Curious about what it’s like to swap the fast-paced American lifestyle for the charm and tranquility of the South of France? Tuula Rampont did just that, and in this video, she shares her story of why she moved to France.
Discover why she chose the South of France, the hurdles she overcame while adjusting to a new culture, and how slowing down in France has brought her more joy and fulfillment.
Whether you’re planning your own move abroad, living the expat life, or simply curious about what life in France is really like, this video will give you a glimpse into the rewards of a slower, richer lifestyle.
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45 Comments
Great video!! France, its people and culture are wonderful!
Very inspiring. I want to relocate too. I need a bit more courage.
Great info. Thank you! Are there good golf courses in the area at reasonable cost?
Bonjour, Tuula! Very informative video about living in France. I met you at the International Living Bootcamp in Denver in 2023. I'm the man has woodworking as a hobby. I planned to take a scouting trip to the Dordogne this coming October. However, I changed my mind; I decided to go to visit friends in Ireland instead. Hopefully I will visit France next year Au revoir!
$200,000. is not what regular working people call " Affordable!"
Merci!
Great video. We briefly stayed in the Le Mourillon area in Toulon on our way to Menton and wished we had stayed longer. A much underrated, less touristy location with beautiful local beaches, lovely picturesque walks, friendly locals and affordable prices for accommodation & meals.
excellent! thanks for the info. Ventura! Wow! I live in Ojai! Yes, and considering a retirement relocation to the south of France. I subbed your channel.
Better move to Selayar😂😂😂
Tuula, lovely place to live. I believe your heritage is from Finland. Ever been here ?
I don't make much money but I can afford a 400,000 home?
C incroyable le nombre de conneries écrites dans certaines réponses 😧.
Allez vivre dans les grandes villes de France et vous paierez 20 à 40 % de plus que dans de petites villes 5 à 20*** habitants oui pour un spécialiste il faudra bouger mais, le loyer où l'achat 20/40% – cher 🤔.
Oui à Toulon il y a la mer mais, à côté C pas la joie 😢même l'arrière pays est très cher.
Enfin, un dernier conseil pour ceux qui considèrent les français comme désagréables 👺 !.
Apprenez 2 3 mots-clés relatifs à la politesse 😂
1ère : Bonjour même si il y a beaucoup de monde
2ème : Merci même à la femme de chambre où au cantonier
3ème : Bye ou bonsoir, au revoir (le R 😮difficile pour les étrangers)
Là vous avez "presque gagné" 😂.
Bienvenue en France chez les anglophones welcome est la réponse à Merci !
Allez comprendre 😂
Thank you for sharing a very informative video. May I suggest to show your location on a map and show the spelling of the towns and cities you talk about in your video.
I'm not even going to watch the video. $200,000 is affordable? Entitled a$$holes.
AND, NONE OF YOU THINKING OF MOVING TO FRANCE IS ALARMED THAT THE FOUNDER OF TELEGRAM, A SOCIAL MEDIA SITE, HAS BEEN JAILED THIS WEEK IN FRANCE FOR NOT ADHERING TO france's CENSORSHIP GUIDELINES? ie. leftist, transexual = okay, conservative = bad.
Congratulations! I have a small place in Central France that I purchased awhile back as a pied e terre for retirement. It has not been easy but I wouldn't change my decision for anything in the world. Great video
I don't want to go to France because of the illegal aliens killing people in the streets.Why don't you talk about that
Great video. We are hoping to retire there in 2 years.
Thank you so much for sharing this detailed info; I’m also planning early retirement in France; looking forward to live in country side and purchase a 2 bedroom condo, but difficult not knowing where to, also I’m avoiding owning /driving a car; probably impossible to do living in county side? Thank you for the info again, it broaden my horizons.
I love all the great information. So as a retired person in France I would be entitled to the healthcare system without paying into the tax system? Thanks for the beautiful video. ❤
I am world traveled.
When ever I meet Americans outside of the US I can't get over their assumption that you don't need to speak languages because "everybody speaks English".
Well I hope you enjoy your occasional break from social isolation at the expat meetings.
Are you surehealth insurance is that cheap? Especially for elderly people?
