Introduction

France is in Western Europe. Its capital city is Paris, and the official language spoken in France is French.

The country has a vibrant cultural and historical legacy, plus famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and Notre Dame Cathedral.

There are very many benefits of living in France, including a high quality of life, amazing health care benefits, and a rich cultural heritage.

Also, France has a low crime rate, and the country is generally peaceful and safe. There is more; the country offers an outstanding transportation system, shopping, and dining-out options.

The cost of living in France is relatively high, especially in major cities like Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, but it is Bed by the country's strong economy and high salaries for many jobs.

One disadvantage of living in France is the language barrier; you already know that French is the official language and many people do not speak English fluently, so you may have to apply for language classes if you don't speak good French.

However, living in France is definitely an incredible experience for a lot of people. It is important to carefully consider the challenges and costs before making the move.

Here are the costs of living in France.

1. Healthcare

In France, the people enjoy statutory health insurance, where the government covers about 70% to 100% of some health care costs for people living in the country, these include hospital visits, contraceptives, and medicines.

However, you may need to pay out-of-pocket fees for some health care services, like teeth whitening, or some medical procedures that are not covered by Statutory Health Insurance. That's why over 90% of people who live in France have Private health insurance. The average cost of a PHI for a single person is €40 (EUROS) for the basic plan for a single person, and sometimes you get €90 (EUROS) for a basic family plan.

2. Housing Cost

Housing costs take away the largest chunk of earnings for most people in France. Rent prices vary depending on the size, type of apartment, and location, with Paris, Lyon, and Marseille being the most expensive cities to live in. The monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Paris can be from around €1000 to €2,500, again, depending on the location and quality of the apartment. The monthly rent for two-bedroom flats is around €2500–€5000.

Outside the city, rent prices are lower. It ranges from €500 to €1,500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment and from €2000 to €3000 for a two-bedroom apartment.

3. Transportation

France has a well-built public transportation system, which includes trains, buses, trams, etc. Prices are different for each means of transportation. For buses, a single metro ticket in Paris costs €1.90, and a monthly pass costs around €75. This ticket covers buses, trains, and trams. If you choose taxis, you should know that taxis and ride-hailing services are usually more expensive depending on the distance of your journey. The main fee is about €7.30, and the price per kilometre is €1.09. If you want taxis to wait for you, the charge for waiting is €33.50 per hour.

4. Groceries

The cost of groceries is quite high compared to other countries like America and the UK but you can find cheaper options by buying from local markets, discount stores like Lidl or Aldi, and supermarkets like Intermarché.

Fresh from-the-farm groceries, bread, dairy products, water, and other edibles are readily available everywhere and are affordable for everyone.

For example, the cost of groceries in France is reasonable: a loaf of 500g bread costs around €2, a kilogram of apples costs around €2.50, and a bottle of wine costs between €12 and €40.

Eating out at a mid-range restaurant may cost anywhere from €15 to €30 per person. In total, the monthly cost of groceries may range from €200 to €300.

5. Taxes

France has a high tax rate, with income tax starting from 0% to 45% for those earning more than €151,956 per year. There is also a standard value-added tax (VAT) of 20% on most goods and services.

6. Communication

The cost of Communication in France is lower compared to other countries. Internet and mobile phone plans are cheap. For example, a mobile phone plan with unlimited calls and texts and 100 gigabytes of data costs around €22–€30 per month.

7. Utilities

The cost of utilities in France is different for different people, monthly costs depend on the size, location of the apartment or house, number of people in the apartment as well as the time of year. Electricity, gas, and water bills are paid every month, and they range from €100 to €250 per month.

8. Leisure Activities

One of the advantages of living in France is that it has a wide range of leisure activities, including sports, games, outdoor activities, and cultural events. Prices for these activities can change depending on the type of activity and location. A museum ticket costs on average between €8 and €20. A monthly membership in the gym costs an average of €36, and a movie ticket at the cinema costs an average of €17.

Conclusion

To sum up, France is a wonderful place to live. Although living is expensive, there's nothing much to worry about because people are paid enough to cover the cost of living. The average cost of living for a single person in France can be about €2130.