Moving to Slovakia from France

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from France to Slovakia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from France to Slovakia, you would find that Slovakia is 28.2% cheaper than France overall. A €65,577 salary in France would need to be roughly €48,612 in Slovakia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Slovak.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between France and Slovakia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 €48,612

To maintain the same standard of living in Slovakia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 33.4% less

Groceries

pay 24.4% less

Transportation

pay 30.2% less

Housing

pay 17.4% less

Childcare

pay 33.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 33.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Slovakia cost about 22% less than cities in France.

France

Paris 69%
Antibes 66%
Annecy 61%
Nantes 56%

Slovakia

Zilina 42%
Nitra 40%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from France to Slovakia.

Moved in 2023
18 ↓ 56% vs 2022

people moved from France to Slovakia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Slovakia?

Top countries of origin for Slovakia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Slovakia compared to France.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
SK
0.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

FR
82%
SK
74%

France generally does better on safety, though Slovakia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
SK
$3,230
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
SK
36.8

Slovakia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FR
10.0
SK
30.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
SK
5.5t

France performs better than Slovakia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
49.4
SK
33.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
SK
2.4%

France generally does better on infrastructure, though Slovakia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.3%
SK
5.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
SK
$39,300

Slovakia generally does better on employment & economy, though France leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FR
82.6 yrs
SK
78.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
SK
4.8

France performs better than Slovakia across all family life metrics.

Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bratislava Rain: 22.6 in/yr (574 mm)
61° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Bratislava
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 44°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 71°/51°F (22°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 78°/58°F (26°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 49°/37°F (9°/3°C)
View all months
Month Paris Bratislava
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 38°/27°F (3.1°/-2.8°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 42°/29°F (5.8°/-1.7°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 52°/35°F (11.1°/1.7°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.0°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 71°/51°F (21.8°/10.6°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.4°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 82°/61°F (27.8°/16.2°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 82°/61°F (27.6°/15.9°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 71°/53°F (21.9°/11.5°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 60°/44°F (15.6°/6.6°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 48°/37°F (9.0°/2.7°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 39°/29°F (3.7°/-1.5°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France and Slovakia. To live, work, or study long-term in Slovakia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Slovakia's immigration authority.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Slovakia

Visa Free
France passport holders can enter Slovakia without a visa.
Slovakia passport

Slovakia passport holder visiting France

Visa Free
Slovakia passport holders can enter France without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Slovakia than France?

On average Slovakia is about 26% less expensive than France, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Slovakia?

Budget about €12,153 for 3 months in Slovakia (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Slovakia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Slovakia: 33.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Slovakia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Slovakia safe for expats?

France generally does better on safety, though Slovakia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Slovakia is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France. About 74% of people in Slovakia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Slovakia compared to France?

Slovakia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in health coverage index. There are 36.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Slovakia, compared to 33.4 in France. Slovakia scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

What's the weather like in Slovakia compared to France?

The average high temperature in Bratislava is 61°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Bratislava receives around 22.6 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Slovakia?

The official language in Slovakia is Slovak. In France, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

FR SK
Population 68,305,148 5,431,252
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages French Slovak
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +421
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 112