Is France a Good Place to Live?
Is France a good place to live? The honest answer depends on what you value, so here is the case for and against, built from Eurostat data rather than opinion: cost, salaries, safety, healthcare and quality of life, each against the EU average.
The verdict
The short answer
Short answer: France comes with real trade-offs on the numbers, with 3 clear strengths against 4 weak spots. The standout in its favour is manageable housing costs; the one to weigh against it is patchy healthcare access. Self-reported life satisfaction is 7.1/10.
The case for
Why France works
- Manageable housing costs. Housing cost overburden of 6.4 % of pop., 17% below the EU average.
- Strong take-home pay. Net salary (single) of 30.832 €/yr, 14% above the EU average.
- A relatively light tax wedge. Tax wedge on labour of 35.4 %, 7% below the EU average.
The case against
What to weigh up
- Patchy healthcare access. Unmet healthcare need of 3.7 %, 54% above the EU average.
- A weak job market. Unemployment of 7.7 %, 28% above the EU average.
- A high cost of living. Price level of 110.1 EU=100, 10% above the EU average.
- Higher violent crime than most. Homicide rate of 1.28 /100k, the 24th-lowest of 30 European countries.
Cost of living
How expensive is France?
The overall price level is 110.1 on the EU=100 scale, so day-to-day spending runs 10% above the EU average. Housing is where budgets are decided: 6.4% of residents spend more than 40% of income on it, 17% below the EU average, and that share is far higher in the big cities than the national figure shows. For the full breakdown of prices, pay and what is left over, see our cost of living in France guide.
Safety
Is France safe?
On the hardest measure, France records 1.28 homicides per 100,000 people, the 24th-lowest of 30 European countries. Perceived crime tells the day-to-day story: 14.7% of residents report crime, violence or vandalism in their area, 47% above the EU average. As everywhere, both vary sharply by city and neighbourhood, so treat the national figures as a baseline and check the specific area you are considering.
Healthcare
Healthcare in France
Two numbers sketch healthcare in France: a 83-year life expectancy (around the EU average) and an unmet-need rate of 3.7% (54% above the EU average). The first reflects outcomes, the second how reachable and affordable care is in practice. Both are national averages; rural access differs from the cities.
Work
Working in France: pay and jobs
A single worker on an average wage keeps about 30.832 EUR/year net after a 35.4% tax wedge (7% below the EU average). Unemployment stands at 7.7% with an employment rate of 75.5%, a market where arriving with a signed contract matters. Read the salary against the 110.1 price level rather than on its own; see our cost guide for that comparison.
Fit
Who France suits
Who does France suit? Families will weigh the 1.28 per 100,000 homicide rate, 3.7% unmet healthcare need and 10.8% overcrowding, a mixed set worth checking against specific towns. Remote workers get 94.43% household broadband coverage and a 110.1 price level for their foreign income to land in. For those moving for a local job, the 7.7% unemployment rate and 30.832 EUR/year net pay are the two figures to anchor on.
Context
How France compares with its neighbours
| Country | Price level EU=100 |
Net salary (single) €/yr |
Tax wedge on labour % |
Life satisfaction /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 110.1 | 30.832 | 35.4 | 7.1 |
| Switzerland | 158.5 | 82.060 | 20.1 | 7.7 |
| Belgium | 105.3 | 34.642 | 37.9 | 7.6 |
| Spain | 95.2 | 25.263 | 36.4 | 7.2 |
France set against the neighbours people most often weigh it against. National averages from Eurostat; living costs vary widely within each country.
More on France
Read next
Practical guides
Setting up life in France
The admin side of moving to France, sorted by what you will need first.
Common questions
Is France a good place to live: FAQ
Is France a good place to live for expats?
On the data it comes with real trade-offs, with 3 clear strengths and 4 drawbacks. It tends to suit people whose priorities line up with its strengths; check the lists above against your own.
What are the downsides of living in France?
The main ones on the data: patchy healthcare access, a weak job market, a high cost of living.
Is France safe?
France records 1.28 homicides per 100,000 (the 24th-lowest of 30 European countries), making it weaker on recorded safety than most of Europe. Perceived crime in residential areas runs at 14.7%.
Is France good for families?
The family-relevant signals: safety (1.28 per 100,000), healthcare access (3.7% unmet need), overcrowding (10.8%) and the 16.3% at-risk-of-poverty rate. Together they are mixed, so check the specific town.
Is France good for remote workers?
Broadband reaches 94.43% of households and the price level is 110.1 (EU=100), which together decide whether a foreign salary lands comfortably.
How is the healthcare in France?
Life expectancy is 83 years (around the EU average) and 3.7% report an unmet medical need, 54% above the EU average.
What does it cost to live in France?
The price level is 110.1 against EU=100, 10% above the EU average; see our full cost of living in France guide for prices, salaries and tax.
Source: Eurostat (latest available years). National averages; figures vary by region and city. See the methodology.