France

Living in France: the short version

France offers excellent public services, generous holidays and a food culture that shapes daily life, from Paris to small towns where living costs fall sharply. Taxes and social charges are high, and French is essential for work and admin outside international firms.

Best for: Professionals with French-speaking skills, retirees with stable income, and families who value public services.

How to move to France: main visa and residency routes

Summaries only — requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.

Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)

Multi-year permit for skilled employees, researchers, founders and investors.

Long-stay visitor visa

For people who can support themselves without working in France, often used by retirees.

Salaried employee visa

Requires a job offer and employer authorisation.

Healthcare for newcomers

After three months of residence you can join PUMa, the public system, which reimburses most costs; many people add a top-up “mutuelle” policy.

How France compares

Calculated from our data for all 55 countries. How we calculate this

Cost of living rank

9th most expensive of 55

Single person, core costs

$1,815/mo

Family of four, core costs

$3,663/mo

Take-home on $60,000

$39,167/yr

• Renting a one-bedroom home takes about 27% of the average local salary in France, less than the median of 36% across the countries we cover.
• Core monthly costs for one person (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, internet and eating out) come to about $1,815, or 50% of the average local monthly salary.
• On a gross salary of $60,000 taxed locally, our estimate leaves $39,167 a year after income tax and employee social security (an effective rate of 35%), the 49th highest take-home pay of 55 countries. After single-person core costs, that leaves roughly $17,387 a year to save or spend.
• Countries with a similar overall cost of living: United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden.
• Cheaper options in Europe: Sweden, Netherlands, Austria.

Estimates for planning, using simplified national tax brackets in US dollars; local taxes, deductions and your own spending will differ. Try your own numbers in the tax calculator or budget planner.

Sources and methodology

Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on September 30, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.