I’m a big fan of making pros and cons lists. When I’m grappling with a decision, I’ve been known to whip out a notebook, make two columns, and list out as many pros and cons as possible. Do you do the same thing? Somehow, seeing everything visually listed out makes me feel more in control of the decision making process and less in my head about it. Lists make everything more organized and less daunting.
Would you believe me if I told you I made a living in France pros and cons list back in the day before I took the leap? Oui! I did. OF COURSE I DID!
If I remember correctly, I think I made several pros and cons lists concerning France and I still write out my lists on a variety of topics all the time. If you’re in the research stage of moving to France or are just curious about some of the pros and cons of living in France among French people, you’ve come to the right place. Maybe you’ll be able to relate to the advantages and disadvantages of living abroad in France…
Living in France pros and cons
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com/Vitalii Matokha
Bonjour! In case you’re new here, here’s a quick glance at my life. I moved to France from NYC back in 2012 to join my French husband. Before that I taught English via TAPIF for 7 months and that was my first experience living abroad in France.
We’ve always lived together out in the Loire Valley, never Paris, the French capital city, or a big city center. We both work and we don’t have kids (but we have a sweet little dog, Dagny ;-)).
What I’d like to focus on in this post are the top pros and cons of living in France long term. I feel like fewer people write about the deeper stuff and it’s so needed in the living abroad in France space. Let’s take off the rose-colored glasses.
I could make a list of little things that I find to be pros and cons of living in France, but the heavy hitting pros and cons below represent life in France overall for me after being here awhile.
I’m tackling the overarching, hard-hitting pros and cons for me at this point and not the surface level stuff that falls into the cool little thing or pesky annoyance category.
For less serious pros and cons of life in France that fall into the culture shock category of things that might surprise you or annoy you the first year or so of living in France or as a tourist, I’ve got you.
These posts touch on more surface level observations and aspects of life in France that newcomers here might find interesting: I’ve written at length about the cultural differences, social norms, and big list of little culture shocks, and things I do as an American that confuse French people.
I’ve also written about the dark side of expat life in France and major things people overlook when moving to France. Yes, there are high taxes and it can be tricky to open a French bank account but then there’s the Eiffel Tower, fabulous public transportation and delicious French cuisine.
Keep in mind that what might be a con for me might be a pro for you and vice versa. Not everyone’s living abroad experience is the same and our tolerance and sensitivity levels are all different too.
Someone coming to France as a student for a semester abroad is going to have a different set of challenges than a retiree who lives in France a few months a year. They will both have a vastly different experience from someone living in a city in their 30s who works full-time and is raising a family. Or someone who speaks no French and doesn’t work. There’s no one right or wrong way to do the living abroad thing in France.
All experiences are valid and we can learn from and support each other.
What’s not cool is to tell someone else that their experience and feelings are wrong because you haven’t personally experienced that same exact thing. And that’s my point here.
Of course we haven’t lived someone else’s life, so let’s keep an open, respectful mind and try to really listen.
I feel silly having to even write that but you have no idea how many times I’ve written about something (or made a video about it), highlighting my personal experience and feelings, just to have someone rudely tell me I’m wrong because that hasn’t been THEIR experience. Nutso, n’est-ce pas?
Don’t even get me started on that whole rude retort people hurl at anyone expressing anything critical about France. That “If you don’t like it here, then go home!”
Lastly, before I get to my list of the top pros and cons of living in France, I want to reiterate that picking up and moving to another country is a major undertaking.
It’s not something to take lightly or do on a whim. I’m careful to not paint life in France as “living the dream” in a place where everything is perfect and a fairytale because that’s not real life. I think it’s important that people considering a move to France don’t pull the wool over their eyes and minimize the challenges of life here by only focusing on people’s highlight reels on social media.
I feel so strongly about that that I wrote a post about major things people moving to France overlook.
