estimated that Emily’s Parisian lifestyle would cost £99,782.72 per year to maintain, which would realistically leave the character in debt by approximately £63,055.82.

Season five sees Emily swap the streets of Paris for Rome. Working as a Marketing Executive in the Italian city would earn Emily an even lower annual salary of approximately £30,179.22 (€34,500), making the character’s expensive lifestyle even more difficult to maintain.

Meanwhile, Sylvie Grateau, who is Emily’s boss, is revealed to be one of the highest-earning fictional characters in the world of marketing and PR. During recent episodes of the Netflix series, Sylvie memorably leaves the marketing firm Savoir to open her own rival company. As the owner of a marketing firm in Paris, Sylvie would earn a comfortable salary of around £84,414.34 (€96,500).  

While Paris’ average cost of living currently stands at £11,107.01 (€12,692.49), excluding rent, likely, Sylvie could comfortably afford her luxurious Parisian lifestyle. However, renting an apartment in the center of Paris would incur an annual fee of £15,563.77 (€17,785.44). Despite this, Sylvie’s success in the marketing industry would leave her with approximately £57,743.56 in annual savings.

Cody Jensen, the CEO and Founder of Searchbloom, has commented on the study:  
 
“It’s interesting to see how the representation of the marketing and PR industry varies on the screen. Many fan-favorite characters work in the world of marketing and communications, like Chandler from Friends and Schmidt from New Girl. While the world of TV and film certainly offers a dramatized view of the industry, it’s still an exciting incentive for many young people to consider a career in marketing and PR.  

“It’s also interesting to observe how these characters’ real-world salaries would range from a regional perspective, with characters working in New York typically earning the highest salaries in the ranking.  

“The study is also reflective of Los Angeles’ growing influence in the marketing industry. Even in the fictional world, this research is clearly demonstrative of the marketing hotspots across America.”  

New Girl’s Schmidt is another character who would be struggling to make ends meet in the real world. While Schmidt is often portrayed enjoying the best of the best, particularly in his high-end wardrobe and expensive beauty regimen, the character would realistically earn £49,440.60 as a Junior Marketing Associate in Los Angeles. On top of the city’s average cost-of-living of £12,161.43 and annual rent of around £10,050.66, it’s unlikely that Schmidt would be able to maintain his expensive lifestyle. 

Chandler’s career change to a Junior Marketing Copywriter would earn him a salary of £53,957.88. However, moving to the New York suburbs at the end of Friends would likely take a toll on the character’s expenses. The average home in the Westchester County area sells for £613,366.20, making Chandler’s end-of-season lifestyle financially questionable.  

On the other end of the scale, Shiv Roy would be the highest-earning PR professional in 2025. In the hit series Succession, Shiv initially works as a political correspondent in New York, which would earn her a high-flying salary of at least £139,405.14 each year. When a scandal threatens to emerge against her family’s company, Shiv is responsible for crisis management to mitigate the situation, working to protect Waystar Royco’s image from the press.  

While the cost of living in New York is high in 2025, averaging at least £15,477.57 per year without rent, Shiv would likely be able to afford her extravagant lifestyle thanks to her family’s wealth and high salary. However, the character’s luxurious penthouse apartment situated on Broadway would realistically cost nearly £5 million, taking a large chunk out of Shiv’s earnings.  

Mad Men’s iconic protagonist, Don Draper, is identified as the second-richest character in the ranking. As the director of a successful advertising firm in New York, the character would likely earn a salary of at least £110,180.91 each year by today’s standards. During the 1960s, when the series is set, Don Draper would have earned an annual salary of approximately £10,076.74.

Olivia Pope is identified as the third-highest-earning fictional character in the study. In the drama series Scandal, Olivia Pope owns a crisis-management company in Washington, D.C. In 2025, this position would have earned the character an annual salary of at least £98,198.91.

Other high-earning characters include Succession’s Hugo Baker and Mike McLintock from Veep.

The top 10 highest-earning fictional characters:  

The digital marketing agency, Searchbloom, provided this information.