What draws Americans here, with the numbers behind it.
Thirteen regions, each with its own landscape and culture. Alpine peaks, Mediterranean coast, medieval villages. Castles and cathedrals, museums and markets — and, obviously, the food.
Get the care you need. No networks, no deductibles, no surprise bills. Universal coverage through PUMaProtection Universelle Maladie — France's public healthcare system. Residents are covered after 3 months. A separate health contribution can apply if you live mainly off investment income. plus a small mutuellePrivate complementary insurance that covers what PUMa doesn't; premiums rise with age. — at about half what the US spends per person (Source: OECD).
France is expensive to visit, not necessarily to live. Away from central Paris, groceries, restaurants, doctors and everyday services cost less than in much of the United States.
In most European countries, tax residents pay local tax on their worldwide income. US tax credits prevent double taxation, but they don't stop you paying the higher rate between the two countries.
France is the exception — and only for Americans. Under the US–France tax treaty, US-source income (Social Security, 401(k), IRA, pensions, capital gains on US investments, and rent from US property) is taxed only by the United States. France doesn't layer its own tax on top. Then state tax drops off too: under 4 U.S.C. §114US federal law (4 United States Code, Section 114) that blocks states from taxing the retirement income of non-residents. The provision that makes your former state drop off your tax return., your former state can't reach your retirement income once you've properly established non-residency. All of it is still declared in France each year.
France has a reputation: expensive, hard to navigate without fluent French, a long way from home. For many American retirees, the reality is surprisingly different.
France is expensive to visit, not necessarily to live. Outside central Paris, many retirees find that groceries, restaurants, healthcare and everyday services cost less than in much of the United States. It's one of the biggest misconceptions we see.
Outside Paris, Forbes estimates the cost of living is 30% lower than in the US.
French healthcare is publicly funded, not government-run. You still choose your own GP, specialists and hospitals. There are no insurance networks deciding which doctors you can see.
France combines universal coverage with one of the highest life expectancies in the developed world, around four years longer than the United States.
You don't. While learning French will make life richer, thousands of Americans move every year with limited French. English-speaking professionals are widely available in many parts of the country, and your language skills improve much faster once you're immersed.
France welcomed 100 million international visitors in 2024. English is the most widely spoken foreign language in France, and nearly half of French adults say they can hold a conversation in it.
France is closer than many Americans imagine. Direct flights connect Paris, Nice, Marseille and Toulouse to major US cities, and once you're there, much of Europe becomes a weekend trip rather than a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.
There are nonstop flights between France and numerous US gateways, and France's high-speed rail network connects major cities in just a few hours.
For many retirees, France becomes a base rather than a destination. Spend a month in Provence, a week in the Alps, Christmas in Alsace, or a weekend in Italy or Spain, all without changing countries permanently.
France has 13 metropolitan regions, each with its own climate, landscape and culture, making it possible to reinvent your retirement without ever leaving the country.
Thirty minutes, no pitch. About a third of these calls end in “not now,” “do it yourself,” or “France isn't right for you.” If it is right, you'll leave knowing exactly what to do next.
