Living in France: Pros and Cons
There are many pros and cons living in France compared to the USA. As an American living in France, you will find that there are differences from life in the states. Through our many moves, we’ve heard back from customers on things they would have liked to know before beginning their French expat life. To help with acclimating to life in France, we’ve compiled some of the major differences for expats living overseas.
Check out our article on the pros and cons of living in France below!
Living in France: Pros and Cons Disclaimer
To start off, it is important to understand there are differences throughout France. Just like anywhere else, areas are different even within the same country. Living in Paris will be different than Le Havre, Marseille, Bordeaux, etc. For this reason the differences for France vs USA are broad and may not apply everywhere.
Language in France vs USA
One of the most noticeable differences in France vs the US is the language. French is the primary language spoken in France. Even though many French natives can also speak English, they generally prefer to speak in French. Even if you proficient in French from a book, be ready for the speed and slang you may encounter there. Beyond the language there is also conversation customs that are different. Customs like kissing on the cheek or refraining from smiling are both things you will need to watch out for as an American.
Language in France Pros:
- A great opportunity to learn a new language
- Many areas where you can speak English such as expat communities
Language in France Cons:
- Speed and slang can confuse people even if they learned French
- New customs may be awkward for Americans
Cost of Living in France vs USA
Almost everything you buy in France is more expensive than the USA. There are a few cheaper things such as bread or wine, but even those are similar in price. Rent is the largest expense for most expats and natives alike, especially if you choose to live in a place like Paris. Americans living in France find eating and living prices take a majority of their extra pay. On the other hand, social services are free or close to free. This means there won’t be a need to pay for services like healthcare. It is also important to also remember that France has one of highest standards of living. With great work life balance, the increased cost of living in France may pay itself off in the lifestyle compared to the US.
Cost of Living Pros:
- One of the highest quality of life in the world
- Cheap or free social services
Cost of Living Cons:
- Goods are more expensive in general
- High taxes may make wages seem smaller
Service in France vs USA
There is a drastic difference in service between France and the USA. Most Americans will complain at least once they encountered bad service. Though it is important to realize that the service is acceptable for most Europeans and the US is the service outlier. In the USA, waiters generally rely on tips to make up their wages so they may provide better service. Whereas in France, wait staff are paid regular wages and it is irregular for them to receive tips. This leads to American servers being friendly and chatty, while French servers generally leave you alone.
Service in France Pros:
- You don’t have to tip for service in France
- Staff won’t bother you during a meal
Service in France Cons:
- Need to waive down staff when you need service
- Less friendly than service in the states
Want to Live in France?
If you are moving or thinking about moving to France, we at Schumacher Cargo Logistics can help you out. With over 40 years of experience, SCL is the premier moving company to France. From cars to full households, we can ship your goods door to door from the US to anywhere in the country. There are definitely more difference living in France, but we’ll let you experience the rest while you’re there.
To get started fill out our Online Quote Form or read another of our France guides below.
Additional France Guides
Other Pros and Cons Lists
There are many pros and cons living in Germany compared to the USA. As an American living in Germany, you will find that there are differences from life in the states. Through our many moves, we’ve heard back from our customers on some of the things they would have liked to know before moving. To help with acclimating to German life, we’ve compiled the major distinctions from expats in Germany.
Check out our article on the pros and cons of living in Germany below!
Living in Germany: The Pros and Cons Disclaimer
To start off with the pros and cons, it is important to understand there are differences throughout Germany. Just like any other country, areas are different even though it’s the same country. Living in Berlin will be different than Hamburg, Munich, Bremen, etc. For this reason the differences in Germany vs US are broad and may not apply to everywhere.
Language in Germany
A very clear distinction from the US is that people in Germany speak German. Though you can get by with English in many areas, it is still best to learn German. You will find the native Germans will treat you much better when attempting to speak the language rather then make them speak English.
Language Pros:
- Get by in many areas with just English
- Opportunity to practice new language
Language Cons:
- Some areas only have German speakers
- German is one of the more difficult languages
Money in Germany
When living in Germany, the main way you will pay for goods is through physical Euro. Card transactions are somewhat complicated in the country. Now some purchases are mandatory to pay in card, while some places are impossible to pay with card. This means you should always carry Euro on you to make sure you’re prepared. Though there are abundant ATMs with fair exchange rates to use.
Money Pros:
- Abundant ATMs so easy access to physical cash
- Euro is one of the most common currencies
Money Cons:
- Not all places take card so you need to carry Euros
- Need to start banking there to avoid all the fees
Expat Communities in Germany
With the increasing amount of Americans living in Germany, many expat communities are growing here. Expat communities are great when you first start to live in the country because you have life from USA in common. To find these communities people generally use groups in Facebook or local meetup websites. Many groups have local events which makes it easy to meet in real life. Also all major military bases in Germany have large expat areas around them.
Expat Communities Pros:
- Finding expat communities helps ease into the country
- Easy to find with website connections
Expat Communities Cons:
- Relying too much on expats won’t offer a full experience
- Still need to go out of the way to meet expats
Food and Drink in Germany
For many, the food and drink in Germany is one of the main reasons to live here. Famous dishes like schnitzel and bratwurst are popular among locals and travelers alike. Fresh baked bread can be found in almost every town and you must try the classic pretzel from its origin. When talking about drinks, everyone knows Germany is famous for its beer. The drink is so popular, people choose to drink non-alcoholic beer when they can’t drink the regular version.
Food and Drink Pros:
- Regarded as some of the best food and drink in the world
- Germany has a diverse range of national dishes
Food and Drink Cons:
- Heavy focus on bread and meats
- Not as much diversity as the USA with global foods
Service in Germany
Americans should be ready for a drastic difference in service in Germany. Many Americans complain about the service since it is not as good, but it is important to look at the reason first. In America, the serving culture has tips and are very attentive. In Germany, servers are paid more wages and don’t expect tips. They aren’t as attentive, so you should be ready to waive them down if you want service. Also, the the language used can seem rude, but they are really just straightforward.
