The research data reveals that France is relatively less expensive than the UK to live in, and that the country enjoys its greatest advantage when it comes to 'rental costs'. This shouldn't come as a surprise, as there is actually much more space to inhabit in France as opposed to the UK.
Why Might People Choose to Move to France? France allures expats of all ages and backgrounds due to its fantastic quality of life. In HSBC's 2021 Expat Explorer survey, France ranked ninth place for quality of life out of a possible 46 countries. The UK came in a lowly 44th place, followed by Turkey and Bermuda.
According to specialist expat adviser Siddalls houses in France offer better value for money than their UK counterparts, with average prices around 50% cheaper across the channel.
But the UK is the cheapest for nappies and frozen pizza, consumer analysts Circana found. We compared the prices of 23 food and non-food items in France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. When we added up the cost of buying them all, Germany came out as the cheapest and France the most expensive.
Q: Is France a cheaper place to live than the UK? A: Average living costs are 24 per cent cheaper in France than in the UK (Livingcost.org). Of course, where you choose to live will impact how much money you spend.
British arrivals must have an income equivalent to the French minimum wage, which on January 1, 2023, amounted to €1,709 (£1,486) per month, or €20,511 per year. The national minimum wage, or “smic”, in France falls to €16,236 per year after social insurance charges are deducted.
Concerning clothing and accommodation, prices in Paris and London are very similar. However, although London is cheaper in terms of food, transport prices are much more expensive than in Paris. The underground ticket is about 3 times more expensive and the weekly pass is twice as expensive in London.
The average cost of living in France per month for a single person is around €1,800. It's important to remember that this's just an estimate number, and your actual cost of living in France may be higher or lower depending on your location, specific needs, and lifestyle.
Given that France produces 80% of the food it eats that may come as a surprising outcome, but one of the reasons behind it is the dominance of hypermarkets in France and the comparatively low number of discount stores. Around 60% of all food is purchased in hypermarkets.
Cost of living in Germany vs the UK
Some of the biggest costs you'll incur, like rent, childcare and public transport passes, are all cheaper in Germany— not to mention the cheaper university fees. The average cost of living in Germany is 21% cheaper than the cost of living in the UK.
France is about 1.5 times bigger than Germany but with a population 20% smaller. In effect, it has a larger rural area with less people to populate it. And as more and more people relocate to cities, more houses are being added to the market—often at bargain prices.
You hope to purchase at the beginning of an economic cycle and to sell at the peak. Economic growth will normally feed through into strong capital growth in your property. This is why I am convinced that France is the obvious choice for new property investment in Europe during 2022.
Should you decide to stay beyond that time, you will apply for a Carte de Séjour Permanent from your local Prefecture. To obtain a VLS you must prove you have an income at least as high as France's minimum working wage (SMIC). As of 2022 this is around €1,250 net (€1,500 gross) per month, or about €2,000 for a couple.
Can I live in France without speaking French? Realistically speaking, you should learn French if you're considering living here for a long time. It will help you not feel lost or excluded when talking to French people who don't know or don't like to speak in English.
Moving to France can be the adventure of a lifetime. But it's also a complicated process. To become an official resident of France, you'll have to complete quite a bit of paperwork, including a long-term visa application before you depart.
The Quality of Life in France is Excellent! Every year, France continues to rank in the top one hundred nations for the best quality of life. Of course, this is no surprise! From its world-renowned cuisine to its affordable healthcare, France has everything to guarantee a well-balanced life.
It is substantially cheaper to buy luxury products from brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, or Gucci in Paris, their prices being on average between 30% and 40% cheaper in France than in other countries, especially those outside the European Union.
European McDonald's have higher quality standards
In addition to pastries, fresh salads, and a separate vegan-friendly menu, McDonald's France also seems to offer better quality ingredients, which will, of course, cost you a pretty penny. Per NPR, France locally sources its food, and McDonald's is no different.
You must have health insurance cover to live in France. State healthcare in France is not free. Healthcare costs are covered by both the state and through patient contributions. These are known as co-payments.
The average house price in France as a whole is currently around €160,000. In the UK the average is €231,000. That figure alone is enough to compel one to look further and today we are looking at what you can find in different parts of France and still have change out of €250,000.
But Paris has the edge over London, as it boasts the record for having three of the world's top ten most-visited tourist attractions (Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Palace of Versailles) and London has none.
London generally has cooler weather than Ville de Paris. The average mean temperature in London is 12.17°C (53.91°F) while Ville de Paris's temperature is 12.76°C (54.97°F) and the difference is 0.59°C (33.06°F).
Fortunately, both brands have stores in Paris, France – and yes, Chanel and Louis Vuitton bags are much cheaper there than they are in the US. That's because of the VAT (Value Added Tax) refund that you can get when you shop in Paris.