5 MAJOR MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT LIFE IN FRANCE!

While the mere mention of France may evoke images of berets, fancy food, and leisurely strolls along the Seine, the reality of life in France is quite different from the clichés painted by popular imagination. Reality is nothing like what we see in the movies 99% of the time. It’s only normal, though, to not know what real life abroad is like somewhere else if we haven’t experienced it for ourselves.
Let’s get into some of the biggest misconceptions I’ve heard over the years about life in France and French culture. I’m here to set the record straight on these French stereotypes!
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Salut! I'm Diane, an American who has lived in France since 2012 and the creator of the blog/KZbin channel Oui In France. My channel's focus is "Everyday French life and beyond." I make videos on French culture topics, France vs. US culture comparisons, with a sprinkling of food, travel, and language topics and give you my thoughts about what it's like living in France as an American in the Loire Valley. Thanks for being here and if you enjoy this sort of thing, please share with friends and subscribe!
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[@lucsurmon2623]

As an old french man I think you just make a real picture of my country. Thank you

[@amyspeers8012]

When I got my melanoma diagnosis, my doctor completed paperwork and most everything is covered 100%. My local primary doctor smiled and said,”you don’t have to bring money to see me!” I know I am fortunate to have excellent care in my small village and a great dermatologist.

[@jacquelinemiddleton8396]

I'm a Brit living in France for over 20 years, you are so right about these 5 subjects 😘

[@ariannewdnotbe]

I’ve been married to a French guy forevers & we travel back from the US where we live. Because we have family there, I know your points are accurate. I’ve watched a KZbin American couple who said they were definitely moving to France. They said one doesn’t need to speak French to live there. They bombed out & are now back in Florida. I wish people would understand that in order to be happy, at a basic level, it’s necessary to integrate & speak the language. It’s not all about famous landmarks & fancy dinners at restaurants where you can’t read the menu or pronounce the name of the restaurant.

[@OuiInFrance]

Absolutely, a lot of people are in dreamland

[@Isabel-ui3ny]

Amen!

[@CathyS_Bx]

Yep. Those Florida peeps just could not hack it. It was very disappointing to witness.

[@Rachel-rs7jn]

I think you guys are being really hard on that couple. They are back in Florida *for now*, because they haven't decided yet where they want to live in France and because they want to be near her parents for their last years. They have made it clear that they are still planning on moving to France (and they are both studying the language).

[@OuiInFrance]

@@Rachel-rs7jn ​​⁠ I have no idea who the commenter was referring to, so I’m not being hard on anyone specifically. I’m just saying that a lot of people have unrealistic expectations about life in France, hence the video.

[@MrSebfrench76]

I am experiencing harsh time in France , and i am french. But i keep on thinking that the grass here is greener than in so many places.

[@S555.13]

Oh oui, on est les rois de râleurs, mais on est (encore) bien mieux que dans beaucoup beaucoup d'autres pays

[@annepoitrineau5650]

I hope things will improve soon. J'espere quee cela ira mieux bientot.

[@MrSebfrench76]

@@annepoitrineau5650 merci beaucoup!

[@alexandrawhite7614]

Bonjour M Sebfrench, désolée que vous souffrez beaucoup en ce moment. Mais vous avez raison, tant de personnes en Gaza, Afrique, Ukraine etc etc souffrent térriblement, et avec le climat qui se dégrade et la violence qui s'augmente, leures vies vont déscendre dans un enfer de plus en plus térrible. Nous aussi, si une guerre nucléaire arrive, nous allons regarder en arrière et penser, "qu'on était bien en 2024!". Bonne chance, j'espère que vous allez bientôt pouvoir profiter de l'herbe verte française!

[@alexandrawhite7614]

@@S555.13 D'accord, de mon avis (je suis une anglaise qui a souvent visité la belle France profonde) les français sont sur-doués pour râler, faire la grève, les manifs, l'escargot. C'est une force.

