Moving to United Kingdom from France
What to Expect
Considering a move from France to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from France to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 20.6% more expensive than France overall. A €65,850 salary in France would need to be roughly £62,217 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between France and United Kingdom.
What does your salary buy?
€65,850 → £62,217
To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 9.2% less
Groceries
pay 17.5% less
Transportation
pay 19.6% more
Housing
pay 49.3% more
Childcare
pay 92.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.4% more
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 United Kingdom cost about 10% more than cities in France.
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 United Kingdom.
people moved from France to United Kingdom · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to France.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom performs significantly better than France across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
France performs better than United Kingdom across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
France generally does better on infrastructure, though United Kingdom leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
France generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
France performs better than United Kingdom 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Paris | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Paris | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) |
| Mar | 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) |
| Apr | 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) |
| May | 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Jul | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) |
| Aug | 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) |
| Sep | 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) |
| Oct | 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) |
| Nov | 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) |
| Dec | 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) |
Data:
Météo-France,
Met Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between France and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.
France passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom passport holder visiting France
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United Kingdom than France?
On average United Kingdom is around 10% pricier than France, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?
Budget about £15,554 for 3 months in United Kingdom (based on a €65,850 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?
Connectivity is usually fine (United Kingdom: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Kingdom offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United Kingdom safe for expats?
United Kingdom performs significantly better than France across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France.
How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to France?
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 33.4 in France. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).
What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to France?
The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.
What language do they speak in United Kingdom?
The official language in United Kingdom is English. In France, the official language is French.
