I moved to Paris, France over ten years ago. The culture and people brought me to France, but travel opportunities and the quality of life have kept me here!
As much as I love Paris, I’ve also considered other places to live in France. From charming French towns to vibrant cities, there’s so much to choose from.
In this guide, I’ve compiled a list of the best places to live in France based on my travels around the country and research. No matter what you’re looking for or why you’re considering moving to France, the country has so much to offer.
Notification: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. See our Advertising Policy for further explanation. Thank you!
17 Best Places to Live in France
Paris
One of the world’s top cultural cities is surprisingly livable for many foreigners.
🏠 Population: 2,102,650 |📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Paris Website | 🏫 Paris Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Paris is more than just a world capital for culture. It’s also a wonderful place to live. Many people speak English, making it a great place to move if you don’t speak French yet.
Property prices are high in Paris, particularly compared to other French cities. However, moving away from the city center will lower prices per square meter of property. The 14th and 20th arrondissements are good places to start.
The Parisian school system is excellent (as is the French school system). The world-class museums and monuments are a wonderful backdrop. International airports connect you easily to the world. Overall, Paris is a top place for all types of foreigners to live.
📚 Related Reading: Need a place to stay for a scouting trip? Read our guide on where to stay in Paris.
Saint-Tropez
This summer tourist hotspot has a vibrant culture that makes it a charming place to live all year.
🏠 Population: 3,380 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Saint-Tropez Website | 🏫 Saint-Tropez Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Saint-Tropez is a small town on the Mediterranean coast that is perfect for those who want sun year-round. You’ll experience small-town life, particularly in the off-season. Be prepared for crowds if you visit in the summer, though! This French city is a top tourist destination.
The village of Saint-Tropez is beautiful, with cobblestone streets and wide open plazas. The sea views and beaches are exceptionally striking. Meanwhile, Saint-Tropez is close to nature, with excellent hiking close to the city. Drivers can reach nearby cities, including Cannes and Nice, easily.
👉 Pro Tip: If you don’t like crowds, consider living in Saint-Tropez for part of the year and leaving during the high summer season. It can get very busy.
Bordeaux
This wine-country haven offers a surprisingly affordable, beautiful lifestyle with great travel connections.
🏠 Population: 254,436 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Bordeaux Website | 🏫 Bordeaux Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Bordeaux’s top colleges make it a thriving university city—but it’s so much more than that. The cultural events at Bordeaux’s museums and national institutions are perfect for art lovers.
The surrounding countryside is full of vineyards producing world-class wine. Meanwhile, it’s still an affordable place to live despite being a large city.
Bordeaux’s location in the Southwest of France makes it perfect for those who want to travel to Spain often. You can also get high-speed TGV trains to France’s capital in just over two hours.
Bordeaux is also a safe city. In fact, it’s one of the safest in France. It has a low crime rate of 41.77, while other major cities’ crime rates are much higher. London, for example, has a crime rate of 62.13 ( Source).
Annecy
This hidden gem is a haven for hikers and nature lovers with its pristine lake and peaceful surroundings.
🏠 Population: 126,924 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Annecy Website | 🏫 Annecy Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Most visitors to the French Alps dream of moving there. Annecy is a beautiful city in the north of the region and makes a great gateway to the European Union. It’s close to Switzerland and Italy. Also, the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanchenamed it the best place to live in France.
Annecy’s canals, pedestrian passages, and colorful architecture create a picturesque background. Meanwhile, the nearby mountains (Mont Veyrier and Mont Baret) will delight winter sports fans.
La Rochelle
This beachside city will appeal to lovers of water sports and boating with its popular marina.
🏠 Population: 78,374 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 La Rochelle Website | 🏫 La Rochelle Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
La Rochelle is a small city on the Atlantic coast that’s full of French culture and history. Its relatively small size gives La Rochelle a laid-back feel, particularly in the off-season. In the summer, the city’s beautiful beaches fill with visitors from France and the EU. Its proximity to the charming Île de Ré island is also a big draw.
The town is very walkable, but public transportation is also accessible. The bus network is particularly good. Sailors will especially enjoy La Rochelle. It has a large area to berth boats. Plus, the seafood is excellent.