[@olafrotkohl5898]

Diane, this is a brilliant and accurate video. My wife and I are American immigrants to France, now here for nearly six years. For us, it has been a wonderful experience, but I can understand why other Americans, at least, might find such a transition difficult. One big reason can be family ties. Another is the inability to adapt to the rhythms and customs of France in daily life. A third can be difficulty in creating a social network, which can be true in any new country where you are operating in a language other than your mother tongue. However, having a sense of humor, embracing each day as an adventure, and accepting things as they are done here goes a long way to making it one’s home. I’ve never felt more at home in a community as I do here, despite being an immigrant, and while I would never claim it as a utopian experience, it was the best move we can imagine.

[@arthurbosch1460]

I'm an American who has been living in France for 10 years. There are differences between life in the USA and France, but I've gotten used to it. I prefer life in France over life in the USA. I live in a small town and I love it. They know me by name at the boulangerie, the bank, the Post and the TABAC. I'm older so my life is different than when I was younger and living in Los Angeles.

[@OuiInFrance]

Awww, that's great!! I love that they know your name!

[@Alex-mp1zb]

You probably, like Diane, tried to integrate and not get into a colony of other expats like the ones you might find in Dordogne where some villages have become British colonies where they expect everyone else to speak English. Your kind of attitude is much appreciated by the locals.

[@corinned7528]

J'adore vos vidéos Diane. C'est très intéressant d'entendre votre vie en France en tant qu'américaine installée depuis des années. Je vous trouve très juste dans vos analyses 🙂

[@chrissaltmarsh6777]

Brit here ,11 years living and working in France (St Genis-Pouilly, dept de l'Ain) and 10 years in US (CA mostlty). Good list. There are problems in France, it isn't all sunlit uplands and unicorns. But worries about health are much less. And the attitude (point 5) is completely right. Much like Scotland, my home. (Although I think an upfront payment for eg a doctor appointment is a good idea - stops people going to the GP for a sniffle. And if I remember poorer people didn't have to do that. I had cancer surgery here; from initial suspicion to the knife took about 3 months, letting me out just in time for COVID)

[@astree214]

"it isn't all sunlit uplands and unicorns" ... maybe you where thinking about an island north from France ? 🤣🤣🤣

[@FabulousFab84]

For your first point, to put it a little bit in perspective, basically, to pay the 45 %, you'd have to almost earn in one month, what someone on minimum wage would earn in a year! 14 000 + euros

[@thierryf67]

Solidarity is an important value in many European countries, even if nowhere is perfect. I think it's a part of our common European culture, and it's one of the limits we accept for our own liberty. many public services, that we accept to pay by taxes, found their origins there.

[@michaelmedlinger6399]

Hi, Diane! You are always spot on with these videos. So much (more or less all) is the same for me as a former American who moved to Germany almost 50 years ago. People really never understand progressive income tax. They hear/make statements like „you pay 45% of your income in income tax“ and think that means from euro 1 you will be paying that rate. People don‘t like having to think about complications and nuances, and tax systems, wherever you are, are full of both. Our health care systems are obviously very different, but as you say, health care is considered a basic human right in Germany as well. I would say it‘s the European mindset that solidarity is important; it‘s more or less the same in all the countries here I am familiar with. When you try to explain that to Americans (speaking here especially of those who have never been abroad), you will hear stupid comments: „That‘s communism/socialism!“ I had the permanent resident status (which changed from a „residence permit“ to a „residence right“ after about 10 years. Ultimately, I got German citizenship because I consider this my home and because I wanted to be able to vote. (There is also the advantage of „freedom of movement“ within the EU, but I don‘t have any plans to move permanently to any other country - but I could if I wanted to, and that was not possible with American citizenship.) Most of all, as you warn people constantly: Life happens wherever you are. There are ups and downs about every place.

[@blktauna]

I am looking forward to living in the south of France for the weather, the transit access and the healthcare access. Also the quality of life is better. I am more in the Frence mindset and appreciate the dedication to raising everyone up versus memememememe. I'm also a Late Antiquity enthusiast and there's a lot fo me to investigate there.

