A Helpful Guide For Living Abroad In France

From the Eiffel Tower to the Palace of Versailles, from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe, there is so much to do and see in France! If you’re considering living abroad in France, this helpful guide is exactly what you need to learn all about the basics.

We’ll talk about the cost of living in France compared to the US, what it’s like to be an American living there, how retirement looks in France as an expat, and the logistics of moving there.

There’s a lot to learn, but there’s a lot to look forward to! After reading this guide, you’ll have a better understanding of whether or not France is the place for you, and if it’s not, you’ll want to look into the best places to live in Europe to expand your horizons.

Living Abroad in France

As an expat, digital nomad, or international retiree planning to live abroad in France, you’ll want to learn about the cost of living in France, what it’s like living in France as an American, the logistics of retiring in France from the USA, and how to move to France from the USA.

Moving to the home of the Pantheon or the French Riviera is a dream come true. This guide will break all you need to know nice and neat so you can gather the information you need along your journey of preparation.

One of the most realistic questions you need to ask yourself is can I afford to live in France? If you aren’t sure, that’s what we’re here for. We’ll talk about housing, food, transportation, and healthcare expenses, all in comparison to what you may already pay if you live in the USA.

Once that’s out of the way, you’ll want to learn the steps of getting yourself into the country and becoming a permanent resident. We’ll tell you that too.

By the end of this article, you’ll be eager to learn about the best places to live in France so you can pick your new city! We also recommend checking out our general guide about living aboard.

Cost Of Living In France

The average cost of living in France is 34% less expensive than in the USA. One person can live in France for $1,451 a month, while it’s $2,213 a month to live in the United States. A family spends, on average, $3,587 on living expenses a month to live in France, but in the US, it’s $5,003 a month.

The following estimates come from LivingCost.

Housing In France Vs The US

On average, one person can rent housing in France for $744/month, but it’s $1,399/month in the US. That means housing in France is about half as much as in the US! For a family to rent a home in France, it’s $1,409/month, while it’s $2,331/month in the USA. Quite a stark difference.

Food Expenses In France Vs The US

Food expenses in France, on average, are $493/month vs in the US, they are $568/month. Overall, groceries seem to be comparable in France vs in the US since some items are cheaper in France and others more expensive. Eating out, however, does seem to be a tad cheaper in France.

Average Breakdown of Groceries:

• 1 qt of Milk: $1.16 in France vs $1.05 in the US
• 1 lb of Bread: $1.66 in France vs $3.04 in the US
• 2.2 lb of Rice: $1.78 in France vs $3.99 in the US
• 12 Eggs: $3.79 in France vs $3.91 in the US
• 2.2 lb of Cheese: $14.90 in France vs $11.80 in the US
• 2L of Coca-Cola/Pepsi: $2.32 in France vs $2.26 in the US
• 2.2 lb of Banana: $2.08 in France vs $1.72 in the US

Average Breakdown of Eating Out:

• Lunch Menu: $14.70 in France vs $16.60 in the US
• Dinner Menu: $56.10 in France vs $63.30 in the US
• Fast Food Meal: $10.20 in France vs $9.07 in the US
• Cappuccino: $3.21 in France vs $4.64 in the US

Transportation Expenses In France Vs The US

Public transportation expenses in France are cheaper than in the United States. If you prefer to drive your own car, though, gas is almost twice as expensive in France vs in the US.

Average Breakdown of Transportation:

• Local Transport Ticket: $1.84 in France vs $2.23 in the US
• Monthly Local Transport Ticket: $56.20 in France vs $65.50 in the US
• Taxi Ride for 5 miles: $18.90 in France vs $17.40 in the US
• Gas for ¼ gal: $1.95 in France vs $1.01 in the US

Salaries In France Vs The US

In France, the average salary a year is $43,368 or $3,614/month. In the United States, the average salary is $71,456 a year or $5,954/month. Even though the French make less money on average, though, their cost of living is much more affordable than that of the United States.

