'); In fact, this is where Royal families from across Europe frequently go when they need a break from the hectic schedule. After all, there are plenty of affordable regions and cities in France to choose from, places where no one would dream of charging you €6 for coffee. Required fields are marked *. If you’re like me and have a weakness for pastoral countryside with brown-and-white cows grazing in verdant meadows… miles of apple orchards bursting with bright red fruit… quiet storybook towns filled with half-timbered houses and shops… stretches of soft golden coastline that offers fresh air and a sense of lightness and freedom, then Normandy may be the place for you. Creuse, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, is one of the cheapest departments in France for property and has a population density of just 22/km² so it would be easy to find a bargain rural retreat here. Clermont-Ferrand. The “people and nature” photography festival in the small town of La Gacilly, where thought-provoking, larger-than-life photos are set all around the town, is on my must-see list. The list of countries and figures mentioned below have been compiled from various sources around the web, such as Forbes, Wikipedia & Nomad List. This question is quite difficult to answer. There’s also a decent tram network with four separate lines if you’re not the energetic type. Still, as I left the café, I couldn’t help grumbling, half-seriously, that one day I’d move to a more reasonably priced area in France. As you will see below, it ranks as the cheapest city in France for living, at least amongst the major urban centres. While Brocéliande is the most famous, countless other sites in Brittany are associated with stories of fairies, pixies, mermaids, demons, devils and other mythical creatures. Provence property is likely always to remain a safe haven and a good investment. Moving through the city is like taking a trip through history. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'myfunkytravel_com-banner-1','ezslot_0',126,'0','0']));Another city you may not have considered is Nantes, lying in the west of France but not quite on the coast. This post on the best cities to live in France was published in August 2020. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'myfunkytravel_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',147,'0','0']));You can clearly see that Paris is by some distance the most expensive major city in France to live in. Almost 7 dollars, for a not-so-big cup of coffee. Real estate prices rise in pretty coastal towns such as Honfleur, Trouville, and Cabourg. But the setting is so idyllic and many other costs (such as groceries, dining out and entertainment) are so reasonable, you may find the higher housing prices worth it. Nice is expensive, but it’s the cheapest city on the French Riviera. Lyon is probably best known for being the gastronomic capital of France. "It's MUCH more costly to live in Paris or Provence. As a result, the entire area is rich with medieval sites and treasures, from the famed 11th-century Bayeux tapestry, to the Place du Vieux-Marché in Rouen where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, to the Mont St. Michel, a breathtaking medieval monastery set on an island that is approachable on foot for a few hours during low tide. Merlin is said to have roamed there and unfaithful knights were held captive in the Vale of No Return. Learn more about France and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. The tropical climate, good health care, and tasty ceviche also make Costa Rica an attractive place to live, especially for volunteers and teachers — you can stretch your budget pretty far. Nantes via catherine MOSINIAK-PAILLIER, CC BY-SA 2.0. 11 of the cheapest places to live in France. A large tourist industry offers ex-pats many job opportunities for those wishing to live and work in a warm climate. Cost of living in Paris is 17% cheaper than in New York City. Like many French regions, there’s a lot of wine produced here. If you’re looking to buy, the average square meter price for an apartment is € 3,328 ($4,278). Lyon is also filled with fascinating museums and theaters, offers open-air concerts and festivals, and diversions of every kind. How to Find Affordable Places to Retire in France. A diverse and now vast region (including Roussillion and Pyrenees-Orientales) taking in beaches, national park, medieval castles and mountains, it offers something for everyone - as well as the superb climate and sun-drenched grape varieties of the south. It was that good. Often called the “Land of Legends,” Brittany brims with mythological tales and folklore descending from its Celtic heritage. Here’s a region where elegant centuries-old stone houses are regularly on offer for less than €100,000 ($110,000). But there is so much more to Lyon than food. Indeed the city promotes itself as the ‘Capital of the Alps’ and the snow-capped peaks provide a stunning backdrop during the winter months. } There's plenty to … The Languedoc is the more affordable part of France’s southern coast. begin = cookie.indexOf(prefix); Types of property include old stone farmhouses and modern villas and price per square metre is over EUR 3,000. Despite offering so much, housing costs in Lyon are a fraction of the price in Paris. Paris, France’s capital city, is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Famous ski resorts such as Deux Alpes and Alpe d’Huez are roughly 90 minutes away with several daily buses departing from the city during the peak season (December to February), while the nearest ski stations are just 45 minutes away by road. Grenoble also has a popular cable car which transports you to the Bastille for panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. It’s therefore important to do your research when choosing a place to live. var prefix = name + "="; While rents in Limoges had seen a hefty increase of 7.6 percent year-on-year, annual transport passes here are among the cheapest in France, setting students back just €90. Those with more lavish lifestyles will most likely spend more. But that’s just the beginning. Indeed bit a ot less then London or NYC. This lovely region offers no end of things to see and do and it’s only two hours away from Paris, yet, it’s quite affordable. Despite being the smallest region in mainland France, around 1,000,000 people live in Alsace – mainly in the city of Strasbourg, which is also the official seat of the European Parliament. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. } They are aimed to represent a realistic figure for a single person, including the cost of renting accommodation. While living in Paris may be the romantic dream for many, the hard reality is that it’s a very expensive city to be and unless you have a well paid job in the French capital, there’s much better value to be found elsewhere. This came home to me recently when, after having a simple cup of coffee in a café, I got socked with a €6 bill. Creuse is home to rolling green hills and cattle outnumber people here, especially on the Millevaches plateau. The pace of life is a little bit slower than in many other European cities but Nantes does have a unique arts scene, as well as a great selection of parks and green areas. As well as benefiting from a Mediterranean climate, the city also has many advantages over others in France with a manageable size, a city-wide bike scheme and extensive bicycle lanes making it easy to get around. Marseille has many interesting museums, attractions and quirky districts to discover so the risk of boredom setting in is significantly less than in some of the smaller towns. Dijon is a famous city in France because it is the capital of the Burgundy region. I had a three- course meal at one of Lyon’s oldest bouchons (a special local restaurant known for serving up hardy Lyonnaise cuisine), where I had a huge salade Lyonnaise, a small roasted chicken, and chocolate mousse for about €30 ($33). THE ULTIMATE LIST OF CHEAPEST PLACES TO LIVE IN EUROPE #1: Berlin, Germany. Lille is a major terminal on the high-speed Eurostar train line meaning there are rapid rail connections to the major European capitals of Paris, London, Brussels and Amsterdam. document.write('