France is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, but some travelers love it so much that they decide to relocate there permanently. If you’re thinking about the pros and cons of living in France, there are definitely a few things to consider.
Moving to France has plenty of advantages, such as the stellar healthcare system and work-life balance that goes hand in hand with French culture. At the same time, you may also deal with a few downsides, like super high taxes and a high cost of living.
As someone with family in France, I can shed a little light on what it’s really like living in one of the most visited countries in the world. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of living in France!
A Quick Overview & Comparison
| Pros of Living in France | Cons of Living in France |
| Strong healthcare system | Dated housing |
| Paid holidays | High cost of living |
| Stress-free culture | High taxes |
| Great public transport | Language barrier |
| Gender equality | Discrimination |
| Weather |
The Pros of Living in ‘France
1. Strong Healthcare System
In a post-COVID world, a good healthcare system is important, and France is known to have one of the best in the world.
Both the individual and the state come together to pay for healthcare costs in France, and the scheme is available to expats who have been living in France for three months and intend to live there for another three months minimum.
The quality of healthcare has contributed to the life expectancy of the average French resident being 83. There is also one doctor for every 1,000 citizens, and appointments are generally easy to get (without long wait times).
You can see a specialist in France without first getting a referral, and there are free preventive procedures available, including free medical check-ups every two years.
2. Paid Holidays
France is one of the best countries in Europe when it comes to paid holidays. Employees get 30 days of annual leave per year.
There are also additional paid days off given in some circumstances, depending on how long someone has been employed by the company.
There are 11 public holidays in France, with many employers considering them to be paid time off. If you do work on Labour Day in France as an employee, you’ll be entitled to 200% of your pay.
If that weren’t good enough, the average working week in France is shorter than you might be used to, at just 35 hours.
3. Stress-Free Culture
The general pace of life tends to be more relaxed in France (and other southern European nations) than it is in the U.K. and the U.S.A. As meals are considered a staple part of French culture, it’s not unusual to have a 90-minute lunch on a working day.
In some parts of France, businesses close for two hours in the middle of the day, allowing their employees to relax during a long lunch, and then stay open later .
It’s hardly surprising, then, that a 2018 survey cited by Move Hub found that 79% of people who moved to France were happy with their choice to relocate.
4. Great Public Transport
France is brimming with amazing destinations that you’ll want to visit when you live there, and thankfully, the solid public transport system makes it easy to get around.
In particular, the system of high-speed trains will allow you to travel great distances from one side of the country to the other in minimal time. The train network also allows you to easily visit many smaller towns that are off the beaten track.
When it comes to Paris, in particular, the city is served by a convenient metro system that has 380 stations to help you get around the city with ease.
5. Gender Equality
In terms of gender equality, France is one of the more progressive countries of Europe. In 2019, France was found to legally guarantee equality across genders (and was one of just six nations to do so).
There are workplace laws in France that target sexual harassment, as well as those targeting domestic violence. France also offers 16 weeks of paid parental leave for expectant mothers.
France is relatively progressive when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, having decriminalized same-sex marriage before both the U.S. and the U.K., and was ranked third in the world in 2018 by Rainbow Europe for protecting LGBTQ+ rights.
The Cons of Living in France
6. Dated Housing
Before you get your hopes up, living in the average accommodation in France is a far cry from the Palace of Versailles. Housing is understandably dated, which means there might be a lack of modern creature comforts or appliances that you consider a necessity in your digs.
Living in an historic French home might be a tick on your bucket list, but the reality is many homes require refurbishments—or an adjustment in modern standards—to be considered liveable. When homes do have more space and amenities, they tend to be quite expensive.
7. High Cost of Living
The cost of living in France is higher than in other European nations, such as Italy. Some cities in France are cheaper than others, but some are also extremely costly even by world standards—Paris is actually the second most expensive city on the planet.
It’s important to keep in mind that the average French salary is higher compared to elsewhere in Europe, to correlate with the higher cost of living.
If you’d like to live in France but are worried about budgeting, housing, and utilities will likely be cheaper in cities such as Bordeaux.
8. High Taxes
For a long time, France had the highest taxes in Europe. That’s no longer the case, as Denmark took the top spot in 2019. However, French taxes are still relatively high by world standards.
Personal income in France can be taxed at a rate of 45%, plus there are surtaxes on portions of personal income over EUR 250,000.
Note that there are lower tax rates for those supporting children, and people are taxed on household earnings rather than individual earnings.
9. Language Barrier
One of the biggest disadvantages of living in France for an English speaker is the language barrier. Obviously, French is spoken in France, and many locals will expect you to at least have a basic understanding of their language if you’re living there.
However, there are several cost-effective resources you can use to learn French before you move over, whether you decide to attend French classes or use an app like Duolingo.
Immersion is one of the best techniques you can use to learn a language, so you’ll probably find that you pick up more fluency once you move to France and participate in daily life activities, like shopping and working.
10. Discrimination
France is known for its progressive values when it comes to some fronts, but there are still undercurrents of discrimination running through French society.
Notably, French lawmakers banned religious head coverings in schools and government buildings in 2004, and full face coverings in public spaces in 2011.
The country is culturally diverse and migrant communities can thrive in France, but laws like the above prevent total freedom for all residents.
11. Weather
This is only a con depending on what country you’re coming from, but French weather is known for being gray and bleak.
If you’re relocating from London, for example, you’ll be used to cloudy skies, so dealing with the French weather will be no problem. But if you’re coming from somewhere that’s a little sunnier, even in winter, you may be in for a shock.
Of course, if you’re moving to the south of France, you’ll get to enjoy Mediterranean conditions which will hopefully offer a little more sunshine. Otherwise, expect rainy springs and autumns and cold winters with gray skies.
