The cost of living in France in 2024

Whether France is more or less expensive than the UK is a frequent matter for debate. In the Property Guides Cost of Living Coverseas Index 2024, we check everyday prices in France, the UK and 11 other countries to get an accurate reading. It covers prices for groceries, leisure and household expenses, and each year we update it to cover new products and ways of shopping, as well as the usual household staples.  

Indeed, the first purchase of Dulux, cod, toothpaste or a large family pack of washing powder is enough to give even the most enthusiastic newcomer to France pause for thought. While the reality of the cost of living in France may be a surprise,  there are ways to stay on budget – it just takes careful planning.

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An opportunity for economising

Overall our survey found that prices in France were around 7% cheaper than in the UK. Moreover, a move to a new country can offer the opportunity to try new and more economical products. 

In the UK you may have bought certain products simply out of habit or just what was considered the reasonable value option. A cheaper brand of paint may do the job just as well whilst a white fish that you’ve not previously heard of that’s cheaper could be just as delicious if not become your favourite! You moved to France partially for the spirit of adventure so live a little. If you don’t find alternatives you prefer you can always revert to your favourites if you’re prepared to pay the money but you may just be surprised.

Download the Expat’s Guide to Affordable Living Overseas today!

What’s the cost of living in France?

Prices are only one element of the cost of living in France. To accurately budget for your move,  read The Currency Guide to Emigration, free to download.

Be aware that directly comparing the cost of living in France with products of the UK is often not a direct comparison. An example of this is car insurance, which as standard normally includes breakdown cover here. Or prescription charges, which in France relate directly to the cost of the medication and are reimbursed to people with residence by a combination of government and private health care insurance.

What do local people do?

The trick to managing the cost of living in France seems to be organisation and planning. Don’t just buy what you want, when you need it, from one supermarket. You quickly learn to shop around, study promotional advertising when it arrives, keep your eyes peeled for promos, buy in bulk, and decide which brands are “must haves” and which you can live without.

Brand and supermarket loyalty should play second fiddle to what is on offer at any particular time. That’s especially true with promos of toiletries/cleaning products and DIY materials, notoriously more expensive than in the UK. Keeping an eye on the fluctuating market prices of products like oil (common for heating systems) allows you to buy when prices are low rather than being held to ransom by the market price when you *have* to.

Markets can offer better value pricing, particularly towards the end of the day for meat, fish, fruit and veg.

When it comes to fresh fruit and veg, French people living in rural areas buy little from supermarkets during summer months, choosing to grow their own. They freeze, pre-cook and store for the winter months as well as gifting to family and friends. Markets can offer better value pricing, particularly towards the end of the day for meat, fish, fruit and veg. The top tip for buying all fresh food is only ever to buy in-season products whatever the time of year as these will provide the best value for money.

Despite the seemingly high costs of some items in France, other things are noticeably cheaper – in particular wine, going out and vet bills.  So if you enjoy socialising, a good tipple or have pets, you at least win on these!

In the shops

In the market in Provence (BTWImages / Shutterstock.com)

France ranked 5th most affordable in our rankings, coming in at £67.79 for a basket of supermarket essentials and a few luxury items, including a bottle of gin and a bar of dark chocolate.

By comparison, the same items cost £79.99 in the UK, £66.85 in Italy, while Spain came out top as the most affordable at £52.23.

Highlights:

• English breakfast tea bags are easily available in France, coming in at just £1.37 for 80-100
• Fresh produce is markedly cheaper when in season
• Laundry powder is cheaper in France than in the UK, Ireland, Greece and the USA

Expat comments

We spoke to Beth, an expatriate in France (and writer for Property Guides) for insight on her experiences of the increasing cost of living…

“Perhaps the most noticeable sign is when shopping for basic weekly groceries. As an example, as a resident of France, I have noticed that the basics that I could once pick up for around 25 euros are now nigh on impossible for less than 35 – 40 euros.”

Travel

To encourage us to buy electric cars, like this one in Paris, you can get discounts up to €8,500 (Vereshchagin Dmitry / Shutterstock.com)

The Property Guides Cost of Living Overseas Index revealed that travel in France is markedly more expensive than in its neighbouring countries, Portugal, Spain and Italy.

France came 9th out of 13 countries, ranked by affordability. The index looked at a tank of petrol (50 litres, unleaded), the hire of a small car (one week, mon to fri, no insurance or extras) and a return train fare (one hour journey, off-peak, booked that morning.

