Living cost in South of France.

[chefinla]

The above comments about living expenses is quite confusing to me. I have a question; we are planning on moving to France ( not sure yet where but likely the South) and would like to continue working, both os us are freelance people and I would look into teaching cooking classes as I am a chef and teach here.
I would see how this could work when we get there. Do we need living expenses per person as you say of $1800 plus private health insurance to get a visa coming from the US?
What is RSA and SMIC?
Thanks!

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by chefinla

The above comments about living expenses is quite confusing to me. I have a question; we are planning on moving to France ( not sure yet where but likely the South) and would like to continue working, both os us are freelance people and I would look into teaching cooking classes as I am a chef and teach here.
I would see how this could work when we get there. Do we need living expenses per person as you say of $1800 plus private health insurance to get a visa coming from the US?
What is RSA and SMIC?
Thanks!

The requirements for a long-stay visa for France depend very much on what you are planning on doing in France. For a "visitor visa" you need to show that you have the resources to live for a year without taking employment and to have the health insurance we've been talking about.

Most of the US consulates mention that a "visitor visa" is the one appropriate to those looking to set themselves up in business in France. So what this means is that you have to have resources to get you through the first year. But it's necessary to mention to the consulate people when you apply for your visa that you are intending to set up a business when you get to France.

RSA is a benefit in France that some categories of immigrants may be eligible for (or not). And the SMIC is the French "minimum wage."
Cheers,
Bev

[Cobachka]

To be more specific: what would be the monthly cost of living for 2 adults including medical insurance and long term rent of a small house.Would appreciate response.

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Well, first of all, the French consulate will require you to show adequate means to do whatever it is you are coming to France to do. And they'll require that you have a private health insurance coverage.

You can find the cost of the health insurance by checking the rate sheet on the AARO website. AARO?s Health Care Program for Expatriate America (This is not necessarily an endorsement of the plan, but it is a good estimate of what such a plan will cost, no matter where you get it from.)

And although the French consulate will not give out a figure, it stands to reason that they'll expect you to have at least the French minimum wage in funding. Currently the SMIC stands at about 1425€ a month, roughly $1800, per person. I wouldn't expect to have a chance at a visa on less than that. And I wouldn't count on the minimum wage offering a particularly lavish lifestyle, so you may want to boost that by a bit (especially since you won't be eligible for some of the benefits that the local are eligible for).
Cheers,
Bev

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by Cobachka

To be more specific: what would be the monthly cost of living for 2 adults including medical insurance and long term rent of a small house.Would appreciate response.

We need a few more details to have a shot at this. "South of France" is a big place. And living costs in Nice are probably a bit higher than in a small town tucked away in the hills somewhere.

"Small house" is a relative term - would less than 100 m2 (1076 ft2) do? A quick look at the Century 21 site for Nice shows a 54 m2 (about 560 ft2) 3-room house for about 1200€ a month. In Carcassonne, a 63 m2 (678 ft2) house rents for only 412€ a month. In Toulouse, you could get 75 m2 (807 ft2) for a nice, round 1000€ a month. For most Americans, a 100 m2 house is "tiny" especially if it has 3 bedrooms - but for France it's a "standard" size house.

Then there's how and what you like to eat (do it yourself, or eat in local restaurants and cafés), and whether or not you'll have a car, scooter or other form of transportation - in some locations you absolutely need transport as the public transport system isn't available or may not be useful for day to day living - and the other variables of life style. Remember that gas costs something more than $7 a gallon, though distances driven are considerably less than what you would do in the US.

The cost of the private medical insurance depends on your ages and whether or not you plan on returning to the US to take advantage of your Medicare coverage for certain types of treatments. And do you plan on returning now and then to the US to visit? Or having family and friends visit you from the US?

I'm not trying to be difficult here, but "cost of living for 2 people" can be almost impossible to figure for someone you don't know reasonably well.
Cheers,
Bev