Why more Americans are moving to France in 2026?

You see the stories almost every day now. More Americans than ever are packing up their lives and leaving the country. And record numbers are moving to France: over 15,000 received their first French residency permit in 2025 alone, a jump of 14%* from the year before.

Some of the reasons for coming are the same as always. French food, culture, and the countryside have been drawing Americans to France for decades.

But in recent years, something’s changed. It’s no longer just the lifelong francophiles who are making the move. With each passing year, it seems there are more compelling practical reasons to leave the US for France. And the numbers clearly reflect that.

So let’s take a closer look at the reasons so many are choosing France and how you too can make the move.

‍

While home prices have skyrocketed in the US over the past several years, the national median is now over $400,000.  French property prices have actually fallen and remain well below their peak. 

The accessibility gap between buying property at home and in France is one of the most common reasons Americans are making the move, with interest from US buyers in French real estate up a reported 30% year over year.

But it isn’t just buyers who can benefit from lower housing prices in France. Rents too are significantly cheaper in France compared to the US, often running about half of what you’d pay in the US.

That’s all without compromising on where you live, too. Housing in large, vibrant French cities like Toulouse, Nantes, Montpellier, and Lyon come in at a fraction of what a similar place would cost in most US cities. 

Even Nice, one of the most popular destinations for American expats in France, is markedly more affordable than most coastal cities in the US.

See also our article about the best cities in France for expats

‍

Your money goes further in France

It’s not just housing that’s cheaper in France.

The overall cost of living is significantly lower in France than in the US, and you feel it everywhere, from that fresh baguette in the morning to a decent bottle of French wine for under $10. Even buying a new car in France costs roughly half of what you’d pay back home.

When it comes to retiring in France and those on fixed incomes, the difference can be genuinely life-changing. A couple can live in France comfortably on around $3,500 a month in regions like Occitanie, Brittany, or Dordogne including rent. 

And thanks to the US-France tax treaty, Social Security and pension income can't be taxed twice.

For families, the biggest savings are in childcare and education. Daycare that eats up a fifth of American household income costs just a fraction of that here. And instead of saving up, or borrowing, tens of thousands of dollars a year for college tuition? French public universities only charge a few hundred euros a year (private universities can still be expensive).

People who felt squeezed financially in the US often arrive in France and find themselves surprisingly comfortable. And peace of mind’s a pretty powerful reason to move.

‍

France Healthcare System : when it’s helping instead of hurting

America’s healthcare system is enough reason for a lot of people to consider leaving the country. And when they’re looking for alternatives, France tends to be at the top of the list.

Once you’ve legally lived here for three months, you can enroll in France’s public healthcare system. Your typical family doctor’s appointment will cost roughly €30 and most of that will be reimbursed automatically. 

Hospital stays can be covered up to 100%. 

Compare that to thousands of dollars for an emergency room visit or upwards of $15,000 to give birth, and it’s no wonder so many of us are coming here.

It can make an especially huge difference for families and retirees.

‍

This one comes up more and more frequently, and it’s a little harder to talk about than real estate or healthcare, but it’s a real motivating factor for many Americans wanting to move abroad.

France is, statistically, a safe country.

There's a baseline sense of calm in daily life that many Americans say they didn't realise they were missing until they experienced it.

In many ways for many expats, moving to France felt like going back in time. In a good way.

It goes beyond physical safety too. Concerns about access to reproductive healthcare, LGBTQ+ rights, or simply a sense that the social safety net they were counting on feels less certain than it once did : these are real reasons people are making the move. France isn't without its own debates, but on many of these fronts it offers a stability that feels harder to find at home right now.

‍

France is encouraging Americans to come

When the research climate in the US started shifting recently, France didn’t take long to let American academics know they were welcome here. 

Since then, French universities and government officials have launched multiple programs aimed at recruiting American researchers, with one of the best-known being Aix-Marseille University’s “Safe Place for Science”.

‍

All of Europe is at your doorstep

Moving to France makes it so much easier and more affordable to travel. 

London, Barcelona, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Milan : you can be there in a matter of hours by train. And budget airlines flying between dozens of European cities cost a fraction of what we Americans are used to paying for domestic travel back home. 

‍Living in France doesn't just mean living in France. It means all of Europe is suddenly within reach.

‍

There’s no one-size-fits-all way for Americans to move to France, the right steps and visas depend entirely on your situation. But here are the main routes to settling here legally.

Retiring or living on passive income: Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS)

The Long-Stay Visitor Visa is nearly always the best way to go for retirees and anyone else not planning to work in France. You'll need to show a stable monthly income from pensions, Social Security, savings, or investments as well as private health insurance coverage and proof of somewhere to live.

FYI, this France visa does not allow you to work for a company based in France, or have French clients.

-Learn more about visas for retirees or financially independents in France

Freelancer or business owner: Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale Visa

Most independent workers will need this visa, and the process is more involved than you might expect. You'll need a business plan, proof of savings, and validation of your project before you can even submit your application. It can certainly be worth the effort though as it's renewable and gives you a solid path to longer-term residency.

Learn more about about the micro-entrepreneur status and visas for France

Skilled professional or researcher: Talent Residence Permit

If you're moving to France with serious professional experience, artistic renown, a research background, or plans to invest, the Talent Residence Permit is definitely worth looking into.

Valid for up to four years, doesn't require a language test, and lets your family join you through a simplified process. It's designed for people bringing real value to France and is one of the most flexible and stable paths to building a long-term life here.

Learn more about the France Talent Visa →

‍

Will you be joining the 150,000+ Americans already in France?

The recent wave of Americans moving to France isn't really about romance (well, not only). 

It's about affordable housing, predictable healthcare, a cost of living that lets you breathe, and a daily quality of life that's hard to live without after you've experienced it. That’s not to say everything’s perfect here or that it can’t be tough to first adjust to French life.

The paperwork is real. The bureaucracy is famously frustrating. But it certainly is worth it.

If you're seriously thinking about making the move, the most important step is figuring out which visa is right for you. 

If you need help for your next journey to France, EasyStart can help you. With a 99% visa approval rate and over 1,200 cases completed, we handle everything from identifying your path to putting together your application.

‍