Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Senanque Abbey in Provence—France is more affordable than you think for retirement. getty France's history, way of life, beautiful scenery, and delicious food are why it's one of the most visited countries in the world. If you've ever thought about spending retirement in France, though, it's much more affordable than you think and more accessible than you might imagine.
Indeed, many Americans have been flocking to purchase properties, some taking advantage of the exchange rate to snap up houses across France. Now might be a perfect opportunity if you've always wanted to live like a tourist on a semi-permanent basis in Europe. Earlier this year, CNTraveler rated France as the ninth best place to retire in the world, after Ecuador, Malaysia, Panama, and others.
It says that outside of the major tourist traps of St Tropez and Paris, for instance, you can often find comparable properties 34% less expensive than they would be in the U.S. One example given is cultural Montpellier, thirty minutes from a beach and with modern apartments that start at $160,000.
Americans on a slightly higher budget are also flocking to France. Bloomberg reports that affluent Americans are causing an eye-watering surge in property prices above $15 million, outperforming London over the past few years, driven by the possibility of remote working. These are long-term investments for homeowners who will live there for several months in a year, becomin.