Can you really afford France? Here's how major US states compare

From free healthcare to cheaper groceries, moving to France from the US may seem like a financial no-brainer.

However, both the US and France represent a huge diversity of prices. A family in the center of Paris will, of course, likely lead a more expensive lifestyle than one in a midwestern farming town.

For this reason, we have provided an overview of the cost of living in four states - California, New York, Texas and Illinois - as well as urban and rural regions. These are compared against French prices.

Note that the cost of living differs greatly within the Hexagon (mainland France), and that these numbers provide just a general guide. Individual spending habits and lifestyle choices can also greatly influence your cost of living.

Salary and livable wages

France has one of the highest tax burdens among developed countries, with the average single worker taking home about 72% of their total pay, according to a 2026 wage tax study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. In contrast, US taxes are lower. OECD reports an average single worker in the US takes home around 75% of their pay.

Having said this, the French system helps larger families more compared to single people or small families. This means an average married worker with two children in France has a take-home pay, after tax and taking account of family benefits given to them, of 83.1% of their gross wage.

Additionally, while Americans in the highest income tax bracket faced a federal rate of 37% on their 2025 salary, in France, the highest earners were subject to a 45% rate. For the highest earners  - €250,000 for single people or double for couples - there is also an additional 3-4% tax on income above these amounts. 

In general, gross salaries are also lower in France: official French statistics body INSEE reports the gross average salary per month as €3,613 in France, while in the US, the median gross salary is around €4,602 ($5,351.67) per month, according to the national labor department.

Remember, there is great variation across both countries. 

In the sunny plains of California the annual average wage is $79,900 (€69,513) whereas down south in Texas, it is $63,660 (€55,384) Forbes reported in early July this year. 

Salaries in New York average at $80,630 (€70,148) while in Illinois you could expect to earn $69,020 (€60,047). 

There are also varying rates of state-level income tax that affect your take home pay: California's highest marginal tax rate is 13.3%, whereas a state like Illinois has a flat rate of 4.95%. Other states like Nevada and Texas do not tax incomes at all.

As for France's distribution, in Paris, the average gross annual salary goes up to €58,800, while the average in a small city like Rennes hovers at €39,000. 

Unlike some US states, there is no region/state level income tax in France. However in France social charge levies on employment income are a significant factor. 

The latter are factored into the OECD estimate for take-home pay mentioned above, though it does not account for the part of social charge payments that is made directly by employers rather than taken off employee’s pay. 

Importantly, however, these charges go towards a good level of state pension and healthcare cover as well as various payments for families for children, plus a right to welfare benefits if you are laid off or are unable to work due to disability or illness.

Achieving a comparable ‘safety net’ would be costly in the US in terms of private insurance policies. 

Healthcare

Healthcare, which most Americans obtain through private companies, is one of those insurance costs that differs greatly between France and the US.

A single adult in Los Angeles California would need to spend $4,775 (€4,154) a year on healthcare - and that is a lowball estimate, according to the Economic Policy Institute's family budget calculator. Make that a family of two adults and two children, and the annual cost jumps to $15,157 (€13,187).

In New York City, the annual healthcare cost for a single adult is $8,981 (€7,813), while in Hamilton County, a rural part of New York state, it is $6,962 (€6,057). Dallas, Texas comes in at $5,502 (€4,787) and Chicago, Illinois at $4,989 (€4,340). As with California, those numbers double, triple and even quadruple for large families, according to the budget calculator.

So how do those numbers compare to France?

French healthcare is largely public, and the state covers around 60–70% of most medical costs. Your employer, or a private supplementary insurance called a mutuelle, usually covers the rest. A mutuelle can cost between €17 and €70 per month, depending on coverage and your age.

Some early retirees have to pay a ‘Puma fee’ towards their healthcare if they receive substantial capital income. 

Last year parliament also voted for newcomers who do not work, who obtain French healthcare ‘free’ and do not pay French social charges because they have exempt incomes (such as US pensions), to pay a new fee at an as-yet undetermined rate. However, this has not yet been put into action, and it is possible the idea will lay dormant on the statute books. 

It is highly likely, however, that whatever the outcome, French healthcare will remain good value compared to typical US costs.

