Is it expensive to live in France? Yes, it may be a pricier than other Mediterranean countries, but you can still find some great locations to live on a smaller budget. In fact, we found nine amazing places where you and your significant other could enjoy a comfortable life in France on a budget of $3,000 per month.
You may be attracted to living in France for a host of reasons and not just the temptation of croissants, French cheeses or the country’s amazing wines. To make your dream a reality, it is important to be ruled by your head rather than the heart when choosing a place to live.
To that extent, we followed financial experts’ advice that your monthly housing costs should equal no more than one-third of your salary. Therefore, if your monthly income is going to be $3,000, that means your rent should not top $1,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. An important bonus to know is that most rented property in France is rented fully-furnished which is a big advantage.
You will be surprised and delighted to know that in this price range there are some great French cities where you’ll find an affordable place to rent and enjoy a great quality of life at the same time.
Nine best places to live in France for under $3,000 a month
1. Angers – France’s Greenest City
- Population: 154,000
- Rent for two-bedroom apartment: $1,000
- Estimated cost of living: $3,000
Known as ‘the gateway to western France’, Angers in the Loire Valley, ranks highly as a good town to live offering an excellent work/life balance. It has plenty to offer with historical sites, including its castle.
Notably, it is a very green town with tons of green open space. In fact, Angers is the greenest of all French cities.
Angers was always called ‘La Ville Noire’ because its houses were constructed from schist with slate roofs, but in the 19th century. It was later renamed ‘Angers la Blanche’ because many new buildings had been constructed using tufa stone.
In economic terms, it is a dynamic city with a diversity of industries – with the largest being horticulture, followed by vine growing. The newest industry is biotechnology with several new companies recently opening offices here.
The city has a good cultural life with many bars and restaurants. The Quai (CDN) provides good theatrical productions, the Chabada (concert hall) is the focus of contemporary music, the Paperie for street arts, ONPL is home to classical music and the Ano for operatic performances.
The city’s public transport system is called Irigo and comprises of trams and buses. There are good connections to Paris which is 90 minutes on the high-speed train. It is less than a two-hour drive to the Atlantic coast.
2. Dijon – A Walkable Medieval Town in Burgundy
- Population: 155,000
- Rent for two-bedroom apartment: $1,000
- Estimated cost of living: $3,000
This lovely city is world famous for its mustard, but has plenty going for it as it is a walkable city, with interesting architecture and living there is reasonably priced. Dijon is not a touristy city so this means that less English is spoken and conversing in French is a must!
Located in the Boulogne-Franche-Comté region, Dijon is the capital of Burgundy, the gateway to the Burgundy wine region and the former capital of the wealthy Duchy of Burgundy. The climate does get cold enough for snow in the winter, but this doesn’t usually last long, while the summer temperatures do get quite hot.
Dijon is fun to walk around as it has many attractive half-timbered medieval houses. houses. For history buffs there are notable buildings to discover including Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Philippe le Bon Tower.
There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy in and around the city. You’ll find a number of public gardens including Jardin Darcy and Jardin Botanique de l’Arquebuse with its gorgeous floral displays.
If you enjoy cycling there is the Route des Grands Crus – which is a route for wine lovers too. A main attraction is Lac Kir on the outskirts of Dijon which is popular with runners, cyclists and walkers. In the summer plenty of people go swimming at the Dijon Plage.
It is easy to reach Dijon from Paris and Lyon. The TGV, the high-speed train, takes just two hours from Paris. There are easy train links from the city to both Germany and Switzerland. Within the city there are two tram lines – with each journey costing €1.40 and there are also buses, plus plenty of cycle lanes and bicycle rental too.
3. Nîmes – South of France’s Hidden Gem
- Population: 150,700
- Rent for two-bedroom apartment: $1,000
- Estimated cost of living: $3,000
Situated in the South of France and boasting more than 300 days of sunshine each year, Nîmes is an attractive leisure-focused city with some of the best Roman ruins in the world.
Nîmes is part of the Gard department. Although the South of France is a top place for people to choose for their retirement, Nîmes has somehow remained ‘off the beaten track’ and prices for rentals and everyday living have remained more affordable.
The city has a historic center with numerous shops and gourmet restaurants and this part of the city is very walkable and a great place to rent an apartment. There are plenty of cultural events to enjoy, including classical music concerts during the summer months in the Roman amphitheatre – as well as jazz and rock concerts.
There are scores of different associations and clubs in Nîmes, including dance, music, visual arts, and cinema. Healthcare throughout France is excellent, but Nîmes is well-known for its exceptionally good hospital Central Hopitalier Universitaire (CHU).
There is a good transportation network of air, rail and bus. The city’s TANGO bus service is both cheap and very efficient. The city’s airport offers domestic flights and is situated about 15 minutes, by car, from the center.
For those who love to be outdoors, the Camargue natural reserve within easy reach and it is just a 40-minute drive to several resort towns on the Mediterranean coast. The Cévennes National Park is another paradise for nature lovers and is situated in the heart of the Cévennes mountain range. The park offers outdoor activities for everyone, including Over 300 hiking paths and 32 cycling trails.
