Once you have settled in France and have found that the French way of life suits you well, you could find yourself contemplating buying your own apartment. Investing in property in France will give you both long-term financial stability and the potential for your capital to appreciate as the prices on the French property market continue to steadily increase.
Owning your own home in France means that you can choose a property that perfectly aligns with your personal needs and lifestyle. France offers favorable mortgage rates and finance options to expatriates, which makes property buying accessible even if you don’t have the cash on hand.
Property ownership has other benefits too. It allows you to immerse yourself permanently into your chosen community and enhance your connection with French culture and way of life.
To help you find the best place in France to become a homeowner, My Dolce Casa’s research team analyzed the average apartment prices in 50 largest cities in France to find the places that fit best within a $180,000 budget.
Even with a modest investment of $180,000 you will be delighted by the range of two-bedroom apartments that fall within your price range in variety of French towns and cities.
Saint-Étienne
- Population 205,000
- Property price per sq ft: $138 (€129)
- Average apartment price: $110,400 (€103,000)
Situated in the Loire Department in central eastern France – just southwest of Lyon – Saint-Étienne is a sizeable city with large metropolitan amenities and a lower cost of living.
Jobs
But this is because some salaries are lower too. There are not as many job opportunities as elsewhere. It is a good choice for those who work remotely or don’t mind a longer commute.
Expat life
Saint-Étienne is cosmopolitan with various expat communities. There are several expat clubs in the city and a weekly American Club in the Lyon which is less than an hour away.
Lifestyle
The city enjoys warm summers and mild winters, but does get more rain than many other parts of France.
Notably, it is the only French UNESCO City of Design, with its own Statue of Liberty in Square Jules Ferry – just like the American one, created by Auguste Bartholdi.
The city stands in the Furan valley and was an important mining town between the 18-20th centuries. The city has plenty of places of architectural interest as well as museums and theatres.
Saint-Étienne is the gateway to the Parc National Regional du Pilat and a great choice for football (soccer) lovers. Its local team, which is known as ‘The Greens’, has a strong local following.
Real estate
If you are looking to buy an apartment in Saint-Etienne, those in the city centre tend to be traditionally styled and located in historic buildings. If you would prefer something more modern and spacious, these apartments are mainly located on the edge of the city.
Limoges
● Population: 133,000
● Property price per sq. ft. $168 (€156)
● Average apartment price: $134,400 (€125,200)
Limoges is one of the top five favorite places to live in France for expats. Limoges enjoys a lovely moderate climate as it is situated in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwest France, in the Haute-Vienne department.
Expat life
Known to be a friendly place for foreigners, as many people speak English because it is a region popular with tourists. However, Limoges does not get swamped by tourism, which makes it a great place to live.
The city nestles among beautiful countryside and its old centre include a 10th century cathedral, pretty cobbled streets and the remains of a huge Gall-Roman amphitheatre.
Arts and culture
Limoges is rich in culture with a vibrant art scene a great selection of live music events in many genres. And if you don’t find what you want locally, the cities of Bordeaux and Toulouse are both within easy reach.
Healthcare
Limoges residents benefit from a diverse network of healthcare facilities. It has a large teaching hospital, so there are opportunities for those wanting to work. For those not needing to work, it is reassuring to know that the city has excellent healthcare services.
Transportation
The city’s bus service is good and reliable and covers most of the city and suburbs.
Family life
For expat families with school age children there is the advantage of a fee-paying international school in Limoges.
Real estate
When it comes to property, the prices in Limoges are affordable and there is a good range of property to choose from both in the city centre and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Having said that, several of the neighborhoods are particularly popular so there is limited availability in these. Some of the apartments in the old centre are situated in older buildings and these do often lack the amenities found in more modern apartments but this is usually compensated by their great position and character.
Le Mans
- Population: 143,000
- Property price per sq ft: $210 (€196)
- Average apartment price: $168,000 (€156,500)
If you love motor sports, the idea of living in the city of Le Mans will be more than appealing. For 100 years, Le Mans has hosted the 24-hours endurance sports car race – the oldest and most prestigious race of its kind in the world. The event draws a huge number of enthusiasts to the track each year.
Lifestyle
Le Mans is situated in the Pays de Loire region of north-western France on the confluence of the Sarthe and Huisne rivers and has much to offer those planning to settle in France.
The city enjoys moderately warm summers – although does experience real heatwaves some years. The winters can be cold as the temperatures often drop below freezing.
The city has plenty of art exhibitions, music festivals and historic sites (it was an affluent Plantagenet city) as well as plenty of green spaces. Le Mans is also well known for its excellent cuisine. It doesn’t however have the dynamic nightlife that other cities offer – but it is only an hour by train to Paris!.
Expat life
Living in Le Mans is great as life is not as fast-paced as in other cities. Property prices and rentals are moderate as are grocery bills. The city has plenty of good healthcare facilities.
