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• Pros & cons of living in France
• Practical Information
• Cost of Living
• Culture and Social Etiquette
• Driving in France
• Public Transportation in France

Pros

• Excellent healthcare system with partial public coverage.
• Efficient public transportation in cities and nationwide.
• Strong work-life balance with a 35-hour workweek.

Cons

• High cost of living, especially in major cities.
• Bureaucracy can be slow and complicated.
• Strikes (����è�����) may disrupt transport and services.
• Formal social etiquette can feel distant for newcomers.
• Pickpocketing is common in crowded places.

This section highlights the most important information expats need when first arriving and adjusting to living in France.

Emergency numbers:

• 112 – Europe-wide emergency call number
• 15 – ambulance
• 17 – police
• 18 – fire department
• 119 – Child protection hotline

Public Holidays

• New Year’s Day – 1 January
• Easter Monday – 22 April
• Labor Day – 1 May
• VE Day – 8 May
• Ascension Day –30 May
• Whit Monday – 10 June
• Bastille Day – 14 July
• Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – 15 August
• All Saints’ Day – 1 November
• Armistice Day – 11 November
• Christmas Day – 25 December

Main Airports

• Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• Paris Orly Airport (ORY)
• Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE)
• Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS)

Main Embassies

Costs vary significantly depending on where you choose to settle. Careful budgeting and choosing the right region can make living in France very manageable.

Living expenses in France

When budgeting for France, on average, a single expat can expect to spend between 1,800–2,500 EUR per month in Paris, and 1,200–1,800 EUR in smaller cities, covering rent, food, transport, and leisure.

Grocery prices

The monthly recommended amount you should budget for groceries is around in the range of 300–380 EUR (approx. 345–440 USD).

Everyday staples are average priced for a liter of milk costs roughly 1.20 EUR (approx. 1.5 USD), a dozen eggs around 3.50 EUR (approx. 4 USD) and chicken (1kg) approximately 13 EUR (approx. 15 USD).

Utility costs

For all the basics which include electricity, gas, water, and garbage, costs are roughly 160 – 200 EUR (approx. 185 – 230 USD) per month. For the internet, expect to pay about 30 – 35 EUR (approx. 37 USD) for unlimited data. Budget operators like and are popular among expats for affordable data-heavy plans starting as low as 5 EUR per month.

Cost of education

• Public schools (primary & secondary) — Free, though meals, childcare, and extracurricular activities carry additional costs
• Private schools — Tuition from 300–800 EUR/month
• International schools — Tuition exceeding 1,000 EUR/month depending on institution
• Public universities (EU students) — Low annual fees, typically a few hundred EUR
• Public universities (non-EU students) — approx. 2,900 EUR/year for bachelor's, approx. 3,850 EUR/year for master's programs

Healthcare cost

The government covers roughly 70% of healthcare expenses through the national system (Assurance Maladie). The rest being covered via private health care. Costs for this can vary depending on the policy and your medical history. For a young, single person, the average price for a health insurance plan is around 70–100 EUR (approx. 81–115 USD). Read our guide on healthcare in France.

Rent prices

Costs vary dramatically depending on the city, neighborhood, and property size. While the average price of rent in:

• Paris: residents should be prepared to spend around 1,300–1,500 EUR (approx. 1,500–1,720 USD) per month on rent
• Nantes: expat destination in Brittany the average rent is significantly lower around 550–650 EUR (approx. 630–750 USD) per month.

As a general rule, budget at least 30% of your monthly income for rent. Consider using a relocation agent or platforms like or to find listings.

Travel & transportation cost

France has one of Europe's most reliable public transportation networks. Major cities including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse have well-connected metro, tram, and bus systems.

Monthly passes range from 50 EUR (approx. 58 USD) in smaller cities to 86 EUR (approx. 100 USD) in Paris.

• For intercity travel, is excellent. High-speed TGV trains connect major cities rapidly, while budget service offers tickets from as little as 10 EUR (approx. 12 USD).
• Long-distance coaches like and are even more affordable.
• Ride-hailing apps including and operate widely across French cities alongside regulated taxis.

Leisure activities

• A gym membership averages 60 EUR (approx. 70 USD) per month.
• Cinema ticket costs an average of 12 EUR (approx. 14 USD).
• Streaming platforms like Netflix start at 8 EUR (approx. 9 USD) monthly.

World-class museums like the Louvre charge around 17 EUR (approx. 19 USD) for entries, though many are free on the first Sunday of each month. Dining out, wine tasting, and exploring France's stunning countryside and coastal regions are among the most rewarding and are often free.

Lifestyle

• Southern France offers a relaxed, Mediterranean lifestyle with hot summers and a slower pace of life.
• A legally protected 35-hour work week ensures a healthy work-life balance nationwide.
• Many shops close on Sundays and take a two-hour lunch break daily, particularly outside major cities.