4. Le Havre – The Modern Marvel
- Population: 172,000
- Rent for two-bedroom apartment: $1,000
- Estimated cost of living: $3,000
Le Havre is situated in Normandy and was always considered a dull place that people only used as a stopover en route to catching the ferry to the UK. This is not true. Le Havre is a surprisingly modern town that displays the innovative use of concrete in many of its designs.
The reason for this is that Le Havre was completely flattened by bombs during World War II because of the importance of its port. Work began on the reconstruction of the port very soon after the end of the war, when a team of architects led by Auguste Perret, from Belgium, started a 20-year program to design the new town. Their plans included plenty of open spaces, new monuments and 10,000 apartments.
What was fascinating is that the designs were clear cut and linear and each apartment building had the same measurements. The work of the architects was rewarded when UNESCO listed Le Havre as a World Heritage Site and inspired countless architects worldwide to embrace modernism.
The docks in Le Havre are situated on the mouth of the River Seine and still remain an important focus in the city. They once were busy with international trade of coffee, cotton and wood, that made the city famous. Later they became an important passenger port for travellers wanting to explore the Americas. Today known as ’Grand Quai du Havre’, the renovated area stretches from the old fishing port as far as the marina.
Living in Le Havre can be fun for those who love good food and being outdoors. For foodies, Normandy is home to Camembert cheese, cider, and Calvados. There is an indoor market on Place des Halles Centrales and the opportunity to buy fresh fish in the fish market in Place St-François or at the fish market. The town’s restaurants all serve plenty of fresh fish options too. For those who don’t have a car, the local buses and trams are both efficient and affordable.
Le Havre enjoys a mild winter and cooler summer. There are lovely green spaces to enjoy including Montgeon forest and the hanging gardens in the hill top fort. The city boasts a long stretch of beach in the heart of the town and this is perfect for water sports such as windsurfing or kayaking or simply sitting by the water.
5. Reims – The Capital of Champagne
- Population: 317,000
- Rent for two-person apartment: $1,000
- Estimated cost of living: $3,000
The city of Reims in northeastern France is steeped in history and it was the place where most French kings were crowned. Today it is known as the capital of the Champagne region.
The city is smaller than many and can be easily navigated. There is a colorful bustle and rich café culture as it has a university which welcomes students from all over the world. There are plenty of places to explore in Reims including the Cathedral, the Palace of Tau and the Former Abbey of Saint-Remi.
Reims has more than 100 parks and squares, which give the city a lovely open feeling. One of the most popular is ‘the Greenway’ – La Coulée Verte which stretches 24 km between the canal and the river Vesle. It is a great place for relaxing and you will see walkers, cyclists and joggers.
There are fishermen and people in boats and a great advantage is that it is ideal for those with reduced mobility. About 20 kilometers from Reims is the Regional Natural Park (PNR) of Montagne de Reims with its forests, hills and famous vineyards.
Reims has plenty of cultural events through the year- including many geared to students. The city also boasts the third largest Marché de Noël which takes place throughout the month of December.
A popular seasonal attraction is its ferris wheel called the grande roue, which is a great way to watch the sun set. Transportation is easy, with an excellent bus network and Reims railway station, with its glass canopies over the platforms, has a good network to other cities.
6. Metz – The Garden Town
- Population: 120,000
- Rent for two-bedroom apartment: $1,000
- Estimated cost of living: $3,000
Nicknamed ‘La Ville Jardin’ – The Garden Town, Metz (pronounced ‘Mess’) is situated in the country’s Grand Est region. Metz is just 50 kilometers (30 miles) from France’s border with Germany and Luxembourg.
Metz is an attractive city that few visitors ever discover. It stands on the confluence of the rivers Moselle and Seille and was founded in Roman times. The city is rich in different architectural styles including its beautiful Gothic cathedral (the third tallest in France) and the medieval city walls. Its neo-Romaneque railway station dates from 1908 and is one of the most beautiful in France and contrasts with the contemporarily styled Centre Pompidou Art Museum.
Metz has a distinctly German character which is fun to explore. Getting around Metz on foot is easy, but there is also the free hop-on-hop off navette bus. There are a number of pretty squares to relax in – with the best said to be Place de Chambre. Place Jeanne d’Arc is popular for summer drinks and dining. Many of the residents in Metz do not speak any English, but because there is a university, if you get disorientated, there will always be someone who speaks English and can help you!
Situated in an old Carmelite convent, Les Musées de la Cour d’Or comprises of three museums. The Musée Archaeologique has an important collections of Gallo-Roman archaeology. The Musée d’Architecture showcases Romanesque and Gothic pieces and the Musée des Beaux Arts includes works by many prominent artists.
The Pompidou exhibits a large collection of contemporary art. Interestingly, during medieval times, Metz attracted numerous artists. There are a number of seasonal cultural events to enjoy too and Metz is well-known for its environmental initiatives.
Les Halles is a popular place with residents as it is the covered market on Place de la Cathédrale. The stalls offer a superb range of local produce, wines and the local Mirabelle (plum) brandy. Fuseau lorrain is a soft garlic sausage that is another regional speciality.