Service Pros:
- No tipping so prices are what you see
- Servers will leave you alone unless you need them
Service Cons:
- You need to waive servers down if you need anything
- Straightforward language can seem rude
Rules in Germany
Germans are more strict about rules and laws than Americans. Even small infractions such as jaywalking will get you in trouble, so you better be prepared to follow the rules. The rule keeping does help make towns peaceful and very few people go against these norms. Something else almost all Germans observe are closed shops at 6pm and on Sundays. This means you better be prepared with food and groceries or you may not have something to eat during these times.
Rules Pros:
- The peace is very well kept in the country
- There is structure with norms regarding culture and law
Rules Cons:
- Germans frown upon actions that you may do in the US such as crossing the street unprotected
- Very few things are open past six PM and Sundays
Want to Live in Germany?
If you are moving or thinking about moving to Germany, we at Schumacher Cargo Logistics can help you out. With over 40 years of experience, SCL is the premier moving company to Germany. From cars to full households, we can ship your goods door to door from the US to anywhere in the country. There are more pros and cons to living in Germany, but we’ll let you experience the rest while you’re there.
To get started fill out our Online Quote Form or read another of our German guides below.
Additional German Guides
There are many great reasons for living in New Zealand as an American. Ultimately, they offer a great experience to both expats looking for work and expats looking to retire. However, there are pros and cons of living in New Zealand for Americans to look at first. We’ll take a look at them and why there are still enough reasons to live in New Zealand.
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There are many pros and cons living in Spain compared to the USA. Americans living in Spain find that the pros outweigh the cons and a majority enjoy their overall stay. Though many of our customers have said they would have liked to know some of the differences between the countries before their move. We’ve taken that to heart and compiled the many distinctions of Spanish life vs American life.
Check out our article on the Pros and Cons of Living in Spain below!
Living in Spain: The Pros and Cons Disclaimer
Before getting into the details of the pros and cons, it is important to disclose that Spain is very diverse. Just like any other country, areas have differences even though it’s one nation. Living in Madrid will be different than Barcelona, Granada, Valencia, etc. For this reason we’ll be talking in broad strokes about the differences in Spain vs US even though it may not apply to every city.
Language in Spain
One of the first and clearest differences between Spain and the US is the language. Spanish is the main language in the country. American expats living in Spain may get by without Spanish in the right expat communities. However for many, the point of living abroad is to experience a new culture. Learning Spanish will enrich your time here and is highly recommended.
Language Pros:
- Areas have English speaking communities
- Great chance to learn a new language
Language Cons:
- Areas don’t speak English at all
- There are different dialects of Spanish
Weather in Spain
Known as the country with greatest weather, you can find the best climates in Spain. From the Mediterranean climate on the coast to the cooler Oceanic climate in the north, Spain offers consistent sun. This means a day at the beach can be had even in October and November! On the flip side, the heat gets pretty high meaning most people don’t go out until mid-afternoon. Also there is a brief period of 1-2 months where winter takes over and the temperature is freezing.
Weather Pros:
- Sun throughout the year
- The weather is consistent through the year
Weather Cons:
- Consistent sun brings very hot days
- A winter that is really cold and very short
Late Starts
Night owls fit right into Spain as they tend to do everything a bit later than the rest. For instance late meals are famous here with lunch starting at 2P.M. while dinner starts as late as 10P.M. Here the lunch time is two to three hours compared to the US’s one. Some use this lunch period as a great time to take a midday siesta or nap period. Unfortunately this also pushes out the workday, meaning work ends as late as 8P.M for most workers.
Late Starts Pros:
- Night owls love that everyone is awake late
- Midday siestas are common for R&R during the day
Late Starts Cons:
- Early risers will have to adapt to odd times
- Workdays are longer because of midday siestas
Food and Drink in Spain
Food and drink is one of the things Spain is well known from. For food, amazing dishes involving meats and seafood are easily found all across the country. The necessary foods to eat in Spain are definitely paella and gazpacho. For drinks, Spain is famous for their wines. You can find different wines with more emphasis on locality and at great prices. When living in Spain, it is best to get used to Spanish food though. This is because there is less international diversity than the US. The focus on locality creates seasonal scarcity and you’ll need to prepare to eat what is available.
Food and Drink Pros:
- Amazing dishes like paella and gazpacho
- Well priced restaurants and groceries
Food and Drink Cons:
- Less international products and diversity
- Seasonality of goods creates scarcity for certain items
Cost of Living in Spain
For a country in the EU, Spain is one of the more affordable ones. The cost for housing in Spain is one of the benefits of living there. Housing in popular cities ends up being a better price than most places in the US. Like stated earlier, food and drink being cheaper also reduces the overall cost of living in Spain. Even though the housing is cheap, utilities are usually high. Running air conditioning all day will end up bringing those utilities costs up.
According to Numbeo, cost of living in Spain is 23.03% less than the US and rent is 46.58% lower as well.
Cost of Living Pros:
- Cheaper housing and food than the US
- Healthcare is provided for residents
Cost of Living Cons:
- Utilities usage is constant
- Doesn’t pay as much as the US
Want to Live in Spain?
If you are moving or thinking about moving to Spain, we at Schumacher Cargo Logistics can help you out. With over 40 years of experience, SCL is the premier moving company to Spain. From cars to full households, we can ship your goods door to door from the US to anywhere in Spain. There are definitely more pros and cons to living in Spain, but we’ll let you experience the rest there.
To get started fill out our Online Quote Form or read another of our Spain guides below.
Additional Spain Guides
