If you cannot afford Provence, my suggestion is ” Languedoc-Roussillon”.
Not as expensive as Paris, the Riviera or Provence. the languedoc-Roussillon is known for its hot & dry summers & cool winters. A lot of expats live there and it really is a melting pot- British, Dutch, Germans- with relatively few Americans, so far. The cost of living is not cheap, but a comfortably frugal life can be had at $ 30.000.00 a year. Dinners out $ 60.00 a couple.
Housing costs : For renters, a modest apartment in Montpellier starts at $1,200 to $ 1,500 a month. For buyers, mid-price houses & apartments are $250.000 and up. Coastal prices are much higher or similar but as you go inland, they drop sharply like everywhere.
Health care is excellent, also French health care has been assessed the best in the world by the world health organization.
Culture & Leisure time .Museums, festivals, hiking, swimming, markets, day trips to The walled city of Carcassonne.
Flights from & out of the US. Local airports connect to European cities, then it’s transatlantic haul. ( 3 hours ) on high speed train from Montpellier to Paris, then a transatlantic flight.
- Hotel – Restaurant in Montpellier.
- Driving from Montpellier, view of Marseille.
- Carcassonne, the city.
- Castle in Carcassonne.
- Carcassonne, city of many castles.
- Visit of Carcassonne with group.
