Quality of Life: France vs. the US

How much we enjoy our lives has much to do with how we spend our time each day. Not the trip of a lifetime we take once, but the quality of our everyday lives. Many factors affect our quality of life including the cost of living, the quality and availability of food, and the pace of the world around us.

Let me preface these comparisons with a few things. The United States is a vast country, so there is no way of doing an exact comparison. Secondly, I moved from living in a large city, Portland, Oregon, to rural France. These views are based on my own life experiences, observations and a few facts.

The pace of life and work/life balance

While I’m still a type A personality, and probably always will be, the French art de vivre (art of living) and enjoying simple pleasures is rubbing off on me. France’s slower pace of life is a constant reminder to not take things so seriously, especially deadlines.

The French have a better sense of work/life balance, as they never let work interfere with enjoying life. Whereas I can easily let my work and day-to-day administrative tasks take over my life and stress me out. The French take time to enjoy life, whether that’s a two-hour lunch break, meeting for an apéro (an informal social gathering before dinner) or stopping to have a coffee (un café).

Since being in France, I take more breaks in my day to stop and chat with friends I run into or who show up unexpectedly at my door. When I go out to lunch, I enjoy the typically two hour, four or five-course meal (appetizer, main dish, cheese, dessert, coffee) with plenty of time for conversation. Living in France has definitely been a good influence on my health and wellbeing.

The cost of living

This is a big one. The average French salary is much lower than in the US, yet the average person can still afford to dine out and/or have a drink with friends. Rents are super low, unless you’re living in one of the major cities. Real estate prices vary greatly in the US and France depending on whether you live in a major city or a small town, so there is no exact method to compare. However, I can say the price of owning a home in a village in the French countryside is at least half of what it would costs in a small community in Oregon. And my property taxes are a seventh of what I pay in Portland, Oregon.

Not everything is less expensive. Gas is around $8 a gallon, but I drive a hybrid. Electricity is high at around $300 a month. But in general, food, groceries and household items are less. And eating out or having a drink at a bar is way less. A glass of wine at the local bistro is 2.5 euros ($2.91) and at a fancy restaurant 7 euros ($8.15). Compare that to paying $12 to $18 a glass in the US.

But as a retired America, my money goes much further than it would in the US. I love food and I love to dine out. In the US, other than the occasional happy hour, dining out was a once or twice a month splurge. In the French countryside I can afford to eat out twice a week, and treat myself to a four-course meal with wine for as little as 14.50 euros ($16.87).

Hiring gardeners, house cleaners, plumbers, electricians and other trades people is quite a bit less in France, which means I can afford to have more help with the gardens and maintaining my house. All of which makes life easier.

The quality of the food

I love going to the local markets for fresh produce, meat and local specialties. Prices are a bit higher than the supermarket, but compared to US farmer’s markets, it’s still dirt cheap. From the sable carrots grown in sandy soil, to the crisp French radishes, you can taste the quality of the produce.

Pesticides are still widely used in France, although the government is working to reduce dependence on pesticides. The local farm down the street uses minimal pesticides and is a great place for freshly picked vegetables.

When it comes to reducing harmful chemicals in food and cosmetics, France is the winner. According to a recent article, the EU has banned or restricted over 1,600 chemicals in cosmetics, while the US has banned roughly 11 under federal law.

Several food additives, banned in the EU, are still widely used in the US including Azodicarbonamide (ADA), Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), Potassium bromate, Propylparaben and Titanium dioxide. Could this be why everything tastes better here; even a bag of potato chips or Bugles?

My only complaint is the lack of variety of cuisine in the countryside. When I’m craving Chinese, Mexican or Thai I need to travel to a major city.

The opportunities for travel

One of my top reasons for moving to France is that I love to travel. While America has many beautiful cities, national parks and attractions, it’s a huge homogenous country. Travel requires days in the car or expensive airfare. In France I can drive for six hours, hop on a train or take a 40-minute flight and be in an entirely different country and culture.

Budget European airlines like Easyjet, Ryan Air, Volotea and Iberia Express make travel affordable. You can fly round trip for as little as $50 (with only a personal item). However, thanks to the fuel shortages that America’s war in Iran is causing, the days of cheap flights may be numbered.

Accommodations in many European cities are far less than the average price of a hotel in the US. I just booked a five-night stay at a high-end, two-bedroom, stone house Airbnb in the Dordogne region of France for $485 including all taxes and fees.

It’s no wonder most French people choose to vacation within their own country. Within France, a country the size of Texas, there is a huge diversity of landscapes. From the rolling hills and dramatic coastlines of Brittany to the majestic, snow-capped mountains in the Pyrenees, to the fine sandy beaches and turquoise waters of the Côte d'Azur.

All in all, Europe is a much easier and less expensive place to travel. And there are endless places to explore.

In summary

I’m not saying life in France is always easy. There are the day-to-day challenges of navigating cultural differences, language challenges, and a totally different bureaucratic system. But I wouldn’t trade the life I have here for the one I had in the US. Not for all the Mexican food in the world.

Stay tuned for part 2 where I share more reasons why life in France is so good.