When we were looking to make the big move from the US to France, we gathered as much information as we could to find out about the cost of living here. There’s a “budget” tab above on this page that shows what we spend monthly and it remains one of the most popular topics for people who read the blog. What we don’t address, however, is what we used to pay back in Atlanta but considering that was over 10 years ago I don’t think that it would be relevant anyway. One person who does do exactly that is Jean-Noël, a Frenchman who now lives in upstate New York where he makes comparisons between Normandy and Ithaca.

In his JeanUSA YouTube channel video, “USA vs France : qui a vraiment le meilleur pouvoir d’achat ?” (Who really has the better purchasing power?) Jean-Noël looks at a number of topics, some with dollar amounts and others with qualitative remarks. He argues that in the US, you have the freedom to choose what you pay for, but you carry the stress of ‘what if?’ In France, Jean-Noël feels that the choice is taken away through high taxes, but it’s replaced by the peace of mind that a health crisis won’t result in bankruptcy. His other thoughts, at a glance:

Topic	USA	France
Salaries	High: $5,000–$7,000+ median monthly; fast growth.	Moderate: €2,000 median; slow growth; high minimum wage.
Taxes	Lower: Primarily federal; state taxes vary (some states have 0%).	High: Significant social contributions deducted at source.
Healthcare	Private and Expensive: High premiums (he pays $876/mo with a $5,000 deductible.)	Public/Included: Covered by taxes; universal access with minimal out-of-pocket.
Housing	Expensive/Large High rents (he pays $2000/mo); high property taxes ($800/mo on his $300k rental house, if he were the owner)	Smaller & Protected: Rent controls in many cities; lower property taxes.
Education	Very Costly: $25k–$60k/year for university; quality depends on the neighborhood.	Free/Low Cost: Public schools and universities are nearly free.
Food	Extreme Gap: Cheap “junk food” vs. very expensive high-quality/organic food (He pays $1,000/mo).	High Quality: Better access to fresh, quality products at reasonable prices.
Transport	Car Dependent: Low gasoline prices ($40/tankful) but high mileage required.	Public Transport: Better infrastructure; expensive fuel but less driving needed.
Lifestyle	Freedom/Risk: High consumption, easier credit, but fewer vacations.	Security/Time: Guaranteed vacations, lower debt, more “simple” leisure.

His conclusion about which is better? Well, it depends. In his opinion, if you are ambitious, mobile, and willing to take risks for higher rewards and a more comfortable material lifestyle, then it’s the US. For those who prioritize security, stability, social protection, and less financial anxiety regarding health and education, then France is the place. Bill and I feel lucky to have experienced both and are happy where we’ve landed.

Photo notes: The photo across the top is the front of the Banque de France building that opened in Carcassonne in 1858 and in the first paragraph is Jean-Noël’s photo from his YouTube channel.