[Bevdeforges]

If you're offered a salary of 100K euros a year, jump at it! It's well above average for France and you should be able to live her quite comfortably, even in Paris.

But let's take your questions in turn:

I am married with 2 children (3 and 8). Let's take an example of 100k euros plus car allowance. Employer will give about $30k to relocate us to Paris. Here are my questions (any help greatly appreciated!!)
1) Looked at apts and assume 3000 euros a month for 2 bed 1100 sq ft (100 sq m) in decent arrondisement - is that a good guess?

That should do it, but you may also want to consider living outside the city - especially in the area to the west of Paris, which is very popular with expats and where you may also be able to have a house with a small garden.

2) Is 100k euros a good amount to live comfortably (nice apt, 2 kids in private or catholic or immersion schools, etc) ?

It's better than many in the Paris area have. You'll do fine.

3) What will I take home??? I know taxes are higher in France than any EU country I heard and it is impossible to say but ballpark 60% take home? What are all the charges like social charges (8% I think)? Do they factor in the "parts"=3 (two adults plus 2 kids) .. I think I also heard you get paid monthly in France - true?

As far as take-home pay is concerned, figure on about 25% being withheld for "cotisations" (social insurances - what would be considered "benefits" in the US - health, retirement plan, etc.). They don't withhold income taxes in France - you settle up the following year by making monthly or quarterly payments based on what your tax bill was for the prior year. Figure on paying your income taxes over a 10 month span each year.

Where French taxes get expensive is with the VAT (called TVA here) at 19.6% on nearly everything you buy. It's why prices here seem so much higher than in the US - usually it's mostly just the 19.6% added on for taxes. Then there is also the very high tax on gasoline and diesel fuel - we're at nearly $8.50 a gallon.

http://impots.gouv.fr./portal/deploiement/p1/fichedescriptive_1006/fichedescriptive_1006.pdf explains the French tax system (in English) and
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_soci.../Your social security rights in France_en.pdf is a pretty good explanation of the social security benefits and payments.

And yes, you are normally paid monthly.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Bevdeforges]

There are a couple of threads on here about shipping a car from the US to France. The overwhelming evidence seems to point to it being more hassle than it is worth.

http://www.expatforum.com/expats/fr...ng-france/41885-bringing-your-car-france.html

Net-net, it's expensive, and you have to bring the vehicle up to French standards, which often means replacing things like seatbelts, headlamps, other bits of the safety system. Parts may or may not be available due to different specs. In short, a real headache.

As far as the parking is concerned - no, you have to make separate arrangements for parking a car. Not sure what that will cost, but it isn't cheap. One of the perks of living in Paris is supposed to be doing without a car.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Bevdeforges]

Aubrey raises a very good point about the driving licenses. And I'm told that officially, you need to have held your exchangeable driving license for at least a year before you come to France. (Like many things in France, it is sometimes possible to get around this - however, don't count on it.)

More details on this and other aspects of living in France on the US consulate's "Life in France" pages: France A - Z | Embassy of the United States Paris, France
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Bevdeforges]

Um, perhaps you're being a little "too" conservative here. Things in France aren't usually double what they cost in the US - more like 20 - 30% more, which is pretty much accounted for by the VAT. (OK, fuel for the car being the massive exception.)

If you want to buy your toilet roll holders at BHV, then yes, you're going to pay top euro. (Same applies if you shop at Bloomingdales in the US.) Household stuff like that, most folks buy at IKEA or Castorama or even at the hypermarkets (Carrefour, Auchan, Cora, etc.). Those are the "Target" or "WalMart" equivalents, even in the Paris area.

There are also mail-order and online alternatives - especially like Amazon (France, UK or Germany) which seems to sell just about anything these days, up to and including major household appliances.

It takes a while to learn how and where to shop for day to day stuff but you find the bargains and the good places to source certain kinds of items.
Cheers,
Bev