Moving to France from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to France? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to France, you would find that France is 9.8% more expensive than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly €75,665 in France to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iowa and France.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €75,665
To maintain the same standard of living in France
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 12.7% more
Groceries
pay 10.1% more
Transportation
pay 66.8% more
Housing
pay 19.9% less
Childcare
pay 39.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.5% 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 France cost about 1% less than cities in Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iowa to France.
people moved from United States to France · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in France compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
France performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than France across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa performs better than France across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
France performs significantly better than Iowa across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) |
National Weather Service
Météo-FranceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and France. To live, work, or study long-term in France, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check France's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting France
Visa Free
France passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in France than Iowa?
On average France is around 16% pricier than Iowa, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to France?
Budget about €18,916 for 3 months in France (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from France?
From major France cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and France are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in France compared to Iowa?
France performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in France compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Paris is 60°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Paris receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in France?
The official language in France is French. In Iowa, the official language is English.
