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
Portugal ranks #1 for French expats — about 14% cheaper than France on cost of living and 10% cheaper on rent.
Score blends cost arbitrage, a healthcare proxy (88/100), safety (90/100), visa access, and English fluency.
Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score
Higher = better cost arbitrage and lifestyle fit for French expats.
Portugal61.4
Malaysia60.2
Estonia58.7
United Arab Emirates58.5
Malta57.1
Cyprus56.9
Spain56.3
Iceland55.9
Canada55.7
Thailand55.1
| # | Country | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  PortugalVisa | 61.4 | vs France → |
| 2 |  MalaysiaVisa | 60.2 | vs France → |
| 3 |  EstoniaVisa | 58.7 | vs France → |
| 4 |  United Arab EmiratesVisa | 58.5 | vs France → |
| 5 |  MaltaVisa | 57.1 | vs France → |
| 6 |  CyprusVisa | 56.9 | vs France → |
| 7 |  SpainVisa | 56.3 | vs France → |
| 8 |  IcelandVisa | 55.9 | vs France → |
| 9 |  CanadaVisa | 55.7 | vs France → |
| 10 |  ThailandVisa | 55.1 | vs France → |
| 11 |  HungaryVisa | 54.8 | vs France → |
| 12 |  CroatiaVisa | 54.0 | vs France → |
| 13 |  JapanVisa | 53.8 | vs France → |
| 14 |  GreeceVisa | 53.8 | vs France → |
| 15 |  South KoreaVisa | 53.6 | vs France → |
| 16 |  LatviaVisa | 53.2 | vs France → |
| 17 |  RomaniaVisa | 52.8 | vs France → |
| 18 |  Slovenia | 51.5 | vs France → |
| 19 |  IndonesiaVisa | 51.3 | vs France → |
| 20 |  South AfricaVisa | 50.9 | vs France → |
| 21 |  Qatar | 50.4 | vs France → |
| 22 |  Netherlands | 50.3 | vs France → |
| 23 |  ItalyVisa | 49.9 | vs France → |
| 24 |  Sweden | 49.9 | vs France → |
| 25 |  Finland | 49.8 | 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.
For Australian expats
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