Welcome to Living France.com

A web site dedicated to living in France from an expatriate viewpoint

The Cost of Living

Cheaper or More Expensive?

Once again, this is purely subjective, written from our personal experience of living in the countryside.

It will come as no surprise that some things are cheaper, some more expensive. I have tried to avoid comparing direct costs, as these are subject to exchange rate fluctuations (until the UK joins the Euro), but have based the lists below on a subjective balance.

Less Expensive

Fresh Food in Season
Wine & most other alcoholic drinks
Housing Costs
Income Tax
Car purchase
Car tax (zero)
car repair
train travel
bus travel

More Expensive

Car and other Insurance
Cut flowers
Electricity.
Social Security costs
Shoes & clothing (particularly kids, as there is vat on kids clothing)
photo developing
Most other items are roughly similar. If I have missed something which you think should be in this list, please email me.