Highlights:

• Petrol was the most expensive in France out of the 13 countries researched.
• Car hire was cheaper in France than in the UK, Germany, New Zealand and Australia
• Train travel is quite affordable in France. A one-hour return journey costs just £14.60.

Beth shared her thoughts on petrol prices in France, “Oil prices have remained high in France, hugely influenced by the supply issues caused by the Ukraine conflict. Between October 2021 and October 2022 domestic fuel prices in France almost doubled. Then during the first 3 months of 2023, there was a sharp increase in cost, which has continued to increase since, albeit it at a steadier rate.”

Home

How will you decorate your new home in France?

The next category, Home, looked at items you’d need as a new buyer in France. This looked at the prices of a 1.5 litre pot of paint, for touch-ups, an Ikea bookcase, a new TV, a Ninja air fryer, and ongoing payments, such as a phone contract and a week’s worth of electricity.

France ranked 9 of 13 countries for affordability. The same products that cost £988* in France cost £1,046 in the UK, £770 in Spain and £851 in Portugal.

Highlights:

• Electricity in France is markedly cheaper in France than the UK, Spain, Cyprus and Portugal
• The same air fryer cost over £80 less in France than in the UK
• Paint in France ranked middle of the pack

Insight from our expat…

“Utility bills around the home have also increased. Although thankfully not to the extent of those in the UK, mainly due to government caps being placed on utilities like gas and electricity over the past year. The rate of increase on both gas and electricity in France was capped at 15% by the government throughout 2023, as opposed to 4% during 2022.”

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Leisure

No wonder she looks smug, the coffee, croissant and newspaper are all cheaper!

This category covered things you might spend money on to have fun, socialise or just by being out and about. Examples in this category include a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant, a cappuccino at your local independent café, a monthly Netflix subscription – you get the picture.

At last, we’ve found some serious savings in France, which ranked 4th out of 13 countries.  And what do you know, they are of course involving the good things in life!  The biggest saving is on wine. Hardly surprising perhaps, when we pay over £2.50 per bottle in duty and VAT compared to France where you pay the equivalent of… drumroll… 3 pence. You pay a lot more at Mcdonald’s but you’ll get very little sympathy from us! Books in France can be pricey in a bookshop, but most buyers can find a promotion that brings the price down.

For in-depth info on the items we researched, head to our Cost of Living Overseas homepage or email us at [email protected]

Highlights:

• A newly released paperback book costs twice as much in France than in the UK & Spain
• A bottle of house wine in a mid-range restaurant is just £13*
• The average three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant will cost the same in France and Italy
• A McDonald’s Big Mac is the most expensive in France (£5.15)

Expat insight…

“Wine remains much cheaper in France than in the UK due to it being a local product (although spirits remain comparable). Eating out remains at a lower level of cost than perhaps the UK. And a tip for those that can eat their main meals out at lunchtimes rather than in the evenings, this option often offers set menus at particularly low prices.”

Healthcare

French doctor holding heart with flag of France background.

The French are known for the quality of their healthcare, and part of that is down to protecting their pharmacy businesses. Hence the larger price for simple drugs. For prescription charges, you are charged the cost of the medicine, which varies by product. However, you can get a rebate of a certain percentage if you have health coverage, so it should cost you nothing.

We looked at the price of a pack of paracetamol, a basic check-up at the dentist, a pack of branded tampons and a pack of branded nappies.

These items, together cost £48* in France compared to £40* in the UK and £53 in Portugal.

Highlights:

• Paracetamol is up to 4x more expensive in France than in the UK
• A basic dentist check-up is similarly priced in France to the UK (£1 difference)
• Nappies were the most expensive in France

For more information on healthcare in Italy or to be connected with an expert in health insurance, email us at [email protected] and cite the ‘Cost of Living.’

Other

A night’s stay in a city hotel in France would typically cost around £155

Our final category covered items that you might splurge on now and again, such as jeans from a high-street store, a night’s stay in a mid-range city hotel and the average price of a male haircut.

The cost of these items came in at £197 in France, almost double what it costs in Spain.

Highlights:

• A night’s stay at a mid-range city hotel costs £155* in France
• A haircut in France is largely similar to the price you’d pay in the UK and Ireland

Read the full report on our Cost of Living homepage 

Buying a property in France is extremely exciting, but it can be nerve-wracking: in what ways is the process different to the UK, how do you cope with the language difference, what fees should you expect and just who is the notaire? That’s why we’ve put together our France Buying Guide, to help you through the process, step by step.

Written by experts, it covers every stage of buying, from viewing to contracts and fees. Get your copy of the French Property Guide by simply filling in the form below.