Grenoble Alpes University is a very prestigious French university, student life is great here in terms of finding student jobs and transport. For the rental I would say that it is average because due to the university gaining rank applications to the university are increasing and there are fewer and fewer accommodations but over time this problem can be solved.
Speaking of the university, it is well equipped and there are many known laboratories in the city where you can do a phd without changing town, during your studies you have to be completely independent and revise every day to have good results.