[@HubrisMaximus]

Sounds like you should live in Nîmes!

[@rougeredvenitienne]

Try Occitanie... Côte d'Azur is a way of Heaven...

[@francoiscalvo2891]

Hi Diane. Another great video. Thanks 😊

[@OuiInFrance]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@andreakest2018]

I love your honesty about life in France.

[@peggygraham6129]

I have learned that as an American citizen living in Europe no matter the country Americans do not want to hear anything that bursts their bubble that they are living in the greatest country in the world.I have encountered hostility in regard to being unpatriotic

[@CathyS_Bx]

They sound obnoxious. The quintessential "ugly American." Please, Europeans, recognize that we are not all that arrogant or provincial.

[@sacha9593]

As a french Parisian I have mostly the opposite experience: most Americans who live here tends to be pretty obnoxiously overcritical about the USA in a very "I am not like my compatriots" vibe (a little bit like your message).

[@mharrye]

Exactly my feeling having lived in France 3 years. It was embarrassing observing most of the USA tourists. Especially annoying was listening to USA tourists degrading French to their faces assuming the French did not understand English. It is easy for French, or people of other non-English speaking countries having USA tourists, to get a negative impression of Americans (using that term as USA citizen). Reference to the common joke, "What do you call a person who can only speak one language?" "American"

[@JeanPierre-nl2ge]

Les américains considèrent le monde comme leur colonie. Ils n ont aucun respect pour les langues, les coutumes, des autres pays.

[@AslanKyoya1776]

​@@sacha9593Paris definetly seems to attract a lot of self hating Americans

[@hw7029]

I recently came from a trip to France. I last visited 30 years ago, so was keen to return. One thing that shocked me is the amount of fast food available in France now. Many lunch places serve burgers or pizza, and french people are eating this food. I heard that France is now the second biggest consumer of fast food, after the USA. I was still able to find quality french food, but I needed to research to find a good place before I went out.

[@Lostouille]

It s on the big cities. You can t find all of this in our smaller villages

[@aldonastraczek]

I totally understand your confusion regarding the medical system. The reimbursment scheme can be a little daunting sometimes. When you live in a big city, you don't have as many challenges to get an appointment. Here in Paris I can get an appointment for an MRI for the following week or a standard Xray for the next day. It is really down to where you live.

[@mfcq4987]

It also depends on the pathology (or suspicion of pathology) that you have. All specialists, laboratories and medical imaging centers always have emergency slots. When I was treated for cancer, I never had to wait to see a specialist or have a CT scan or MRI, it was my oncologist's office that made the appointments for me, and the delay was never longer than a week (and I live in the same department as Diane).

[@alexandrawhite7614]

@@mfcq4987 Contrast with the UK, where it is acknowledged that the delays in cancer care are routinely costing many lives.

[@mfcq4987]

@@alexandrawhite7614 Afterwards, there is also the responsibility of the patient; I took a long time before going to see my doctor despite my symptoms and in fact, the treatment for my cancer was quite heavy... But the medical care was then very effective.

[@xyz987123abc]

Diane thank you for touching on the concept of taxes. I learned something new today. The only thing I feel i missed out was not the concept of social charges but rather the amount. I am guessing that you did it your way as the social charges vary according to many different factors. Healthcare here in the states is cost prohibitive, however, when i worked in a hospital billing office one of my responsibilities was to advise emergency uninsureds of the availability of charity write offs. You would be amazed that over 90% of the letters advising of such were totally ignored.

[@OuiInFrance]

It really gets into the weeds. Here's some light reading lol: www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2302

[@annepoitrineau5650]

They do vary according to various factors, but there are rules, so it is not really up the tax payer.

[@mgparis]

Thanks Diane! Peace of mind is right - my least favourite thing about living in the US was knowing my healthcare was tied to my employer and I could lose it at any time...

