Moving to France from Ukraine

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Ukraine to France — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Ukraine to France, you would find that France is 3.0 times more expensive than Ukraine overall. A UAH3,346,113 salary in Ukraine would need to be roughly €130,853 in France to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French.

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 Ukraine to France.

What does your salary buy?

UAH3,346,113 €130,853

To maintain the same standard of living in France

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 3.6 times more

Groceries

pay 2.7 times more

Transportation

pay 3.0 times more

Housing

pay 3.4 times more

Childcare

pay 2.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 4.0 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 UAH = 0.0196 EUR (July 2026)

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 100% more than cities in Ukraine.

Ukraine

Kiev 36%
Vinnytsya 30%

France

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

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Ukraine to France, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
1,534

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

Who's moving to France?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ukraine to France.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

UA
3.8
FR
1.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UA
10.5
FR
4.7

France performs significantly better than Ukraine across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

UA
$1,382
FR
$6,868
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

UA
29.9
FR
33.4

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

UA
66.0
FR
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UA
3.1t
FR
4.0t

Ukraine generally does better on environment, though France leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

UA
18.3
FR
49.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UA
12.3%
FR
21.6%

Ukraine generally does better on infrastructure, though France leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

UA
9.8%
FR
7.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UA
$16,200
FR
$55,200

Ukraine generally does better on employment & economy, though France leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

UA
73.5 yrs
FR
82.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UA
7.3
FR
3.1

France performs significantly better than Ukraine across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kiev Rain: 23.8 in/yr (605 mm)
56° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kiev Paris
Jan–Mar 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C) 48°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/51°F (20°/10°C) 65°/50°F (18°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) 74°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/33°F (6°/1°C) 52°/43°F (11°/6°C)
View all months
Month Kiev Paris
Jan 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C) 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C)
Feb 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C) 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C)
Mar 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C) 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C)
Apr 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C) 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C)
May 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C) 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C)
Jun 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C) 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C)
Jul 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C) 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C)
Aug 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C) 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C)
Sep 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C) 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C)
Oct 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C) 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C)
Nov 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C) 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C)
Dec 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C) 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C)

Data: Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, Météo-France Météo-France

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ukraine 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.

Ukraine passport

Ukraine passport holder visiting France

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

France passport holder visiting Ukraine

Visa Free
France passport holders can enter Ukraine 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 France than Ukraine?

No — France is on average about 100% more expensive than Ukraine. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to France?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €32,713 in France on a UAH3,346,113 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 performs significantly better than Ukraine across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in France is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.8 in Ukraine.

How is healthcare in France compared to Ukraine?

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 33.4 doctors per 10,000 people in France, compared to 29.9 in Ukraine. France scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ukraine: 76).

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

The average high temperature in Paris is 60°F, compared to 56°F in Kiev. Paris receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Kiev gets 23.8 in.

What language do they speak in France?

The official language in France is French. In Ukraine, the official language is Ukrainian.

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At a Glance

UA FR
Population 43,528,136 68,305,148
Currency Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) Euro (€)
Languages Ukrainian French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +380 +33
Time zones 1 14
Emergency number 112 112