Before making a move, it is important to take into account the cost of living in France, including utilities, rent or mortgage, grocery bills and healthcare.
These costs vary significantly depending on lifestyle, location, and household size. Comparing France with countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States helps give context for those considering an international move.
Overall, France remains comparatively affordable in areas such as healthcare and housing when compared with many parts of the United States, while everyday costs such as food and utilities are broadly similar to those in the UK.
However, it is important to note that the averages provided below only offer a general guide, and that cost of living can depend heavily on lifestyle choices, including transport (public transport or car ownership), as well as on individual spending habits.
Utilities
Utilities in France typically include electricity, water, and internet. For renters, water is often included in the rent, but homeowners pay on average around €38.70 per month.
Internet costs generally range between €30 and €35 per month, depending on the provider.
Electricity costs vary depending on property size and usage. A studio typically costs around €48 per month, while a mid-sized apartment (50–70 m²) averages about €89 per month.
Overall, energy is part of housing expenditure, which represents over 25% of total household spending in France.
For comparison, in the UK, electricity bills typically range from around £50 to £110 (€57 to €127) per month depending on usage.
In the United States, the average monthly electricity bill is around $162 (€139). However, this is not directly comparable to France or the UK, as American households tend to use significantly more electricity due to larger homes.
Renting or buying in France
Housing costs vary significantly across France, the UK, and the United States, but all three countries follow a similar pattern of high prices in major cities, mid-range costs in secondary cities, and much lower prices in rural areas.
In France, a 45m² apartment costs around €630 per month on average nationally, rising to about €1,485 in Paris. In Lyon, the same apartment costs roughly €765, while in rural areas such as Haute-Marne it falls to around €450.
By comparison, the UK shows a similar divide between its capital and the rest of the country. A similar 45m² apartment costs about €1,620 per month in London. This drops significantly to around €828 in Birmingham, and further to roughly €420 in rural areas such as Stoke-on-Trent.
The United States takes this pattern further, with an even wider gap between states and significantly higher overall prices. A 45m² apartment in New York City typically costs between €2,610 and €3,915 per month. In Denver, rents range from €1,218 to €1,609, while in lower-cost cities such as Greenville, they still sit around €951 to €1,124.
Buying property shows an even clearer divergence between the three countries. In France, the average price is around €4,100 per square metre, rising to about €11,000 in Paris. In Lyon, prices average €4,626 per square metre, while in rural areas such as Haute-Marne they fall to around €1,056 per square metre.
The UK shows a stronger concentration of high prices in its capital. London averages around €9,250 per square metre, while Birmingham is significantly lower at around €3,585 per square metre and lower-cost cities such as Stoke-on-Trent fall to about €2,082 per square metre.
Finally, in the United States, the variation is even more pronounced. Property prices range from approximately €8,600 to €16,500 per square metre in New York City, down to around €3,200 to €3,400 in Denver and about €1,859 to €2,000 in Greenville. This makes the US both the most expensive and the least uniform market, with extreme differences between regions and much higher peaks in major urban centres.
Healthcare in France
France has a largely public healthcare system, with the state covering around 60–70% of most medical costs. After three months of residence, individuals can apply for the carte vitale to access the system.
The remaining costs are usually covered either by employers or by private supplementary insurance (mutuelle), which typically costs between €15 and €70 per month depending on coverage.
In comparison, the UK operates a publicly funded system (NHS), where healthcare is free at the point of use, although some people choose private healthcare, which typically costs around £80 (€91) per month for individual cover.
In the United States, healthcare is mainly private and based on insurance. The average annual cost is around $8,951 (€7,717) for an individual and $25,572 (€22,047) for a family.
While the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, helped significantly to subsidise the cost of healthcare for many Americans when it was introduced in 2010, and many Americans obtain healthcare through their jobs, healthcare remains significantly more expensive overall and the system more burdensome to navigate than in France or the UK.
Grocery bills in France
In a country that prides itself on its cuisine, you will not be surprised to learn that food is the second-largest household expense after housing, and is particularly sensitive to inflation.
Food accounts for around 16% of total household spending in France.
On average, households spend around €385 per month on groceries, while individuals typically spend between €150 and €200 depending on lifestyle and location.
By comparison, UK households spend around £440 (€509) per month on average, though it varies depending on household size and habits.
People moving from the US will be pleasantly surprised by the lower cost of groceries in France.
In the United States, a family of four must spend on average around $1,013 (€873) per month on groceries. Costs vary widely depending on location, household size, and consumption patterns, but overall this is a far higher spend than in France.
