Is France a good place to live? Moving to France has its pros and cons, as does any situation that involves moving abroad. While any tourist could come up with their list of reasons as to why France is worth moving to or not, it takes an actual expat (or former expat), to validate those reasons.
After living in France, you will soon be able to recognize what are the benefits of moving to France, like the healthy lifestyle, a nightlife that makes you want to enjoy life more and ease of traveling all over France and Europe.
The cons of course are inevitable, but there isn’t anything you can’t get used to. Most expats living in France agree that France is a good place to live because the pros greatly outweigh the cons.
What makes France a good place to live: pros of living in France as an expat
1. Easy traveling
With your home base in France, traveling around Europe is a breeze. With one passport, you have access to 44 European countries, and arriving at these destinations is more affordable than you may think. With budget airlines and Eurail at the click of a button, there’s so much to see and explore.
Moving to France also means you will be able to explore all the major cities throughout this amazing country no matter what city you settled in. Transportation services such as Omio or the TGV can help you discover all of France regardless of distance.
France also shares borders with Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain which allows you to knock those coveted destinations right off your bucket list. To many, this reason alone is enough to say wholeheartedly that France is a very good place to live.
2. Fun nightlife
What could make you say that France is a good place to live more than opportunities to truly enjoy life. Whether you prefer a quiet night in or you consider yourself a night owl, you will appreciate all that French city life has to offer once the sun goes down.
For those of you who prefer a relaxing evening, you will be pleased to know that French cities are designed for promenades, with brightly lit lamps decorated up and down major locations where you can enjoy a peaceful, late-night stroll alongside awe-inspiring architecture, or sitting by a river while sipping on the drink of your choice as you watch the sunset.
As for you night owls, get your dancing shoes ready because there is no shortage of bars and clubs open late into the night, and you will never find yourself waiting in a line to get into any arena. And don’t worry about not knowing what’s on the French billboard, because locals have a taste for American music, and you will more often than not find yourself singing along to some oldies but goldies.
3. Healthy lifestyle
Another top reason to consider France a good place to live is the healthy diet. Once you see how much better your mood is and how much more energy you start to have, you will fully appreciate French food. Not only does your healthy lifestyle start with walking to most of your destinations, but France is a big supporter of organic food.
This means your produce and your meats will be a lot smaller and more natural than what you are used to in the States. Your portions will be smaller, but you will have a peace of mind knowing you are not eating added hormones or pesticides. The French healthy lifestyle goes beyond the grocery stores and farmer’s markets.
Meals bought in restaurants will also come in smaller portions and will be noticeably less salty and infinitely more delicious because they are made from wholly natural ingredients. Even the hamburgers and fries from fast food chains are far less saltier than the ones throughout America. It may come as a shock to your taste buds at first, but you will soon grow accustomed to it, and your waistline may see a positive change.
What makes France a not so good place to live: cons of living in France as an expat
1. Early closing
For all of you late risers, you will have some adjusting to do if you’re looking to grab a late lunch or a midday meal. Most restaurants will be closed after 2:00 p.m. and won’t open again until dinner time, which can be around 7 p.m.
This has to do with their family-centered culture and high value for work-life balance. French people enjoy mealtimes together as a family and business closings allow people to go back home to enjoy time with their families, while restaurants prepare for the dinner crowds.
To top it off, most stores are closed after 12 p.m. on Sundays as well as most restaurants, to allow for some rest for all workers before the start of a new work week. This may come as a surprise to Americans, but don’t worry, there are still a few restaurants open on Sundays.
After all, France is a tourism destination and so there will be some, but limited options for those who are looking for an extra meal or Sunday shopping.
2. Peaceful protests
Most days, the train runs on a tight schedule. You won’t miss a beat getting to and from your destinations. However, France is made up of very passionate communities. There are many civil rights activist groups that hold frequent peaceful protests for various reasons, a peculiar custom that’s very “French”.
And while we may applaud these groups for speaking up for their rights, it may come as an inconvenience when you can’t take public transit to work or for your errands that day.
As a form of protest, or as they call it, “manifestations”, they will block roads or public transit passages. Your only means of transportation at that point, if you don’t have your own vehicle, would be biking or walking. The manifestations start in early spring and can take off in the summer. It may seem like an inconvenience, but it’s a small sacrifice to pay for the respect of your adoptive community.
3. Dressing up
Now this may not seem like a con to everyone, but most Americans don’t always dress in their Sunday best everyday of the week. The French on the other hand, do. On a casual Monday afternoon, you will see women dressed in stockings under colorful layers with a pair of wedged boots.
Men will be seen casually wearing slacks, a dress shirt, a clean pair of oxfords, and maybe even a thin scarf in the early spring weather. Whether they are going to work, running an errand, or meeting up with a friend, French people always dress to impress.
So you’re going to want to ditch your old college sweaters and those faded t-shirts you wear comfortably when you go out casually, because the last thing you want to do as an expat is stand out as a tourist.
As you can see, living in France can be exciting and adventurous. As for the cons, well, can you really call them cons? You will have the opportunity to be part of a passionate new community, a little change is the last thing you’ll worry about once you immerse yourself in the beauty of France.
