Looking for American Expats in France?

Thinking about moving to France as an American? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what an American expats in France wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• Healthcare is world-class and affordable. Americans rave about it, and the numbers agree: 84% of expats in France rate healthcare affordability positively (vs. 61% globally) and 86% rate the quality of medical care positively.

• The food and daily quality of life win people over. Fresh markets, bread, and long lunches are a constant theme, and 81% of expats in France rate culinary variety and dining options positively.

• It's a launchpad for travel. France's location and transport make trips easy — 91% rate the opportunity to travel positively and 80% rate the availability of public transportation positively (vs. 72% globally).

• There's room to breathe. A slower, more balanced pace draws praise, and 84% of expats in France rate opportunities for recreational sports positively.

• Bureaucracy is the loudest complaint by far. Paperwork and admin come up more than anything else, and just 23% of expats in France find it easy to deal with local bureaucracy, against 38% globally.

• The language is a real barrier. Official business runs in French, and only 24% of expats say it's easy to get by without the local language (vs. 48% globally), with 36% finding it easy to learn.

• Housing and careers can frustrate. Just 37% rate housing affordability positively, and only 47% say the move improved their career prospects (vs. 55% globally).

• Locals can be slow to warm up. Making friends takes patience — 38% of expats in France say it's easy — and some Americans describe a certain coolness at first.

For Americans, France delivers on healthcare, food, and a more balanced pace, with easy travel across Europe thrown in. The trade-offs are the paperwork, the language, and a job and housing market that ask for patience. If you value quality of life over convenience, it's a rewarding place to settle.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

Of course, expat living in France is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the French way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in France, residing in Paris, Lyon, Nice and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in Paris or Americans in Lyon.

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from the United States of America in France.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our France Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get stuffed turkey in Lyon.
• Search the InterNations Places database for France to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.

From the salty marshland of the Camargue to the Loire Valley, also known as the "Garden of France", we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in France.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in France. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional French foie gras, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Paris’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see the Mediterranean climate and scenery of La Provence as well as other beautiful landmarks in France.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in France!