Etiquette & manners

• Greet colleagues with a handshake and close friends with a kiss on the cheek (la bise).

• Always use "vous" with strangers and elders; switch to informal "tu" only with close friends and family.

• Dress neatly in public — appearance is taken seriously in French culture.

• Speak softly and avoid grooming in public, as both are considered impolite. . Social gatherings

• Arrive on time but never early — never more than ten minutes late; punctuality is more relaxed in the south

• Respect privacy — avoid personal or probing questions unless you know someone well

• When invited to dinner, finishing your food is considered a compliment to the host

• When bringing flowers, always choose an odd number — avoid 13 as it is considered unlucky

• Intellectual and satirical humor is appreciated; joke-telling is not customary.

If you are planning on moving to a large city in France, such as Paris, Lyon, or Marseilles, driving is not a necessity. However, if you wish to explore France’s provincial towns and villages, having your own car will certainly be more convenient. But of course, you will need a valid license to drive on the roads of France.

Using a foreign license

Expats can drive in France using a valid foreign license for up to one year after establishing residency. After that, you must exchange it for a French license. Nationals of certain countries can exchange directly without retaking the test check with the French prefecture for your country's agreement status.

• EU/EEA license holders — valid indefinitely unless driving offenses result in point deductions
• UK license holders — UK licenses are valid for one year, after which an exchange is required
• Non-EU license holders — valid for one year, exchange or full test required thereafter
• International Driving Permit (IDP) — may be required alongside your foreign license

Key rules of the road

• Drive on the right side of the road
• Speed limits 130 km/h on motorways, 80 km/h on rural roads, 50 km/h in towns
• Strictly no mobile phone use while driving hands-free kits are also restricted
• Blood alcohol limit is 0.5mg/100ml
• Carrying a reflective jacket and warning triangle in your car is compulsory
• Speeding fines start from 68 EUR (approx. 80 USD) for minor violations, rising to 1,500 EUR for excessive speeding
• Mobile phone use while driving 135 EUR (approx. 160 USD) fine and loss of 3 points from your license

Road types in France

There are three types of roads in France, which are classified as follows:

• A means autoroute — highways and usually require payment of tolls (à péage) find out the cost of tolls for driving in France on the .
• N is a national road (route nationale) — has a lower speed limit than the autoroutes, but do not have tolls.
• D is a route départementale, — a minor road under departmental (provincial) administration.

Driving a rental car

Some car rental agencies require the driver to be at least 21 or 25 years of age. Some may also require you to have had your foreign driver’s license for at least a year. It is best to check with the agency directly:

Average car rental prices start from around 30 — 50 EUR (approx. 35 — 60 USD) per day for a basic model, rising to 80–120 EUR (approx. 94 — 140 USD) per day for larger or premium vehicles.

If you prefer not to drive and avoid heavy traffic, France’s public transportation system is a great alternative.

City transport

Most major French cities have well-developed metro, tram, and bus networks operating roughly between 5:00 hours and midnight.

Cities with a metro system include:

• Paris
• Lyon
• Marseie
• Lille
• Toulouse
• Rennes

In Paris, the metro runs every 3–5 minutes and covers virtually every neighborhood. The RER (Réseau Express Régional) additionally connects central Paris to its suburbs efficiently. Be aware that public transportation in France is relatively prone to recurring strikes (les ����è�����).

Cost of public transportation in France

• Paris — Single ticket: 2.15 EUR | Monthly pass: 86 EUR
• Lyon — Single ticket: 2.00 EUR | Monthly pass: 70 EUR
• Marseille — Single ticket: 1.70 EUR | Monthly pass: 55 EUR
• Bordeaux — Single ticket: 1.80 EUR | Monthly pass: 58 EUR

Trains

SNCF, France's national rail operator, connects the entire country. Key services include:

• TGV — High-speed trains up to 320 km/h connecting major cities.
• TER — Regional trains for daily commuters connecting smaller towns.
• ���Գٱ��������é�� — Medium to long-distance connections between major towns.
• Ouigo — Budget high-speed service with fares from 10 EUR (approx. 12 USD).
• Eurostar — Paris to London in under 2.5 hours.

Book tickets at for the best fares and advance deals.

Buses

Another increasingly popular option for exploring France is to travel by coach. These are not the average run-of-the-mill buses you would use for your daily commute, but comfortable, modern vehicles with Wi-Fi, power outlets, and clean toilets.

Popular international bus operator:

• — Extensive France and Europe network, fares from 5 EUR (approx. 6 USD)
• — SNCF-operated service connecting 46 French and European destinations
• — One of Europe's largest coach networks serving all major French cities