It’s great to focus on the pros — there are many and it’s no wonder France is the most visited country for a reason — but ignoring the challenges (or thinking they don’t apply to you) would be naïve and a mistake.
On the flip side, so much about life in France is positive and rewarding and I love writing about all of that and making videos on all the fun travels and cultural experiences. I wouldn’t still be here if I didn’t enjoy it, but it’s not an easy path by any stretch of the imagination.
I want to be real with you and talk about the bad things about living in France too.
>> By the way, if you need a French notebook for your very own pros and cons of living in France list, my favorite one is this one. In yellow. <<
OK, let’s go. Here’s my list of living in France pros and cons that matter most to me.
Pros of living in France
The travel. France’s landscapes are incredible and it’s truly a great place to live. From the Atlantic Coast to the Mediterranean Sea to Corsica to even the canals, France’s waterways first and foremost blow me away. Add in the landmarks, castles, ski resorts, beautiful beaches, some of the best cities around, and you have no shortage of places to discover in ten lifetimes. France is breathtaking in a way words can’t even describe.
The fact that I’ve discovered so much of France alongside my husband is an amazing experience that I’ll never minimize or take for granted. I get so excited seeing places like the Mont Saint-Michel or Brittany (even for the 10th time!) or the beautiful town of Amboise and all the wineries I’ve been fortunate enough to visit. For me, the travel within France is one of my top pros of living here and it never gets old.
French food culture. France has some of the most delicious food and wine in the world. This includes farmers’ markets, the affordable high-quality wine that you can easily buy direct from the producer, cheese and bread, pastries, and more.
Let’s not forget the amazing Michelin-starred restaurants and even lesser known mom and pop bistros that make wonderful home-cooked meals and everything in between.
France’s focus on quality food and mealtime has introduced me to not only foods that have blown my mind but a way of life. The French savor their food and make mealtime a priority. It goes beyond food; it’s about connection.
Affordable healthcare system. This one is BIG! Health insurance in France is a right and not a privilege and that’s how it should be. There’s nothing like knowing you and your family have health insurance and don’t have to worry about crazy, anxiety-inducing deductibles or in-network labs or this or that.
Healthcare here isn’t dependent on your job status, so if you’re laid off, you don’t lose your health insurance for you and your family.
Is French health insurance without flaws? Of course not. No system is perfect and you can find less-than-ideal practitioners in France. It can also be difficult to get a quick appointment with a specialist depending on where you live and the demand.
But all in all, I’ve been extremely happy with the French healthcare system and the whole principle of how healthcare is viewed by French society. France takes care of its people and the medical system is one of my favorite things about living here.
Work-life balance. Full-time employees in France get five weeks of paid vacation per year and are encouraged to use it. Taking two weeks off (or three!) during the summer is normal and encouraged! The French seem to work to live, not the other way around and that mentality is a welcome change from how things are done in the USA. It speaks to the quality of life here.
Leisure time is important. Family time is important. My husband gets twitchy when he hasn’t had a weekend away or a vacation in a while. It’s in the French blood to relax and enjoy life! And don’t even get me started on all the public holidays in May!
Life in France is not just about packing as much into a day as you can, working yourself to the bone just to buy a bigger house or car and keep up with the Joneses. That’s an oversimplification of how some people live, but my point is that the priorities of a French life are different, and in my experience, it’s for the best.
8 things people MAJORLY underestimate when moving to France >>
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com/ViDI Studio
Cons of living in France
French bureaucracy. The French government is known for paperwork and red tape. It’s part of life here. The dreaded but obligatory bureaucracy is often the punch line of well-deserved jokes from foreigners just trying to get something simple accomplished at the prefecture, like a work permit or health insurance coverage.
You’ll always need more documents than you think you’ll need and a ton of copies of everything. Administrative tasks get done slowly, business hours are often annoyingly short, and civil servants don’t seem to get things done very efficiently. Patience is a skill I’m still learning.