[@OuiInFrance]

Totally understand! Most employment is at-will in the US (no contract) which is wild as well

[@emmanuellegd4515]

Soooo true, Diane👍👍👍

[@FrenchCountryLife]

Thanks for sharing. I would have to argue though that yes, taxes aren’t 45%, but with taxes PLUS social charges, I do pay about 45% of my earnings to both taxes and social charges…. so all in all, if I make 100, I am left with 55. So whatever way you put it, it does give a more realistic idea to people who want to move here! It’s definitely a little more than what I paid in The Netherlands. And yes, health care is amazing here, but we do pay for it with the high social charges. I can’t compare with the US of course, but I think seeing the numbers like this (only 14% of the people in France pay 30%) may make it sound like you hardly pay anything here but that is not true. That would make living here even better! ❤ And SO agree with how foreigners romanticize life in France. 😊 And having lived here for five years now, I must see the life in France does truly feel better. The people I interact with here value life and the joys of life, more than status or work. They take time to LIVE, relax, buy and prepare and eat food. To me, even with the challenges living in any country would bring, it’s definitely a good life. Thanks for all your videos. I admire your energy and your creativity in coming up with new videos and topics every single time! Bravo!👏

[@OuiInFrance]

Thanks very much. I appreciate your support!

[@lovingtotravel]

Amazing video, thank you!!

[@OuiInFrance]

Glad you liked it!

[@shaunah.8605]

Excellent topic and video. I loved the quote you ended with.

[@MarianneInmarsilia]

I got my French citizenship after about 10 years of residing here with a carte de séjour. I finally decided to do it so I could vote (I like representation with taxation). It didn’t cost much at all as I recall….there were lots of documents I had to provide from the US , and they all had to be recently dated which can be a pain. I did have to pay an official translator for my birth certificate ….but I was lucky enough at the time to have a colleague who could do it for me. I live in Marseille….lots of hospitals and clinics (public and private), as well as a high ratio of physicians demographically. Thus the wait time for a doctor or dentist appointment is much quicker than in a smaller town. Your advice is spot on…..and I’m sure very helpful for someone considering a move here !

[@Alex-mp1zb]

Very clear and objective video, as always! Just a precision, long or bad diseases are reimbursed 100% (i.e. diabetes, heart problems, cancer, etc.)

[@feraudyh]

Bad diseases are very well reimbursed.

[@CafeLu]

Loved the quote about the value of solidarity common in France!

[@ChineseAg]

Merci Diane! Great informstional vlog comme d'hab!

[@ParisianThinker]

Excellent video! Merci

[@S555.13]

It is an extremely accurate analysis 👍

[@soldierblack5032]

Super vidéo ! c'est rare de voir des points aussi vrais soulevés dans des vidéos youtube qui ont souvent la facheuse tendance à enjoliver ou grimer la réalité de la vie ici :3 But if I may add something, a Psychiatrist is doctor with a medical degree but psychologists aren't, so the Social Security reimburse only the first one; But almost all Mutuelles cover a part of psychology bills, and there's emergency psychology center all over the country that are free of charges. There, you could have appointments with psychologists on a monthly basis most of the time.

[@OuiInFrance]

Many mutuelles have limits on how many sessions are covered and how much. Like covering 5 therapy sessions/year at max 20 euros/session isn't great if you go weekly and it's 100 euros/visit.

[@alexandrawhite7614]

I listen regularly to "Parlons Nous" on RTL with the psychologist Caroline Dublanche. She regularly advises callers who can't afford to see a psychologist that some psychiatrists offer counselling sessions as well as meds. , so if you can find one of these you can get re-imbursed. Another strategy she suggests is to tell the psy about your financial problems, as s/he will likely be willing to charge less in case of difficulty. I don't know how often this is true.

[@richardcorona3564]

I love these videos!!!!!

[@abnsqd7622]

Diane, thank you for another great video. I love watching your content.

[@OuiInFrance]

You're so welcome, thank you!

