Bonjour, mes amis! Does size matter? Is bigger actually better? If you’ve spent some time in France, you’ve definitely noticed that many things here are smaller than what we’re used to in the United States. Let’s get into a bunch of things in France that are without a doubt smaller than their American counterparts.
These 7 things are smaller in France
1. The country itself
Let’s start with the big one (pun intended, I couldn’t resist!). The total land mass of France is a cozy 212,900 square miles. The United States, on the other hand, sprawls across a whopping 3.8 million square miles. That means you could fit more than 15 Frances comfortably within the borders of the U.S.!
Don’t worry, France makes up for its size with a stunning diversity of landscapes, from rolling vineyards to dramatic mountain ranges, and gorgeous coastlines. I’m biased since I live closest to it, but the Atlantic Coast is my fave.
A major plus of living in a small-ish country is that it’s pretty easy to get around. Road trips don’t take days and days and flights within France are a few hours at most.
Here are some of my favorite parts about living in France.
2. Portion sizes
American portions are legendary, bordering on the intimidating in a lot of cases. And you don’t even have time to enjoy all of that food! Waiters turn tables over quickly, and during the week, employees have to eat a rushed lunch and get back to work.
In France, however, meals are a leisurely affair, savored slowly and enjoyed — often with wine. The emphasis is on quality over quantity, and portions are designed to leave you feeling satisfied, not stuffed. You’ll rarely have a need for a doggy bag in France.
That said, if you go to a casual restaurant and not a fancy Michelin star kind of place in France, I have noticed that portions seem to be getting bigger. Maybe that’s just my perception, but at chain restaurants especially, portion sizes seem to be pretty substantial.
In France, you’re more likely to see a perfectly cooked steak accompanied by a side of seasonal vegetables, instead of a plate overflowing with fries and onion rings. Your stomach (and your waistline) will thank you!
Also, if we turn to Starbucks, the size of a Venti differs in France (and other European countries). Short, Tall, and Grande drink sizes are the same.
The largest Starbucks drink size, Venti, is 4 ounces smaller in France coming in at 20 ounces (591 ml) for an iced drink instead of the U.S.’s 24-ounce cup size.
3. Parking spaces & parking garages
American cities are built around cars. In France, especially in charming old towns, streets are often narrow and winding, which makes parking a logistical challenge. This isn’t all bad! It’ll teach you how to be a careful driver and encourages walking, cycling, and using public transportation, all of which contribute to a more sustainable and pedestrian-friendly environment.
If you’re going to be driving in France on your next trip, check out Tripiamo to show you the ropes. It’s SO important to be knowledgeable and confident behind the wheel so you can avoid fines, accidents, and all the stress that comes with being unprepared. Certified by driving schools, Tripiamo’s affordable must-have online guide and videos teach overseas travelers how to drive in France like a local. Check them out HERE.
When it is time to park, pay attention because parking spaces are often a bit narrower than what you might be used to. Parking garages often have spaces that are a tight squeeze as well. Which brings me to…
4. Cars
Vehicles in the U.S. are known for their size and horsepower. Cars in France tend to be smaller and one reason for that is the cost of gas. As I write this, a liter of regular unleaded is €1.92 near me (comes out to $7.87 per U.S. gallon, and gas isn’t even at its highest right now).
There are a lot of compact, electric, and fuel-efficient options, which are perfect for navigating narrow streets and tight parking spots. Practicality is the way to go.
Just to clarify, you can find SUVs in France as well as big sedans — they exist — but the majority of people don’t drive them.
5. The people
The United States ranks 10th as the most obese country in the world. According to 2017–2018 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults (30.7%) is overweight. More than 2 in 5 U.S. adults (42.4%) have obesity. About 1 in 11 U.S. adults (9.2%) has severe obesity.
That’s shocking to me.
France comes in as 87th worldwide in terms of obesity.
