The trend to move to France from the United States is definitely going in an upward direction. Many Americans are living in France and enjoying the attractive lifestyle that the land of wine and cheese can offer.
But to truly make France your home, it takes careful research to find the best location for you. It is a good idea to rent an apartment for a while in your chosen location before deciding to ‘put down your roots’ by investing in property in France.
If you’re open to explore different parts of France, there are quite a few great locations that are affordable to live in. $250,000 is a typical budget to buy an apartment for couples moving to France.
As such, we looked at the average real estate price in hundreds of locations in France, to bring you a selection of desirable cities to live in France where an apartment for two people (or a two-bedroom apartment) can be bought for less than $250,000.
1. Living in Dijon, France
- Population: 162,000
- Property price per sq ft: $262 (€244)
- Average apartment price: $209,600 (€195,200)
Dijon feels like a friendly small town, but it has city status and, so, it has much more to offer than its famous creamy mustard! Not surprisingly, it prides itself in its amazing food and wine scene – including local world-famous Burgundy wineries.
There is plenty of cultural heritage too, as the capital of the Burgundy region, it has magnificent architecture and its history of wine making spans 2,000 years. The heart of Dijon is medieval-looking, with half-timbered houses and cobbled streets that are car-free, so everyone explores on foot.
The air quality and noise level are great. Dijon is home to some lovely parks such as Jardin Botanique de l’Arquebuse, Jardin Darcy and Lac Kir for relaxing, with numerous quiet cafés for meeting friends.
Somehow, this lovely compact city avoids all the crowds so it is rarely busy and the traffic flows freely. Dijon is a university town so there is always something going on.
The weather in Dijon can be rainy and unpredictable in the spring and autumn, a little too hot during July and August and cold and damp in the winter.
Living in Dijon, you are encouraged to be active as the Route des Grands Crus encircles the city and is popular with walkers, cyclists and wine lovers.
In the summer months, Dijon Plage becomes popular with swimmers. It is easy to walk everywhere in the city, but the local tram and bus network, Divia, is great and tickets are cheap and can be bought in very reasonably priced blocks of ten tickets.
Bike rental is easy and convenient. Travelling further afield can be a challenge as Dijon does not have an airport and lies nearly 200 miles (197 km) from Paris. Instead, you can take advantage of the high-speed train, which links Dijon to Paris and Lyon (the journey time is under two hours).
Dijon is definitely a friendly city and there is a small expat community in the city, but speaking some French is a huge advantage. If you enjoy a vibrant nightlife, Dijon is not ideal for you as the focus is mainly on restaurants and wine bars.
Property in Dijon is much sought after, so patience is definitely required! Apartments cost on average $209,600 (€195,200). If you prefer to live a little out of town, the countryside nearby is really pretty and there are some lovely villages to consider.
2. Living in Rouen, France
- Population: 474,000
- Property price per sq ft: $271 (€252)
- Average apartment price: $216,800 (€201,920)
Rouen is the capital of Normandy in northern France and it is a popular choice for those who love a good social life. The city sits on the river Seine and has a long and colorful history, evidenced by the beautiful Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame de Rouen.
The city enjoys a pleasant climate with mild summers and cool rather than cold winters. It can be rainy at times in any of the seasons. There is plenty to do here, as there are museums, art galleries, theatres and a variety of festivals and music events through the year.
Rouen is home to several universities and research facilities, lending the city a rich cultural diversity.
If you love French food, you will love Rouen, as there are plenty of regional specialities to enjoy including cider, seafood and cheeses. The area is an agricultural one so the city’s markets have stalls laden with excellent fresh produce. Eating out and food prices are both reasonable – as long as you avoid buying imported products.
Getting around Rouen is straightforward as there is a good public transport system with buses, trams and bike-friendly lanes. This is all good news, because car parking in the center can prove challenging.
There are good recreational facilities and the surrounding countryside is ideal for hiking and cycling as well as exploring the little villages.
Property prices in the city vary as there are several upmarket areas with larger, luxury apartments. The average price to buy a two-bedroom apartment in Rouen is $216,800 (€201,920).
If you are planning to relocate to France as a family, Rouen has several international schools. Moreover, it has great job opportunities in the manufacturing and pharmaceutical companies located in the industrial parks including energy production and Renault, as well as a variety of startup tech and software development companies.
3. Living in Reims, France
- Population: 197,000
- Property price per sq ft: $279 (€260)
- Average apartment price: $223,200 (€217,230)
Reims is a modern and dynamic city and a major economic hub in eastern France. The center of Reims is perfect for walking, as it is very compact.
There are cathedrals and other historic buildings to explore, plus museums to visit and plenty of musical events – especially jazz. Reims is home to the third largest Marché de Noël (Christmas Market) in France.
There is a good public transport system, but at peak times, the roads do get congested which can be time-consuming. For cyclists, there are good bike lanes and the railway station has trains to Paris and other major cities.
Reims has hot summers and cold winters – but temperatures below freezing are unusual. Reims does get plenty of rain all year round.
If you are a foodie, you will enjoy the city’s markets where all types of local produce and specialities can be bought. Reims has long been famous for its Champagne production and this does draw tourists in the summer months.