[@maxxie84]

Super vidéo! And fair… thanks :)

[@bawhitham]

You present a very fair and balanced view of expat life, here in France, I think. I've been a long term expat in two countries, which gives me experience in three, all well-developed economies. Each of those countries has some positives and some negatives, and the everyday challenges in any place, are quite similar. What we value can and, no doubt, will change through a life span but, at this time in my life, France offers me the most of what I now desire, so I'm staying.

[@evelyngrammar]

Well done!

[@Edgetravelguy]

very informative

[@Stephanie_Vincent]

Great video!

[@OuiInFrance]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@gaylehooper8837]

Great video

[@OuiInFrance]

Thx so much for watching!

[@cecilebriodeau4935]

En France, nous avons d'énormes délais pour prendre des RDV d'ophtalmologie. Il faut un an de délai pour avoir un RDV et beaucoup ne font plus d'adaptation lentilles de contact car cela demande un suivi plus important.... Et chez le dentiste, aïe ! Il ne faut pas avoir un abcès, car au plus tôt, il faut bien compter au moins 1 semaine ou 2 sous antalgique avant son RDV. L'état français a oublié que les femmes représentent aujourd'hui 70 % des médecins et qu'elles ne sacrifient plus leur famille à leur métier. Du coup, l'état n'a pas augmenté son numerus clausus d'étudiants en médecine suffisamment pour faire face et ceci depuis longtemps. Nous, en France, on sert les dents, parce que les 10 prochaines années risquent d'être compliquées. Plus de 40 % des médecins vont partir à la retraite toutes spécialités confondues !

[@annepoitrineau5650]

Fortunately, they have added places in the second (then 3rd etc) medical school year, so there should be more doctors in 10 years. I hope it makes a big difference. Heureusement, le gouvernement a change le numerus clausus...donc, dans 10 ans, il y aura des medecins en plus. J'espere qu'on verra une grosse amelioration. Pour les dentistes...c'est BIEN pire en Angleterre ou j'ai vecu 23 ans. Pendant tout ce tempss, je n'ai eu qu'un dentiste, qui a pris sa retraite en 2010. Plus moyen d'en trouver un autre, et je payais de ma poche pour tout faire faire en France quand je venais faire mes parents. As far as dentists go: it is much worse in the UK where I lived for 23 years. I had a dentist until 2010. No replacement when he retired. I had to have everything done in France whenever I was coming to see my parents.

[@france7678]

Ce commentaire aurait pu être écrit par un Québécois , on est dans le même bateau .

[@grosebud4721]

I am going to France in just a few weeks for a pastry internship, and I have been using your videos and several online sources to study up on culture and stuff like that. I have found your videos so informative and just purchased the ebook!!! Thanks for all you do Diane❤

[@OuiInFrance]

Awwww, thank you so much. I'm so happy my content has been helpful. I really appreciate your support. Best of luck w/the move and internship!! xx

[@monicabarnett9231]

Merci, Diane! J’adore vos vidéos 😊 I am an American married to a European who lives in Switzerland. I know Switzerland is not France, for sure, however, I really enjoy how honest and up front you are about real, everyday life as an American married to a French man and living in France. I appreciate hearing your honest opinions. I am hoping Switzerland will approve our family reunification request and I can move there. I know there will be challenges and cultural differences, and that is ok and totally normal. And that there are positives and negatives to life in any place 😊 now, off to study French!

[@sylviemanson9761]

love your videos, never posted before...but that one's so accurate...hey, i must agree with you . I'm french, our system has flaws but i don't wanna live anywhere else in the wolrd.

[@Uncoeurdailleurs]

Bonjour, Diane. I would like to thank you wholeheartedly for being so frank about your commentary on life in general in France. I spent one year in Paris as an exchange student and have since tried to spend at least 3 months a year in various cities in France. What I am trying to say is " The grass is always greener on the neighbor's lawn." Life is what you make of it. La vie en France, c'est pas tout rose.

[@jennifercollier3218]

First time seeing you without glasses 😊

[@fredericchan2390]

Great!