Prevalence of obesity among the French population in 2020: 17%
Prevalence of overweight and obesity among the French population in 2020: 47%
Prevalence of morbid obesity among the French population in 2020: 2%
According to the WHO, worldwide adult obesity has more than doubled since 1990, and adolescent obesity has quadrupled.
6. Salaries
Salaries in the U.S. tend to be higher than in France for the same type of work. There are a lot of reasons why French salaries are lower, one of which being the amount of social charges an employer pays on the backend.
However, the cost of healthcare is more affordable in France and there’s not as much of a “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality. Credit cards aren’t really a thing here either, so French people don’t carry as much personal debt as Americans and tend to live more within their means.
And yes, salaries might be lower here, but know what’s higher? The number of vacation days. Most French people aren’t crazy high earners, but they do have more leisure time to enjoy their lives.
7. Packaging sizes of grocery items
Bags and containers of snacks and drinks tend to be on the smaller side. It’s a bit tricky to find a giant bag of chips for a party and good luck trying to find a gallon (the equivalent in liters) jug of milk.
If you have a large family (or just like milk!), it can be a headache having to buy a bunch of smaller containers just to get through the week. One reason for this, at least for the snack food, is because things like pretzels and cheese puffs are for apero (kind of like a French happy hour). You’ll often see chips, crackers, nuts, olives, etc. in little bowls and not Super Bowl Sunday size bowls.
By the way, if you want to stock up, I talk all about my favorite French snacks and where to buy them in the U.S. in this post.
Check out these grocery store differences between France and the U.S. >>
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Speaking of the word for small, petit, it actually means a lot more than just small. You might be surprised by how “petit(e)” it’s used in French, so read this!
Another thing that’s smaller in France are the houses. Here are some differences between homes in the U.S. and France.
So, there you have it! Seven things that are smaller in France than in the United States. Is less more? Talk to me in the comments!
xx
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Parking: Sometimes I have had to crawl over the gearshift and exit though the passenger door.
That happened to me in a parking garage once when there was only one space available, and the guy next to me parked kind of crooked. Very tight squeeze!
You’re quite right about all those things Diane!
I would add another one, dress sizes. They seem to be smaller in France.
And French women seem to have smaller feet too.
I’ll have to look up some stats on that!
Bonjour Diane. Ça va?
I throughly enjoyed this post. As I read it, I could visualize exactly what you are describing. Portion sizes are ridiculous in the US and that doesn’t mean good food. Even pharmacies in France are smaller than the big box CVS or Rite Aide. And the quality of service is much better in French pharmacies.
One thing bigger and better in France than in the US is public transportation systems everything from buses, metros, trams and especially the train system.During my last month stay, I traveled to and stayed in six different towns getting around the country exclusively by trains and local busses.
And I believe that there are much more quality cafés and bistros serving delicious and wholesome meals than in the US. And there are a greater selection of grocery stores in practically every town in France albeit smaller than the Giant, Peoples, and Shop Rite megastores.
I could go on but I’ll have to enjoy France in my reverie.
Thank you for your excellent work.
Hi Joe, thanks so much, as always, for taking the time to read my work. So happy you enjoy it!
Boy, I have to disagree with #2, the portion sizes. I wonder if the people who keep saying this haven’t eaten in the US in some years. You are not overfed in high-end restaurants.
You can’t go out to lunch in rural France, for example, without incurring a three-course meal, or a salad full of gizzards and rounds of cheese that are enormous. Plus there’s no doggie bags in France, so there’s no taking half of it home for another meal.
In SW France, where we live half the year, a simple sandwich in a restaurant is non existent unless you go into a bakery and buy one to take home. It’s all country-type abundant food and large portions, and two but mostly three courses. And the French fries!!! There’s no such thing as a McDonald’s-size small portion of French fries (not that we eat at McDonalds!). The plates of French fries are gigantic. We try to order one and split it, but we can’t finish it. Then the owner or waiter is concerned that we didn’t finish our food. But we encountered the same when we lived in Paris for six months.
I always gain weight when we’re there and have to struggle to get it off the half year we’re back in the States.