French language struggles. You will need to learn French to have any semblance of an integrated, fulfilled life in France long term and learning a language is a major pro and opens so many doors. No, you don’t need to speak perfectly by any means, but you do have to speak at least intermediate French. That way you’ll be a part of what’s going on around you and not just a silent observer.
This goes double outside of major cities where you’re less likely to run into fluent English speakers. I also think making an effort to learn the language shows you respect the country you live in and are serious about creating a life here.
As I said, acquiring a new language is definitely a pro but the process of doing so can be stressful so that’s why it’s kind of in both categories — as one of the pros and cons of living in France. Getting to a place where you speak confidently can be a long, windy path as you deal with the language barrier.
Don’t underestimate what a daunting task it can be to get up to speed in a new language. Even when you are fluent or fluent enough, there’s always more to learn and you’ll never understand the language and all the cultural references and expressions like a native. It can get tiring and feel like an insurmountable task some days.
As much as I love learning new words and having days where I feel super confident and proud of how far I’ve come with French (which is most of the time), there are still days when I’m so frustrated with myself for not saying exactly what I meant the exact way I intended to say it. If you’re hard on yourself like I am, you’ll have days like this too.
Sometimes I don’t put myself out there enough and try to say as much as I’d like for fear of sounding like an idiot. It can weigh on you, always standing out as a foreigner.
Taxes/social charges. Remember the great healthcare system I mentioned above? Well, nothing is “free.” Everyone pays into the system and this amount might be higher than what you’re used to paying in your home country, especially for entrepreneurs or business owners who want to hire employees.
France has a progressive income tax system and then on top of income taxes, a hefty chunk of your paycheck goes toward social charges on the back end. Don’t even get me started on property taxes and the CFE tax you pay as a self-employed person.
All in all, I know the taxes and social charges go toward making life here better for all and I accept it 100% as someone who lives and pays into the system (and uses the services). But it can be a bit surprising to see just how much is eaten up out of your earnings every month, especially in high cost of living areas.
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com/Montri Thipsorn
Now for this next part, I’ve identified the top pro and con of living abroad for me in general. These are things not specific to France but cover the advantages and disadvantages of living abroad overall that certainly factor in when you move to France.
Top pro of living abroad
It’s a challenging, interesting experience that will keep you curious and always growing. I will be forever grateful to France for so much — traveling all over this beautiful country, getting to know its people, culture and language and experiencing my husband’s home firsthand by his side. But it’s far from easy and that’s the point.
Living abroad constantly pushes me to do better and I continuously learn — not only about France and the language and culture but about myself and what is important to me.
I’ve discovered more about my tolerance for change, aspects of my personality that I maybe wouldn’t have discovered back in the USA, my personal biases, become even more sensitive to what other people are going through, uncovered my affinity for making videos, and so much more.
Top con of living abroad
Being away. I wish teletransportation were real and we could magically be anywhere in the world with just a snap of the fingers. It is incredibly difficult to be away from loved ones and everything that is familiar, especially as we grow older, have kids, go through life changes, etc. Living abroad in France long term is not for the faint hearted.
I think it’s different if you move abroad with the plan of staying a year or two and returning home and also if you don’t feel like you have much to return to at home and don’t have a strong connection with it or the people there.
I always wonder what our life would look like if Tom and I chose to live in the USA after getting married. No one has a crystal ball and the uncertainty is hard to deal with for those of us who crave control.
There is so much back “home” that I yearn for including an in-person relationship with my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew (who I’ve met once). Sometimes I miss being away from everything that was comfortable, comforting, and easy.
Let me say that I know you can be far from loved ones within your own country as well so I know people living abroad aren’t unique in this aspect. But it’s something that really weighs on you over time and is a top con of living abroad for me.
It’s extra difficult for those of us who had a tight-knit inner circle and thrive on close, in-person relationships. It costs a ton of money (and time) to visit and this can be hard to deal with sometimes, especially when you feel out of sorts and down.