English isn’t widely spoken in the city away from the shops, so it is well worth learning good conversational French as this will make day to day life easier.
Jobs
For those wanting to work, the city has an important automotive industry and there are usually openings for engineers as well as those trained in science and technology. For those who work remotely, of course Le Mans is a good choice.
Transportation
Getting around the city is easy as there is a good tram network and selection of bus lines. If you are a cyclist, you will feel really ‘at home’ as this is the most popular mode of transport as the city is flat and has excellent bike lanes.
Perpignan
- Population: 122,000
- Property price per sq ft: $215 (€200)
- Average apartment price: $172,000 (€160,000)
For many, it is a dream to be able to live in a city that enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Your dream can become reality in Perpignan, a surprisingly affordable and beautiful Mediterranean city.
Perpignan is a delightful city, situated in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, close to the Mediterranean coast, the foot of the Pyrenees and France’s border with Spain.
Lifestyle
Life in the city is vibrant, but relaxed with plenty of outdoor activities and cultural events, but it is worth noting that Perpignan does get buffeted by the strong Mistral winds.
Perpignan is a charming city and strolling around its historic centre is fun and the temptation to pause and enjoy some Catalan cuisine (from the Spanish Catalan region not far away) can prove irresistible.
Family life
Perpignan is a unique blend of French and Catalan traditions and as it is a centre of learning with an excellent university it attracts students of many nationalities. This is good news for expat families with school age children as there are several international schools too.
Perpignan does attract tourists – but probably not as many as expected. For those who want to work, there are seasonal openings in the tourist industry.
Transportation
Public transport is cheap and reliable and there is a good bus and tram network and some good cycling lanes. There are excellent train connections to other French cities too.
Real estate
Property prices are surprisingly good in many parts of the city, although there are several districts that are particularly popular and apartments for sale are a rarity. Real estate prices on the outskirts of the city are lower and property tends to be more modern in these areas.
Montreuil
- Population: 110,000
- Property price per sq ft: $215 (€200)
- Average apartment price: $172,000 (€160,000)
Montreuil is an arrodissment in Paris, the French capital and most popular city in France for Americans and many other nationalities who are emigrating.
Paris is the capital and its cosmopolitan character is certainly unique, making it a highly desirable place to live. Needless to say, property prices in the city are in many places out of reach, and many expats have no choice but to rent in Paris. However, if you want to be a homeowner in Paris, Montreuil in the 20th Arrondissement is surprisingly affordable.
Transportation
Montreuil lies on the city’s eastern outer fringes, but with an excellent public transport system, it is easy to get into the city centre. Montreuil has three metro stations and both Line 11 and the T1 tramway that connect it with other parts of the city have recently been extended.
Lifestyle
Montreuil has its own character and is well known for its dramatic wall murals, music and dancing events plus its Chinatown. Its local shops and services are cheaper than in the city centre and it has attractive green spaces too like Le Jardin Naturel Piere-Emmanuel.
The weather in Montreuil is moderate throughout the year, with May being the rainiest month. It can get really hot in August and occasionally there is snow in the winter months.
Real estate
If you are planning on buying an apartment in Montreuil, it may well be advantageous to seek out one on a higher floor as the views over Paris can be spectacular
Nimes
- Population: 150,000
- Property price per sq ft: $223 (€208)
- Average apartment price: $178,400 (€166,000)
Located in the south of France in the Gard department, Nimes is a small and charming city with impressive architecture a rich history, great food and a good expat community.
Lifestyle
Nimes has a sunny Mediterranean climate with 300 days of sunshine, hot summers and mild winters and its residents are well known for their friendliness.
The streets of the old town are fun to explore and if you enjoy history, there are some impressive Roman ruins too – among the best in the world.
If you prefer other types of entertainment, the city hosts a number of different music festivals and the annual Feria de Nimes which is a five-day festival with music and dancing in the streets. The Carré d’Art is an interesting museum of contemporary art.
In sharp contrast with Paris, life is at a much slower pace and on a warm sunny day, many stop to relax with a glass of chilled rosé.
The city is just a short drive or train journey to the Mediterranean coast and the Camargue natural reserve, as well as the gorgeous region of Provence and these all add to the city’s attraction.
For those who enjoy hiking there are 300 trails and cyclists will enjoy exploring the 32 different routes. Nimes does get busy in the summer months as it is popular with tourists and traffic in the city gets congested most days.
Groceries are well-priced in the city and for fresh produce there are several different markets to enjoy and Nimes is large enough to have an excellent selection of shops.
Family life
There is a good selection of schools in the city, including several catering for international students.
Real estate
Even if you have a modest amount to invest in property in France, there are great choices of apartments in both the cities and smaller towns. It is best not to rush into buying an apartment though until you are confident that you have found the perfect location that suits you.
