Moving to France from Russia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Russia to France — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Russia to France, you would find that France is 2.3 times more expensive than Russia overall. A RUB5,776,862 salary in Russia would need to be roughly €104,944 in France to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Paris averages 60°F vs 48°F in Moscow, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Russia to France.
What does your salary buy?
RUB5,776,862 → €104,944
To maintain the same standard of living in France
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.6 times more
Groceries
pay 2.1 times more
Transportation
pay 2.7 times more
Housing
pay 2.6 times more
Childcare
pay 95.2% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.9 times 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 22% more than cities in Russia.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Russia to France, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Russia to France.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
France generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in feel safe walking at night.
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
France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
France performs significantly better than Russia 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
Russia generally does better on infrastructure, though France leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
Russia generally does better on employment & economy, though France leads in gdp per capita.
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 significantly better than Russia across all family life metrics.
Data: Federal Tax Service of Russia, 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 | Moscow | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) | 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) | 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Moscow | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) | 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) |
| Feb | 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) | 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) |
| Mar | 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) | 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) |
| Apr | 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) | 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) |
| May | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) | 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) |
| Jun | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) | 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) |
| Jul | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) |
| Aug | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) | 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) |
| Sep | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) | 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) |
| Oct | 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) | 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) |
| Nov | 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) | 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) |
| Dec | 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) | 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) |
Data:
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring,
Météo-France
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Russia 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.
Russia passport holder visiting France
Visa Required
France passport holder visiting Russia
Visa Online (e-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 France than Russia?
No — France is on average about 60% more expensive than Russia. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to France?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €26,236 in France on a RUB5,776,862 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from France?
Internet is rarely the blocker — France has 49.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is France safe for expats?
France generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in France is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.8 in Russia. About 82% of people in France feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in France compared to Russia?
France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 33.4 doctors per 10,000 people in France, compared to 38.3 in Russia. France scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Russia: 79).
What's the weather like in France compared to Russia?
The average high temperature in Paris is 60°F, compared to 48°F in Moscow. Paris receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Moscow gets 27.2 in.
What language do they speak in France?
The official language in France is French. In Russia, the official language is Russian.
