Hello everyone my name is David and i would like to know what area in france offers the lowest cost of living.I have read so many blogs i am interested in going there for awhile in the future.i am single and Retired so i dont need to work i am happy with a room in someones home with a private bath and Access to the Kitchen or a small Apartment where i can walk anywhere i need to go.Any and all responses will be appreciated.
David 1946
Lowest cost of living in France
David1946
06 November 2011 18:25:38
111
soilsister
15 November 2011 23:54:03
7
we live in the area of Verdun France , and live here allready for four years
David1946
16 November 2011 13:01:36
111
Please tell me what is your Basic cost of living there such as Rent and utilities Electric Gas Water internet and food if you dont mind please.
David1946
Koarle
16 November 2011 14:14:41
13
Hi David
I have been living for 6 years in the Creuse (Limousin region).
It is the cheapest area of France to buy a property.
You will find the cost of living in France expensive compared to Texas. To give you an idea
Prices at the moment of writing:
Fuel 1 litre at a supermarket: 1.55€
Electricity average a month: 70€
Water a month: 10€
Heating: wood: 600€ a year
2 taxes a year (Taxe foncière et habitation ): 950€ ( 2 bedroom house )
No yearly roadtax
Tel/broadband: 33€ a month
1 litre of semi-skimmed milk (Aldi ) 0.57€
You can rent a small flat for under 300€ a month
If you need other prices, let me know.
Regards
Kris
David1946
17 November 2011 02:54:29
111
Thanks Kris im goin to consider it anyway and might still go there for awhile in the future.
David
JamesinFrance
17 November 2011 09:15:47
14
Costs can vary widely all over France but having searched the real estate websites over years, I would say the lowest cost housing is in the SW Dedongne and Limosine (sp?)areas and in the NW Brittany area. Of course, the farther from the cities and the beaches the less expensive the properties and rents. Since housing is your biggest expense that should be an important issue. Having said that, if you live a long way from supermarkets and pharmacies or schools for kids, then you will be paying a lot more for gas.
ALDI and LIDL are the two "hard discount" supermarkets but others are now getting more competitive. There is also an issue to consider of internet connectivity given that now we have ISP services that provide internet, free calling telephone via the website and TV services via the internet. If the line speed in the area of a small remote town is poor because it's a long way from the closets France Telecom central office, then you will suffer communication problems. Food and gas prices are generally a little more expensive in small rural towns as well. Craftsman services in rural areas will be less expensive than in cities.
I've lived in France for 18 years and always in a suburb of a reasonable size city where shopping and services are available.
David1946
18 November 2011 03:32:11
111
Thank you James you are very helpful also.
David
JamesinFrance
18 November 2011 06:36:01
14
David,
I just reread your original post. If you want to walk everywhere to get what you need, you will want to live in a city where the public transportation is good like buses, tramways for travel within the city and (railroads for traveling outside the city). All the big cities and towns in France are well served with this transportation but if you lived in the country, you would need a car. The other thing to look for is health care. We retired folks need more health care than we did when we were young. You are more likely to find an English speaking doctors and better health facilities in bigger cities. I'm not sure what the rules are now for non-EU expats joining the French health insurance system. We got in when it we retired because the coverage had just been extended to all expats living legally in France. However that was under the Socialist government but now under the conservative government I heard non-EU expats needed to have their own private insurance. You'll have to check on that.
Given you live in Texas where there is no state income taxes, I suspect life would be less expensive there than in France. While you will not have to pay French income taxes if you pay in the US due to the Double Taxation Treaty, you will have to file the French tax report annually. To avoid all the bureaucracy of getting and renewing the annual Carte de Sejour, a friend of mine just comes here on a tourist visa for three months and then flies back to the states or some non-EU country and re-enters the country. He lives six months here in his small apt and six months in the US. You will need to speak French fairly well to be able to deal with the bureaucrats, doctors, and generally everyone in France. Otherwise life is very frustrating and difficult. If you want to discuss more details, contact me at xxx, Ciao, Jim
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