THE BASICS: WHERE – FACTOR 5: Cost
In order for a foreigner to retire in France, they need a visa. Most visas available will have a minimum income requirement. If you’ve come to France, you are very likely to have more than €1800 a month to live on. This figure is based on the minimum wage in France (SMIC) and does change over time. In the assessment stage, we will assume that your need to economize will not require you to live on less than what a long-term stay visa requires. Indeed, we would advise you not to try to move to France with an income lower than the one required for your visa. Given that baseline of €1800 a month , here are the most and least costly departments to live in France.(1 = most expensive, 12 = least expensive). Across the board, fuel in Europe will be more than in the US and Canada, and public transportation will be less costly in France than in the US.
| Rank | Region | Main Cities | Avg. Monthly Cost (€) | 1BR Rent (City Center) | Utilities | Groceries | Public Transport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Île-de-France | Paris | €2,000–€2,500 | €1,200–€2,500 | €80–€150 | €250–€400 | €55–€75 | Most expensive; Paris is the costliest city in France |
2 | Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur | Nice, Marseille | €1,500–€2,000 | €750–€1,061 | €70–€110 | €180–€300 | €30–€50 | Popular coastal region; high rent in Nice |
3 | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | Lyon, Grenoble | €1,400–€1,800 | €600–€1,300 | €70–€120 | €200–€300 | €30–€60 | Lyon is a major economic hub with moderate-high costs |
4 | Brittany (Bretagne) | Rennes, Brest | €1,200–€1,600 | €500–€800 | €60–€100 | €180–€250 | €25–€45 | Coastal region with relatively moderate costs |
5 | Normandy (Normandie) | Caen, Rouen | €1,100–€1,500 | €450–€750 | €60–€90 | €170–€240 | €20–€40 | Affordable with scenic coastal towns |
6 | Pays de la Loire | Nantes, Angers | €1,100–€1,400 | €500–€800 | €60–€90 | €170–€230 | €20–€40 | Balanced urban/rural living |
7 | Grand Est | Strasbourg, Reims | €1,000–€1,400 | €500–€750 | €60–€90 | €160–€220 | €20–€40 | Eastern border region, lower housing costs |
8 | Hauts-de-France | Lille, Amiens | €1,000–€1,300 | €500–€700 | €60–€90 | €160–€220 | €20–€35 | Close to Belgium and UK, moderate pricing |
9 | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux, Limoges | €1,100–€1,400 | €550–€800 | €60–€90 | €170–€240 | €20–€40 | Bordeaux is pricier, countryside more affordable |
10 | Occitanie | Toulouse, Montpellier | €1,000–€1,300 | €500–€750 | €60–€90 | €160–€220 | €20–€35 | Sunny southern region with mid-range costs |
11 | Centre-Val de Loire | Tours, Orléans | €900–€1,200 | €450–€700 | €60–€80 | €150–€200 | €20–€35 | Quiet lifestyle, good value for money |
12 | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | Dijon, Besançon | €850–€1,100 | €400–€650 | €50–€80 | €140–€200 | €20–€35 | Least expensive; rural, peaceful, and scenic |
In general, rural areas will be less expensive (though they will often require a car). The twenty most expensive cities in France are, from most to least) : Paris, Lyon, Nice, Marseille, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Montpellier, Lille, Nantes, Clermont-Ferrand, Rennes, Toulouse, Bordeaux , Reims, Le Havre, St. Etienne, Toulon, Le Mans, Amiens, Limoges). Many urban areas of France are experiencing severe housing shortages (zone tendu, or stresses zones). In these areas, prices will be higher. Nice, Paris, and Montpellier are particularly short of rentals.
Click the image below to download this spreadsheet and use it on your own. (Thanks & credit: M. Sugarman)