Nice
This cosmopolitan city on the Riviera has drawn expats for years with its great weather and views.
🏠 Population: 340,017 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Nice Website | 🏫 Nice Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Nice’s colorful buildings and charming narrow streets make it a popular tourist destination. But it’s also a great place to live. This Riviera city offers sunny weather throughout the year. It has a lively arts scene, with plenty of art galleries and museums.
Nice is close to the Italian border for international travelers. Its public transport system includes both buses and tramways. Additionally, Nice’s international airport is the third busiest in France.
👉 Pro Tip: Those sensitive to the heat should avoid the Riviera in summer. Read my guide on the best time to visit France for advice on when to travel to what region.
Lyon
This bustling metropolis offers world-class food in a less hectic setting than Paris.
🏠 Population: 516,092 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Lyon Website | 🏫 Lyon Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Lyon is the third largest city in France and offers all the benefits of big city life without the costs. It’s 31.1% less expensive than New York City without rent. Meanwhile, rent is 78% lower than in the Big Apple ( Source).
But Lyon offers more than just an affordable place to live. Its lively social scene provides the best of French life, from fine food and great wine to busy nightlife. It’s also easy to get around Nice without a car. Public transport options include subway, tramway, bus, and funicular systems.
Toulouse
The good weather in this college city compliments its rich culture and nightlife.
🏠 Population: 135,787 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Toulouse Website | 🏫 Toulouse Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Toulouse is one of the most beautiful cities in France. Its architecture’s terracotta bricks make it look like an entirely pink city, giving it the nickname “La Ville Rose.” Meanwhile, its Mediterranean climate makes it comfortable year-round.
The city boasts a strong expat community. The aerospace company, Airbus, has its headquarters here and recruits talent worldwide. Toulouse has numerous local schools, including over 100 public kindergartens. The private International School of Toulouse offers Airbus expat professionals’ children a discount on tuition.
Montpellier
This amenity-packed city has a large university, giving it a young and vibrant atmosphere.
🏠 Population: 295,542 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Montpellier Website | 🏫 Montpellier Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
The French view Montpellier as a university town, but this lively city offers the best of metropolitan France. The large student population means the city’s nightlife is busy and diverse.
This student population also means that property prices are lower in Montpellier than in many other cities in France. It also means that Montpellier has many young active families who have stayed in the area after graduation.
Montpellier is an affordable option near the Mediterranean Sea, unlike many French Riviera cities to its east. It is only six miles inland. Montpellier also has the largest pedestrian zone in France.
Marseille
This diverse metropolis offers rich culture, sea views, and everything a young family could need.
🏠 Population: 863,310 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Marseille Website | 🏫 Marseille Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Marseille, the second largest city in France, is an ideal location for outdoor activities. Its climate is mild, the cost of living is low, and the city is full of cultural activities. This diverse city is also one of the best cities in France for foreigners. It isn’t necessary to speak French perfectly here.
Marseille’s housing prices are lower than in other major French cities, especially cities on the French Mediterranean. The price per square meter in the center of this vibrant city averages only 4,573 € ( Source). In contrast, the price per square meter in Paris was around 10,600 € in 2022 ( Source).
The Dordogne Region
This gorgeous region is a foodie’s paradise; it also has well-priced property and an English-speaking community.
🏠 Population: 409,548 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Dordogne Website | 🏫 Dordogne Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
The Dordogne region in southern France has a relaxed lifestyle, lush riverside villages, and world-class food and wine. It’s more than just an attractive place to live in the south of France. Retired expats have been coming here for decades. Speaking French is still a good idea, but English is widely spoken and English speakers are common.
Those looking for a rural or semi-rural environment should look in the Dordogne countryside and villages. House prices are reasonable for France at an average of 2,368€ per square meter ( Source). In comparison, property in France overall averages 2,530€ per square meter ( Source).
The Provence Region
This warm region of France is ideal for retirees with its stunning landscapes and friendly locals.
🏠 Population: 5.059 million (regionally) | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Provence Website | 🏫 Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur Region Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Provence’s fame comes from its rolling hills and lavender fields. But its mild climate and historical towns make it a wonderful place to live. Here, you’ll find a calm environment with warm summers and mild winters.
The Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region of France includes most of Southeastern France. This includes big visitor destinations like Cannes and Nice. But there are also hidden gems, including some of the best towns in France. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and Arles are particularly lovely.
Avignon
This warm city offers a rich history, photogenic surroundings, and a buzzing urban atmosphere.
🏠 Population: 478,000 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Avignon Website | 🏫 Avignon Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Avignon is a beautiful city located in the Provence region. Its city center has important historical sites, including the Palais des Papes (the Popes’ Palace). This historical center has earned Avignon the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The southern city has warm weather throughout the year. There is a large retired community in Avignon. However, its peaceful atmosphere and vibrant artistic and cultural scene make it a good choice for foreigners of any age.
Grenoble
Athletes and skiers flock to Grenoble for its access to the Alps and paths around the city.
🏠 Population: 156,820 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Grenoble Website | 🏫 Grenoble Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Grenoble’s rich history and geography make it a perfect city for history lovers and outdoor athletes. Its relatively small population gives it a laid-back atmosphere between two bustling ski resorts. Meanwhile, Grenoble is the flattest area in France, with almost 200 miles of bike paths.
The charm of this town makes it look more expensive than it is. However, the cost of living is far lower than in Paris. Rent, on average, is half as expensive as it is in Paris ( Source).
Reims
This affordable metropolis has a lively café and bar culture, making it popular with young foreigners.
🏠 Population: 179,238 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Reims Website | 🏫 Reims Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Reims draws thousands of visitors every year. Major attractions are its cathedral, museums, and stunning architecture. But Reims is also a great city in France to live in.
The city has a vibrant central market. It also has a well-served train station providing easy access to Champagne region vineyards. Reims is also just centrally located. Trains take you directly to Paris in only 45 minutes.
Rennes
The historic city of Rennes has the highest quality of life in France, located between Paris and the coast.
🏠 Population: 227,190 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Rennes Website | 🏫 Rennes Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Rennes was named the best city in France for foreigners moving to France by the expat newspaper The Local France. Rennes feels small for a big city. However, it has all the amenities of a larger town with more affordable places to live. The only cheaper rent in France is in the village of Clermont-Ferrand, according toThe Local.
Rennes is also one of the best cities in France for access to big cities and the coasts. It is well connected to Paris, with multiple trains every day that take only 90 minutes to reach the capital. It is also an hour from Mont Saint-Michel, one of the best things to do in France.
Colmar
This small French town offers an intimate historic setting with delicious food and wine.
🏠 Population: 70,865 | 📍 Google Maps | 🌆 Colmar Website | 🏫 Colmar Schools | 👉 Browse Hotels on Booking for Your Scouting Trip
Colmar is one of the best cities in France for those looking for a tight-knit yet strong community. City life centers around various festivals, including those celebrating the harvest.
Colmar itself is beautiful: the main road is a pedestrian-only zone. Meanwhile, a canal runs down the city center. Expats moving to France who want vibrant community life will find it in this small city near the German border.
FAQs About Living in France
What are some family-friendly places to live in France?
Paris,Marseille, and Avignon are family-friendly places to live in France, and among the best places to live in Europe for families. They all have strong communities with excellent schools.
What are good places to live in France for young adults?
Montpellier,Marseille, and Toulouse are good places to live in France for young adults. These cities are affordable yet offer job opportunities and vibrant nightlife.
What are some affordable places to live in France?
Montpellier,Toulouse, and Lyon are some of the most affordable places to live in France. All three cities offer stunning properties with a low cost of living for urban France.
Where do most Americans live in France?
Is it cheaper to live in France or the USA?
What is the French school system like?
The French school system is generally excellent. Public schools are free. Private schools—including bilingual and international schools—are available in bigger cities. However, these schools charge fees, and most French parents prefer the public school system.
Also, note that primary schools are divided into catchment areas by neighborhood. You can request a school outside your catchment area. For high school, students can choose a general, technical, or professional school.
***
These places to live in France are some of the best cities and regions in the world for living abroad. Moving to Northern Europe can be stressful, but I hope you found this guide helpful. For more inspiration, check out the best places to visit in France!