It’s also hell when someone dies.
Living in a different country long term means life goes on at home without you. You aren’t in touch with everything and everyone you used to know. Your friends and family have kids that you rarely see in person and relationships change and become strained due to the distance.
This doesn’t only happen for people who move abroad — let me say that again. But it’s a very real part of life for those of us who do. I think it’s hard to know what’s best sometimes, and while there are so many pros that weigh out, the cons have cemented their place on my list.
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Do you live in France full time and are you in it for the long haul? What are some overarching, hard-hitting pros and cons of living in France or elsewhere for you? Talk to me below! And remember, there’s no perfect place to live.
P.S. If this is your first time here and you found me by googling “pros and cons of living in France” or something similar, welcome! I hope you’ll stick around. 😉
PIN my pros and cons of living in France post:
I recently listened to an episode of the French podcast Transfert in which a mother tells the story of how her young daughter died of cancer. It’s a heartbreaking story, but while I was listening to it I kept thinking that in the USA there’s another level of pain for the same story. In the US, the mother also has to think about how she’s going to pay for all the treatments and whether she’ll bankrupt her family and what happens to her other child if she can’t pay for these medical expenses. I think the French healthcare system is an enormous bonus in a way that’s not obvious to most Americans.
Gretat post yoi make France sound like a place I would like to visit
I really enjoy reading your blog just about all other blogs I find on France are from British folks which they are not bad but there is a big difference between British and American culture. My wife and I are moving to France next year or the end of the year, we recently bought a house in the SW near Pau (where my wife’s mother was from). Besides your blog do you know of any other American blogs on living in France? I have been searching for a retired military person as they may have experienced some issues that I might encounter as a retired military person also. Again, I really enjoy reading your blog and hopefully will be able to correspond with you more.
All the best,
Eric.
I’ve never lived in France, but each time I visit, I’m more in awe of the food culture. The culinary delights of France seem endless and I’m convinced there’s nothing they can’t do well. I actually find it rather difficult to eat out in the US now because food does not taste the same. I’d rather cook at home and save my money for meals when we are traveling. To be sure, there’s good food here, but it comes at a premium compared to France. Maybe that’s also just a function of Texas and the love of mid-priced chains.
I’ve already ranted about healthcare this morning, so I’ll spare you that, lol.
I can imagine its very difficult, especially right now to miss family, milestones, and all of those things that happen. I do hope you are able to travel soon and celebrate with your family, whatever that may look like at the time. <3
I took a trip to France on a river boat. I developed a hemorrhoid problem. I had to go to a doctor, so as an American, I took $2,000 in US currency with me. I went to a hospital to see a doctor. The doctor had studied in New York and spoke English very well. He was really professional and prescribe a medicine from a pharmacy. I went to pay and the lady at the checkout and she couldn’t find a book to charge me. She found another lady who had a box of change in her desk. I had to promise to come back with the right money, EURO’s. I went to a cash machine used my card and withdrew the money, I took out 200$, as that was all the machine would give me.. The total bill came of 25.00$ US. Then she told me, “you could have used you card here, it would have saved us both time.” I felt like an Idiot.
“I think it’s hard to know what’s best sometimes”. This is me on an almost monthly basis.
I am a Brit that has been living in the USA for the last 12 years (now married to an American) and I cannot decide whether to spend the money and wrangle with the education system differences and career transfer issues to move back to a country that I no longer know. It kind of makes me feel unsettled and I wish I could stop it and just commit to one place or the other.
Do you ever seriously consider moving back? Do you think that you will ever actually do it? Has the pandemic changed how you feel?
The biggest “cons” for me are the inheritance tax imposed on the bequests of a single person without kids – 60%. I don’t mind paying taxes but if I get hit by a bus after a few years, this is really big hit to the beneficiaries of my estate. The second “con” is that I have dogs and while there are people here at home who would care for them if something happened to me, I don’t have faith that the same would be true if I moved with them to France.