For expat families, there are international schools and there is a small group of American expats in the city. For those seeking work, there are a number of international companies with branches in Reims.
Real estate in Reims offers very good value for the money. The average apartment price is $223,200 (€217,230) for two-bedrooms.
4. Living in Tours, France
- Population: 366,000
- Property price per sq ft: $302 (€281)
- Average apartment price: $241,600 (€225,053)
Tours is a charming and relatively small city that is situated in the heart of the Loire Valley – an area that is world famous for its wines and excellent cuisine. Tours is one of the country’s more relaxing cities and is surrounded by vineyards, beautiful countryside and châteaux.
The climate in Tours is difficult for some, as summers are hot and humid and the winters are cold with temperatures usually around freezing.
On the plus side, the city boasts a vibrant cultural scene with the stunning Cathedrale St Gatien and art galleries such as the impressive Musée des Beaux-Arts. There are regular music, food and wine festivals to enjoy as well as Florilege Vocale de Tours – the city’s popular choral singing competition.
It is relatively easy to get around on public transport, even though the city does not have a Metro. Tours is linked to Paris, Bordeaux and other main cities by train and is also a good city for cyclists with designated cycle lanes.
The city has a wide range of housing with apartments in the center within easy reach of cultural events, bars and restaurants. Many of these apartments are in older buildings with plenty of character, while an array of modern apartments are situated further out. The average apartment price is $241,600 (€225,053) for two bedrooms.
Tours is popular with tourists, so there are some seasonal job openings and also in the city’s science, technological and healthcare institutions. There are several international schools for students of different nationalities for expat families.
5. Living in Caen, France
- Population: 107,000
- Property price per sq ft: $309 (€288)
- Average apartment price: $247,200 (€230,250)
Situated in the heart of Normandy in northern France, Caen is a fascinating city with a history that stretches from when William the Conqueror built Caen Castle, through medieval times when the magnificent Romanesque abbey of Saint-Étienne was constructed to the Mémorial de Caen that chronicles the events of World War II (1939-1945).
Caen has one of the oldest universities in Europe. For culture lovers, you have the Musée des Beaux Arts de Caen with its amazing collection of paintings and sculptures and Théâtre de Caen which hosts ballets, operas and music concerts all year through.
The climate in Caen is pleasant with warm summers and cool, but not cold, winters. Caen is a great city for those who enjoy being outdoors as it has parks and gardens covering a quarter of its area, including Jardin des Plantes, La Prairie with its bird sanctuary, walking trail and racecourse and the Vallée des Jardins.
Caen is one of France’s numerous beach towns you could call home. If you decide to move to Caen, you will enjoy a beautiful ten kilometer stretch of coastline including Ouistreham Beach, less than 20 minutes from the city centre. This is great for those who enjoy walking, relaxing on the beach and water sports.
Caen is nice and easy to get around as it has a good bus and tram network. The train station in the center of the city is linked to many other major cities – with 25 trains to Paris every day.
Caen’s Carpiquet Airport which can be reached from the city center by public transport and has flights to other European cities. For cyclists, Caen has 400km of cycle paths to use. It is important to note that in the summer months, Caen does get busy with tourists.
6. Living in Grenoble, France
- Population: 160,000
- Property price per sq ft: $310 (€289)
- Average apartment price: $248,000 (€231,000)
Grenoble is an affluent university city in south-eastern France and according to Oxford Economics Global Cities Index is the top city in the world to live.
Grenoble is situated between the Drac and Isère rivers and is surrounded by wonderful mountains and offers a good variety of cultural and recreational sites. The city center is small, compact and perfect for walking or cycling as there are several bike lanes.
The weather can be very hot in the summer and cold with winter temperatures below freezing and plenty of snow. The mountains are great during the summer months for walking and cycling and in the winter there is good skiing. It takes just 30-45 minutes by car to reach the ski slopes.
Grenoble also offers a good choice of water sports too. Circular cable cars called ‘les bulles’ meaning ‘bubbles’ can be taken to the summit of La Bastille. If you enjoy markets, the main one is Les Halles and Saint Bruno, which is quite oriental in character.
Property prices reflect the city’s affluence and higher food costs do so too – but neither compare with the prices in Paris or Lyon. About 70% of the city has been built since 1945 and there is a rich variety of modern architecture.
Most of the property in the city center is made up of apartments, while houses are mainly found in the suburbs – with a hefty price tag. The average price of a two-bedroom apartment is $248,000 (€231,000).
Pretty small towns on the outskirts of Grenoble like Meylan and Biviers are the most expensive because they offer houses and apartments in larger old houses and are within easy reach of the city.
Grenoble does offer some job openings in its industrial parks in semi-conductor based companies and nuclear research establishments. For those moving to France with kids, there are several international schools, including the American School of Grenoble. The city has an American expat community and the majority of members of the popular ‘Open House’ group are American.
If you find the sound of any of the above cities appealing, you will be able to make a good in depth research online, to ensure that it has all the amenities you will require.
Check out our other articles and guides about living in France we have covered in the past, listing the pros and cons and advice from other people who have moved to different parts of France.
Spending time researching before moving abroad is never time wasted as it will give you a good insight into what you can expect in your chosen country and city.
You may also like to explore the best places in France to buy an apartment for $180,000 or less.
