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Country guide
Overview
France🇫🇷
At a Glance
How France compares across key indices
Cost of Living
78 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
85/100
Healthcare
76/100
Quality of Life
160/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in France
Cost of Living
78
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
58
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
78
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
81
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Low RiskHow safe residents feel in France - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
85/100
Crime Index
25/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
Daytime100
Nighttime100
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in France
France has 300 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,620 in Paris 12e Arrondissement to $2,047 in Paris. Marne La Vallée leads on safety, scoring 85/100. Saint-Étienne ranks highest for quality of life at 159/200.
đź’¸Most Affordable
Paris 12e Arrondissement
$1,620/mo
Safest
Marne La Vallée
85/100
Best Quality of Life
Saint-Étienne
159/200
Best Healthcare
Paris
89/100
City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
40 of 300 shown| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | $2,047 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 89/100 | 29 |
| Marseille | $1,770 | 83/100 | 157/200 | 81/100 | 22 |
| Lyon | $1,728 | 84/100 | 158/200 | 80/100 | 20 |
| Toulouse | $1,726 | 84/100 | 158/200 | 80/100 | 20 |
| Nice | $1,694 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 78/100 | 19 |
| Nantes | $1,688 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 78/100 | 19 |
| Marne La Vallée | $1,687 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 78/100 | 18 |
| Strasbourg | $1,675 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 78/100 | 18 |
| Bordeaux | $1,673 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 77/100 | 18 |
| Montpellier | $1,668 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 77/100 | 18 |
| Lille | $1,665 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 77/100 | 17 |
| Paris 15 Vaugirard | $1,661 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 77/100 | 17 |
| Rennes | $1,659 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 77/100 | 17 |
| Reims | $1,647 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 17 |
| Le Havre | $1,644 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Paris 20 MĂ©nilmontant | $1,644 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Cergy-Pontoise | $1,642 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Paris 18 Buttes-Montmartre | $1,642 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Paris 13 Gobelins | $1,642 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Paris 19 Buttes-Chaumont | $1,641 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Paris 13e Arrondissement | $1,641 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Saint-Étienne | $1,639 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Toulon | $1,635 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Angers | $1,635 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Dijon | $1,632 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Paris 16 Passy | $1,630 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Paris 17 Batignolles-Monceau | $1,630 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Grenoble | $1,630 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 16 |
| Nîmes | $1,625 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 15 |
| Clermont-Ferrand | $1,625 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 15 |
| Aix-en-Provence | $1,624 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 15 |
| Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines | $1,624 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 76/100 | 15 |
| Brest | $1,624 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 75/100 | 15 |
| Le Mans | $1,624 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 75/100 | 15 |
| Paris 11e Arrondissement | $1,624 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 75/100 | 15 |
| Amiens | $1,622 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 75/100 | 15 |
| Tours | $1,622 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 75/100 | 15 |
| Limoges | $1,622 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 75/100 | 15 |
| Paris 12e Arrondissement | $1,620 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 75/100 | 15 |
| Paris 11 Popincourt | $1,620 | 85/100 | 159/200 | 75/100 | 15 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Families
Schools
70 verified school profiles across 12 cities in France — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.
Ecole Jeannine Manuel
Verified
ParisAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ap Course Ledger
Cambridge International School
Émilie du Châtelet
Verified
ClichyAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
American School of Paris
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
American School of Paris
Verified
Saint CloudAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ap Course Ledger
Anglophone Section of Fontainebleau
Verified
FontainebleauAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
46 more verified schools in France are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for France
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Environment
CleanAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in France
Pollution Index
19/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
9.6ug/m3
Good
Environmental Quality
Air Quality100/100
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in France, answered with data
What is the cost of living in France?
France has a cost of living index of 78 relative to New York City (100). It is comparable in cost to most US cities. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,595 in Lyon 03 and reach $2,047 in Paris.
What is the cheapest city in France for expats?
Lyon 03 is the most affordable city in France in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,595 for a single person including rent. Argenteuil is the next most affordable at $1,595/mo.
Is France safe for expats?
France has a safety index of 85/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Marne La Vallée scores highest on safety at 85/100.
What is the best city in France for expats and digital nomads?
Mulhouse ranks highest for quality of life in France, scoring 159/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,601/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Lyon 03 offers the lowest monthly costs at $1,595/mo.
How good is healthcare in France?
France scores 76/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it excellent by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Is France cheaper than the United States?
Yes. France's cost of living is roughly 22% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 42% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
What is the air quality and pollution like in France?
France has a pollution index of 19/100 (lower = cleaner). This is relatively clean by global standards, making it appealing for those prioritising air quality and outdoor lifestyle.
Before You Go
Core tools and insurance next steps for planning a move to France
Plan Your Move
Where Can I Move?
Check whether this country fits your passport, budget, work setup, safety floor, and priorities.
Build My Escape Plan
Turn this country into a practical move plan with visa, insurance, housing, banking, and scouting-trip next steps.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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