Groceries and restaurants

Whether you grew up eating Tex-Mex cuisine in Texas or drinking bubble tea in the Bay Area, you may find that France has a narrower food scene.

However, there is a tradeoff for less Mexican and Asian cuisine: French restaurants are about 10% cheaper than American ones, according to Nombeo's restaurant price index. 

Prices go even lower if you're opting for something simple like a croissant, €1-2, or a glass of wine, as low as €4 euros. Compare that to a Starbucks croissant, $5 (€4.35) or a glass of chardonnay at Olive Garden for $8 (€6.96).

As far as groceries go, the EPI's budget calculator estimates the following monthly grocery budget for one person in major American cities: Chicago - $385 (€335) New York City - $426 (€371) Los Angeles - $367 (€319) Houston - $381 (€331). Keep in mind that prices drop in more rural areas: a single person in Pope County Illinois would need $318 (€277) and in Hamilton County New York, they would need $377 (€328).

In contrast, the Crédit Agricole bank, using INSEE data, gives a figure of around €310 per month for a single person in France.

Keep in mind, however, that groceries in Paris, Toulouse, Nice and the Cotes d'Azur region are more pricey than the national average, while places like Brittany are cheaper. Additionally, of course, larger families spend less per person than people living alone. 

Utilities

When comparing electricity costs between the US and France, it is generally true that the French spend less. 

A mid-sized apartment's electricity bill averages €89 per month, while a 150 meters squared all-electric house is €218 per month, according to prix-elec.com, a site for independent electricity information. Furthermore, INSEE reports that the average French household consumes 4679 kWh per year.

In the US, that number is more than double: the average household consumed 10,356 kWh of electricity per year in 2024, according to the US Energy Information and Administration. Keep in mind that US homes are bigger and more frequently have air conditioning.

Across different states, monthly electricity expenditure varies widely: New York - $139.53 (€121.42) Illinois - $109.99 (€95.69) Texas - $163.66 (€142.38) California - $160.86 (€139.95). The average electricity bill was cheapest, and closest to a French mid-size apartment bill, in New Mexico - $99.08 (€86.20).

As for connecting to the internet, prices are once again higher in the US. While in Paris internet services cost on average $30.97 (€26.94) per month, in New York City they cost $64.94 (€56.50), according to New America, a US think tank. Again, prices vary across US metropoles, with Los Angeles coming in at $49.83 (€43.35) and Atlanta at $105.36 (€91.66).

Buying and renting

From stunning chateaus to charming townhouses, properties in France can seem like an enticing purchase. Depending on your home state and region, they can also be cheaper.

In New York City, the median listing price for housing is approximately $5,780.2 (€5,028.77) per square meter, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. 

Chicago comes in at $2,378.8 (€2,069.56) per square meter, Houston at $1,851 (€1,610.37) and Los Angeles at $7,125.7 (€6,199.36). Note that there is a great diversity of prices, as in a small city like Selma, Alabama, the median listing price is $667 (€580.29) per square meter.

In France, the average price per square meter for an apartment was €3142, whereas for a house it was €2541, according to the property listings site SeLoger. Here as well, there is a broad range of rates. The Indre department in central France comes in at just €1,140, whereas in Paris the average price is €9,827.

When it comes to renting, prices in France are generally cheaper - often simply because apartments themselves are smaller. In Ile-de-France you can expect to pay anywhere from €17 to €34 per month per square meter depending on the location, according to SeLoger. A cheaper region like Auvergne ranges from €7 to €15. 

Here is how major American cities compared in 2025, according to Yahoo Finance: New York City - $20.50 (€17.84) per square meter, Chicago - $11.80 (€10.27) per square meter Los Angeles - $12.85 (€11.18) per square meter.

Looking at it another way, while the average rental price for a studio in the US is $1,498 (€1,303.26) in Paris, it is €790. Again, it is important to keep in mind that American studios are generally bigger, averaging 42 meters squared, while in Paris a studio can be as small as nine meters squared.

If you have moved to France from the US, we would love to hear about your experience. How does the cost of living compare to your home state? Share your thoughts with us at feedback@connexionfrance.com