What is it really like moving to France?
Before we moved to France, we thought we knew what would be difficult – the language, the paperwork, and the French bureaucracy. But after actually living here, we realised the biggest adjustments are often the quieter ones that people rarely talk about.
In this video I share the real experience of settling in France, including the financial rhythm of everyday life, the slower pace of daily routines, the emotional adjustment many expats experience, and the cultural differences that gradually reshape how life feels.
If you’re thinking about making the move, this video offers an honest look at what daily life in France is really like beyond the romantic images you often see online.
📍 Moving to France?
If you’re seriously considering relocating to France, I created a practical relocation guide based on our experience moving from London to a village in the South of France.
It explains the real costs of everyday life, renting vs buying property, healthcare, administration, and what daily life here actually involves.
👉 The Honest Relocation Guide
https://simplelifefrance.gumroad.com/l/zhudv
🛠️ Helpful tools:
Opening a European bank account before moving: Wise (multi-currency account I personally use)
👉 https://wise.com/invite/dic/gabriellas165
Disclosure:
Some links above may be referral links, which means I may receive a small reward if you sign up. This comes at no extra cost to you.
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 What nobody tells you about moving to France
00:40 The financial rhythm of daily life
02:00 When convenience disappears
03:31 The emotional dip
05:06 Predictable healthcare
06:06 Good food is normal
07:04 Why life feels less transactional
08:24 The real adjustment when moving to France
If you enjoy calm, honest lifestyle content about living in France:
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20 Comments
I have visited France several times and loved it. However, I'm stuck in the U.S. and it's unlikely that I'll ever move to France because our children are here in the U.S. So I greatly appreciate your videos describing what it's really like living there as it affords me a small insight into what life would be like if I were able to move there. Thank you!
Subscribed today after watching your videos for more than four months. I should have done long ago !
Planning to do any garden video for spring?
Moving to France (especially to regions outside of the cities) seems to require vast amounts of effort and a great deal of re-adjustment – I am not sure that I would be able to do it, as I value the convenience of living close to many shops and supermarkets that are open for many hours in the day – It is nice that we can experience the full spectrum of what it takes for someone to actually accomplish a move to rural France (via Youtube) without having to go through all of it ourselves (LoL) – The contrast between living in London and living where you live now could hardly be greater – The benefits are obviously something that you value highly – One thing that I always enjoy in France is the freshly baked bread (It is simply beyond comparison) – Are there bigger towns as well (near to where you live) ? – What is the nearest city ?
You compare a French village to London !
You can perfectly buy milk in Paris at 10pm…
I love that the French villages work to live not like us in the UK, living to work all because of consumerism. I am moving there soon and I can’t wait.
Thank you for sharing that it isn't cheap to live here. Another lovely video.
Interesting, thank you for sharing!
I definitely get you when you say you have to plan. I live on a tiny island of 50 people in the Caribbean during winter months. I tend to over shop when I go to the next island which is wasting money. I leave for France end of August and I really need to watch over spending in France. I have a place for 4 months but I will be looking at other places to permanently land during that 4 months. Can't wait…thanks so much for your help!
vous voyez bien que la vie n'est pas facile en France en plus le sud est plus cher !
Well, I can’t say you’re wrong, but it’s a little exaggerated. Just to be clear, the south east of France is often more expensive than anywhere else (except Paris) in France …
I’m French and I live in the southwest of France, in the Lot (for the past 10 years), one of the most rural and isolated departments in France. There are quite a lot of expats here from the UK, the US, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, etc.
Before that, I lived in Paris and its suburbs for about 35 years, so I know what you can expect from big cities like that—shops open almost at any time of the day (some small grocery stores were open until midnight).
To make a long story short, living in the Lot is far easier, cheaper, healthier, and more exciting. We actually do more things here than we did in Paris, and we meet far more people too. And quite frankly, most supermarkets are open on Sunday mornings, and there is always a market (“marché”) somewhere within 10 minutes of where you live—and usually two or three bakeries as well.
The main issue we have is finding a doctor—or more precisely a specialist. Sometimes, in case of real emergency, we need to drive about an hour to one of the bigger cities nearby (Montauban or Toulouse—about an hour and a half—and if needed, Bordeaux, about two and a half hours). But when I was living in the suburbs of Paris, it often took me more time to reach a specialist by car than it does here in the Lot.
So it’s not really a big deal. And for those who are worried about rural life in France, I would recommend checking some YouTube channels from American, British, or Dutch expats—you might be surprised. Most of them wouldn’t go back to their home country. 😉😉
Bonjour, vous semblez ne pas savoir que votre assurance multirisque couvre certainement déjà la scolarité de vos enfants. La plupart des ménages n’ont pas besoin de souscrire une assurance supplémentaire. Bon nombre de choses que même beaucoup de français ignorent sont protégées par l’assurance habitation ( électroménager, vélos …) . Lisez bien votre contrat,
Please watch the comments and analysis of intelligent and well-informed French people about the disastrous trajectory of France after the result of the last elections. (Second definitive part of these "elections municipales" next week-end) That should be enough to reconsider moving to France. Americans tends to romanticized France. The reality is that the country is going to hit the wall very soon.
Thank you for thoughtful video. The little things add up to make big differences. Slowing down sounds wonderful, as does getting high quality food.
Please consider where you are living, in a small city and people aren't your slaves ! Moreover the prices are different in the big cities, in the villages, in the North, in West, in the South..
Among the videos about moving to France this is the best, because of the subtle points she makes. I also found the many lesser costs to mount up more than anticipated. Since I was a lot older than the last time I upped stakes and moved, I found this move and the subsequent adjustment more stressful than I expected also. But one gets over that as things settle down. Comfortable routines get established. We are glad to be here in a largish city.
Thank you for the clarification. And as always, beautiful images and soothing voice. I love your videos.
I enjoyed this video, but ironically, I had to slow it down to 75% playback speed. I admit that I am hard of hearing, but I found that you speak faster than I am able to listen. I think that is because I found the information very interesting and much of it surprising. Nevertheless, I realized that, at least mentally, I have slowed down during the years since I retired. Maybe I would enjoy readjusting to the French way of living. I have subscribed. Thanks very much. NY State, here.
Settling in France sounds magical but definitely an adjustment. ✅
we live in Lyon, and as it was our first year, our energy costs were based upon an average for the region. Therefore, we had a large bill at the end of the year, due to our energy needs. Now, this will not happen again, but it was an unexpected cost! Aside from this, the costs were and are far less than any other state in the USA. I have lived in 11 different states, and it is still more affordable here in France. And we live in Lyon! I’d imagine, even if we moved to a smaller village outside of Lyon, like Saint Etienne, costs would be far less. Administration seems to be the biggest issue. Our visas expired in January, and we still havent recieved our Carte de sejour. We have extensions, and we submitted four months before expiration, but France takes what it takes. It will get done. Perhaps not when you wish it to be done.
hey it s closed and why ? she don t know this is not usa working to make money until you re dead .tbis is europe a chistian catholic roots and you dont work on sunday and so , you re always complaining but at least respect european and french people traditions etc bye bye