Best Countries for French Expats (2026)
French expats traditionally cluster in Mediterranean Europe, Quebec, and former colonies in Asia and Africa.
Updated March 2026
Key takeaway
Malaysia ranks #1 for French expats — about 59% cheaper than France on cost of living and 60% cheaper on rent.
Score blends cost arbitrage, a healthcare proxy (78/100), safety (74/100), visa access, and English fluency.
City-level costs inside Malaysia vary a lot. Compare cities with Pro →
Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score
Higher = better cost arbitrage and lifestyle fit for French expats.
Malaysia
62.6
Portugal
62.5
Malta
59.9
United Arab Emirates
59.4
Cyprus
58.6
Estonia
58.0
Thailand
57.4
South Korea
57.3
Spain
57.1
Croatia
55.6
| # | Country | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MalaysiaVisa | 62.6 | vs France → |
| 2 | PortugalVisa | 62.5 | vs France → |
| 3 | MaltaVisa | 59.9 | vs France → |
| 4 | United Arab EmiratesVisa | 59.4 | vs France → |
| 5 | CyprusVisa | 58.6 | vs France → |
| 6 | EstoniaVisa | 58.0 | vs France → |
| 7 | ThailandVisa | 57.4 | vs France → |
| 8 | South KoreaVisa | 57.3 | vs France → |
| 9 | SpainVisa | 57.1 | vs France → |
| 10 | CroatiaVisa | 55.6 | vs France → |
| 11 | CanadaVisa | 55.2 | vs France → |
| 12 | JapanVisa | 55.1 | vs France → |
| 13 | IcelandVisa | 54.9 | vs France → |
| 14 | HungaryVisa | 54.8 | vs France → |
| 15 | GreeceVisa | 54.7 | vs France → |
| 16 | Singapore | 53.8 | vs France → |
| 17 | LatviaVisa | 53.4 | vs France → |
| 18 | RomaniaVisa | 53.4 | vs France → |
| 19 | IndonesiaVisa | 53.1 | vs France → |
| 20 | Slovenia | 52.3 | vs France → |
| 21 | South AfricaVisa | 51.9 | vs France → |
| 22 | Bahrain | 51.8 | vs France → |
| 23 | GeorgiaVisa | 51.6 | vs France → |
| 24 | Netherlands | 51.4 | vs France → |
| 25 | Qatar | 51.1 | vs France → |
What we measured
- Cost arbitrage — how much cheaper rent and overall cost of living are vs France.
- Healthcare proxy (0–100) — blended outcome data, infrastructure, and resident satisfaction.
- Safety proxy (0–100) — petty + violent crime + perceived nighttime safety.
- Visa access — whether the destination offers a digital-nomad or long-stay visa accessible to French citizens.
- English fluency — day-to-day usability for new arrivals before learning the local language.