Healthcare In France

France has a universal health care system that’s ranked as one of the best in the world. All legal residents, including expats, can participate in the healthcare system and insurance scheme. This affordable hybrid system allows patients to spend very little on healthcare.

French residents have pretty high tax rates, but the country spends more than 11% of its GDP on the French healthcare system. This allows patients to benefit from highly subsidized care. 

This affordable treatment is also of very high quality, speedy, and accessible for expats after 3 months in France, regardless of their employment status.

The healthcare system covers the following:

• 70% of fees from doctor visits
• 80% of hospital costs
• The remaining cost can either be paid by the individual or a supplementary private health insurance

Until you qualify for the French healthcare system, and if you want to stack your insurance plans, you’ll need private health insurance. Pacific Prime provides phenomenal private insurance plans in France and around Europe.

Whether or not you use French insurance, however, if you plan to spend a decent amount of time traveling around other countries, you’ll want coverage no matter where you are.

Pacific Prime can help you connect with plans that will protect you around the globe.

Living In France As An American

Living in France as an American can be totally different from what you’re used to. The French have a more relaxed lifestyle that focuses on spending time with family and friends. There will be some adjustments to the cultural differences when you move there as an expat.

Cultural Characteristics of the French:

• Leisurely lifestyle focused on social interactions, eating good food, and relaxing
• They are collective and communal in their thinking
• They highly value relationships and the group as a whole
• Love for high-quality wine is a huge part of French culture, and they usually drink it in more moderation than the way Americans drink beer
• They embrace diversity
• Have strong patriotism
• The French generally dress in clothing that’s more formal, stylish, and expensive

Retiring In France From USA

If you’re retiring in France from the USA, you’re not alone. Many others do the same, and you’ll start the process by getting either a visitor visa or a long-stay visa to enter the country. After that, you’ll apply for a residency permit.

If you get a long-stay visa, you’ll apply for a residency permit within the first 3 months of your arrival in France. That will let you live in France for a year.

If you get a visitor visa, you can apply for a visitor’s residency permit after a year, and 5 years after that, you can apply for a permanent residency permit.

You’ll want to learn about the French pension system before you move as well.

Moving To France From USA

The first step to moving to France from the USA is to apply for a visa. This lets you stay in France for longer than 90 days. After that, you will apply for a residency permit or a carte de séjour.

Visas to get into France:

• Student Visa: You can live in France during your studies at a local university 
• Work Visa: This can be challenging, but if you’re a skilled worker that can help you
• Talent Passport: This is a work permit for people who are more likely to make a “significant contribution” to the French economy
• French Tech Visa: This is a fast-tracked visa scheme for non-EU employees and investors so they can get a residence permit and work in the tech field
• Self-Employment Visa: This is a work permit option for freelancers and small business owners
• Retirement Visa: This allows people to live in France if they can show proof of income/financial savings that you won’t need a job

If one of your parents is a French citizen, you may be able to apply for French citizenship as well. However, your grandparents or older don’t count toward this.

Here are the types of residency permits in France:

• Carte de Séjour
• Carte de Resident
• EU Blue Card
• Authorization of stay

Some other things you’ll need to consider when moving to France:

• Gathering all the right documentation to move there
• How to get your stuff there, and whether or not you should sell some of it (there is a freight tax to move it, and items you’ve owned for less than 6 months have a value-added tax)
• The expensive and difficult job of getting your car to France
• How to move your pet to France
• Opening bank accounts in France
• Paying taxes in France

Conclusion

Now you know all about the cost of living in France, living in France as an American, and how to retire and move there. We highly recommend securing international healthcare before you move so you have coverage at all times—you never know when an emergency may happen.

You’ll also want to check out our articles about living abroad in Germany and Ireland.

Safe travels!

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Jantra Jacobs

Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime

Jantra Jacobs is a Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime with over 10 years of writing and editing experience. She writes and edits a diverse variety of online and offline copy, including sales and marketing materials ranging from articles and advertising copy to reports, guides, RFPs, and more.

Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.

Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.

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