7. Besançon – A Thriving Eastern France Town
- Population: 119,000
- Rent for two-bedroom apartment: $1,000
- Estimated cost of living: $3,000
Besançon is not only an attractive town in eastern France, it has recently come top in a survey on quality of life. The town is surrounded by the Jura Mountains and nestles in a loop of the Doubs River. Its close proximity to the Jura Mountains, can prove challenging as summers are short and winters can be very chilly with occasional snow.
The town has a variety of historical treasures from different periods because it has always been important strategically. These include two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – its fortifications and the Citadel, built by Vauban.
There are also some interesting contemporary buildings like the Cité de Arts, which has been created in the old port area and the Rodia concert hall – popular with the town’s students.
The town is thriving economically, with more than 1,000 businesses and is the country’s hub for watch makers. There is a good choice of accommodation, ranging from an old apartment in the town centre to one of the new apartments on the edge of town.
Culturally, there is always something going on and this includes several festivals – in particular, the Besançon International Music Festival, which portrays the city’s deep-rooted love for art and music. There are regular concerts and exhibitions too.
Sporting facilities include swimming, team sports, gliding and paragliding, plus good walking and cycling trails too. Plenty of places to explore in the surrounding countryside including Ornans and the Loue Valley, Haut-Doubs, the Jura and nearby Switzerland.
Getting around is easy, as Besançon is very bike-friendly, but also has excellent public transport services. There is a bus service (Ginko) and two tram lines, which it touts as the environmentally friendly way to get around.
The town has a good train service too. Besançon is two and half hours away from Paris on the TGV and two hours from both Strasbourg and Lyon. Mulhouse and Geneva airports are both two hours away by car.
8. Montreuil – An Affordable and Trendy Paris
- Population: 104,000
- Rent for two-bedroom apartment: $1,000
- Estimated cost of living: $3,000
If you’re on a budget but want to be close to Paris, consider living in the creative and diverse eastern Parisian suburb of Montreuil in the 20th arrondissement. This part of the French capital is popular with many nationalities because it is surprisingly affordable and embraces the Boheme lifestyle – with more than 800 artists’ workshops and studios.
Montreuil is certainly different; with amazing street art, cuisines from all over the world and a very diverse array of live music in its nightclubs. Many Parisians are relocating to this district too, making it a very trendy place to live. Having said that, there can be drawbacks because it is so diverse and personal safety needs to be given top priority, especially at night in some places.
Culture in Montreuil is everywhere with numerous theatres and cinemas, including the new theatre, Le Lieu. Along with culture, the area boasts many green spaces, public vegetable gardens and the famous ‘Murs de Peches’. Meaning ‘the walls of peaches’ these are the remnants of the area’s peach growing – well remembered by many elderly locals and said to be the best in the world.
Montreuil is best known to many Parisians for its excellent flea market called Les Puces de Montreuil, which has taken place for centuries. It is a good choice for families as it lies close to the huge Bois des Vincennes park.
The area is home to many trendy bars, cafes and restaurants, including several located in renovated warehouses. Most people do not own a car, but getting around is easy as there three Metro stations: Robespierre, Croix de Chavaux, and Mairie de Montreuil.
9. Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine – A Suburban Paris Gem
- Population: 40,000
- Rent for two-bedroom apartment: $1,000
- Estimated cost of living: $3,000
Another of the lesser-known gems of Paris is Saint-Ouen. Saint-Ouen lies just to the north of Paris, separated from the capital by the ring road and was named after the Bishop of Rouen who died nearby.
Along its northwestern edge runs the Seine and many large old warehouses. It sits about 7 km from the heart of Paris. The community of saint Ouen was first founded in medieval times and was known for the cereals, grapes and asparagus grown there.
In 1830 a canal was built with wharfs and docks and the population increased dramatically as new industries were opened. Today, the area is known for liqueur making, electrical and machine tool production.
The cultural focus in the district is “Espace 1789”. This part of Paris is closely linked to the history of the cinema and in “Espace 1789” there are permanent exhibitions, shows and concerts.
This neighborhood also has a famous weekly flea market – Le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. It was started just before the First World War, and since then, you can buy pretty much anything here. Today, there are 2,500 stalls and shops and the flea market is classified as ‘a historic monument’.
The flea market takes place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and attracts five million visitors a year. It has the largest concentration of antique and vintage clothes dealers in the world. The market is situated around Rue des Rosiers and many stalls are housed in old warehouses.
To add to the colorful ambiance, the different bars play old Parisian songs. On the edge of this part of Saint-Ouen stands Porte de Melincourt, one of the 17 gates in the Theirs Wall that once protected Paris. This is considered to be one of the places to avoid after dark.
Much of Saint-Ouen is renovated in a €500 million project for the Paris Olympics 2024. The facades of a number of apartments are included in the project. The new village is a giant complex with nearly 3,000 new eco-friendly apartments.
The ground-floor spaces will be used for commercial ventures including shops. After the Olympics, the new apartments are to be used for private, student and social housing. A brand-new Metro station – Saint-Denis Pleyel – is also being constructed that will be a hub for four Metro lines. Two Metro lines are being extended into the area – with another three planned in the future.
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