I recently bought a patch of land in a new subdivision south of Perpginan – so like 10 minutes away from the beaches along the Medeterranian coast. I will be starting construction on a detached 120m2 villa, built to the latest norms and standards. The total cost will be around 300K EUR. I don't think I could do this anywhere else in France (outside of rural or undesireable areas that is).
Awesome video. Thank you!
I have a EU passport and would love to move, but my only child lives in SoCal and I’m in the Boston area. Moving so far scares me!
What are your income taxes like? What is the percentage range based on income?
Great video. I love the south of France, ive spent alot of time in Cannes, Nice, Antibes etc. would love to move there. Could you go into a bit more about your learning French journey. You just bought a few grammar books and that was it??
Oooh Tuula, that's what I needed to hear❣️ I appreciate this video so much, well all your videos but this one especially. Thank you for sharing your journey, the procedure for long stay Visa, and finances. 🙏🏼 I live in San Luis Obispo County up the road from Ventura on the Central Coast, and have any friends in Ventura… Tuula, Would you point me on the route to take to get a heritage EU passport? 🇪🇸 My grandparents are from Spain. We can't find their Birth certificates or passports but I have some papers of them showing their transportation from Spain visa to the USA and the boat they took passage on. Funny enough it was a French boat called La Salle. 🇫🇷 I feel destined to come and live in France permanently but I would certainly like to get my EU citizenship as well as you did. I realize there are many benefits to having this. Tuula, I'm very excited about it all and a little scared. 💫 Honestly the only thing that's holding me back is finances right now. Trying to get that 25K in savings, and creating some way to make income to support myself when I'm there remotely if possible. I have taught ESL around the world 🌎 as well. 0:10
Sorry, all the prices you gave us are in US dollars or Euros?
You left a beautiful area near Santa Barbara for a beautiful area in France. My two favorite places in the world are California and France❣️🥰💕🙏🏻🙏🏻💕🏝🏖🌞🌻
I'm French but my wife is asian. When she came to my country, I warned her: French people normallly do not talk to you except if they want money, need something or have a mental problem, which is very frequent in big cities.
Everytime you advertise an area as a possible dwelling place, you're pushing up prices. Every time an area is much talked about, it is TOO LATE to invest your money there anyway.
Excellent video and explanation of the long-stay visa. LOVED also your overview of the tax system and how it is not as high, as rumored to be, for everyone. I'm starting my search for a retirement home in the area around the villages you've named.
You didn't plug in your mic.
Thanks for this video. My French husband and I live in the US & are thinking about retiring to Toulon because we have family a few villages away.
We would be interested in learning about the various neighborhoods within Toulon, if that would be a possible subject for you. Safety & the ability to travel around without a car are our concerns.
Thanks!
Please be aware that foreigners are not particularly welcome in France. There are many reasons for that. Our neighbors are Spanish, Dutch, American. And we agree that French are diffucult as neighbors go.
A few more photos of France would have been nice
Well your house obviously doesn't cost $200,000
LOL I’m half Finn also (via my mom) and also have the dual citizenship. Still inUS tho!
It takes a long time to know us and for us to like people but once we do, it’s forever. And it’s true we do not smile every 5 seconds and we do not find everything awesome for no reason. It’s suspicious to us. But learn the language. That will get you a long way if you want to connect with us 😊
Good info. I would suggest that you open your audience to not only the US. For instance the huge saving on medical care at $2300 USD a year is actually a big amount for canadiens (and most non Americans) as we get it free in other countries. Same for a $35 USD lunch, it's $50 CDN !! Very expensive.
How many restaurant owners in the US have come to-talk to you and explained the menu? I’ve found that if you make any attempt to speak a word of the local language and understand the area and culture you will find friendly people. True in France, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico. I did not find this in UK but didn’t try as much.
South of France is definitely beautiful and I had the opportunity to visit the different regions including Loire Valley. Learning the language is a way of embracing their culture. We're thinking of retiring there as well in the near future.
Can a single retired old guy live out in the country in a little gite with a decent garden for $2,200 a month? I do speak a little French. I’ve been to France and I was able to get along with the little I know.
She is clearly delusional 😂