[@Tino.1]

Diane, this is one of your best videos! You explained a lot about almost all subjects that matter to me. As you said, taxes are based on the individual, however, you gave a good overall explanation. Healthcare, by far, I would vote for the French system. At least, if you lose your job, you would still have medical coverage. That's what I call a "Double Whammy" in the U.S: if you lose your job, you lose medical, dental, mental... coverage. Education, is what I wish you could cover in a future video. Thank you

[@OuiInFrance]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!! What would you like to know about education specifically?

[@MrsHoneydukes]

The American system and the « Double Whammy » you are talking about is so gut-wrenchingly unfair. It really sets people up for failure and tremendous amounts of hardships, especially the non-wealthy … I believe that’s partly why French people are perceived (quite rightfully so tbf 😂) as always complaining or on strike : a lot of us fear the « Americanization » of our system. And we’re getting there by the day. Although Diane’s last point is very true in its essence, I feel like the « French mindset » is definitely not a given. We really have to fight for it if we want it to last. I fear we are becoming more and more individualistic and our social gains are eroding. I’m 32 and I don’t believe I will be able to fully retire when the time comes. Maybe I’m being overly pessimistic though, which would be very French of me haha

[@Tino.1]

@@OuiInFrance Thanks for replying. A general comparaison regarding tuition fees, books... between the French system & U.S will be great. Also, is there a difference in tuition fees between a student that has a student visa versus a resident (carte de sejour) holder? Thank you so much Diane.

[@jillyinthecityoffical]

I love your points about how life is not perfect in France and people often romanticize it. I do romanticize it a bit, but I have lived abroad, and traveled and moved a lot both as a military brat and an adult, so I definitely want to give it a try. I also took several years of French and am brushing up on it daily ahead of a trip coming up soon. I appreciate your candor in sharing your life experiences there! Very helpful.❤ My challenge now is finding a job that will let me work in France! 😂

[@JJtoutcourt]

on french healthcare there is a lot to say... For instance, some fees are not paid back: if you want glassess, you gotta pay them fully except if you have a mutuelle (linked to your job) Unemployed ? that's too bad, it's 400 for your glasses... Furthermore, nowadays healthcare is goign to be a major problem: our system is breaking, people die in the A&E (not a lot of people, but that does happen) because they are not taken care of fast enough. You often have to wait hours, even after a car accident, to see any medic. Just a small exemple: my father had a knee operation and was taking medicine that, as a side effect, had an influence on his blood that may cause a heart attack (kind of.) He went to the hosptial and, after hours waiting, the doctor specialized in blood, who was on-call duty period, said on the phone he refused to come. Now, people who have money go to the private clinics which make all our system almost irrelevant...

[@jahnacarlson3528]

Greater good. Yes!!!

[@janeberryman3581]

What I like most about your channel is that you are careful to talk about facts. As you said, “they matter.”

[@davidlericain]

I was not aware of the tax thing. That's good to know!

[@Alby_Torino]

Well, misconceptions and stereotypes about European Countries are so common, in particular from the anglosphere, that's hard to be believed when you try to debunk them. I'm from Northern Italy and I know VERY well what I'm speaking about.

[@Vie-vi]

Just so you know, because you do not leave dans la Banlieue Parisienne. We have here (en BP) what is called les SAMI, they are places where you can be seen by a doctor (généraliste) (just by walking in or calling the 15 before). They are open when the doctors offices are closed so after 7pm and the weekend (at least the Saturday). Un SAMI prend en charge les habitants d’environ 6 communes, tu dois normalement aller au SAMI qui concerne ta commune et pas un autre. Les SAMI servent à désengorger les Urgences pour des cas qui ne seraient pas vraiment des Urgences.

[@fleursetfeuilles7088]

Salut Diane, j’aime beaucoup tes vidéos et ton bon sens. Avec mon mari, nous vivons en France depuis 10 ans. Nous aimons notre pays d’accueil mais tu as entièrement raison, il n’est pas réaliste de penser que tout est parfait. En ce qui concerne les gouttières pour bruxisme, elles sont prises en charge à 100 % une fois par an par la Sécu (même pas besoin de mutuelle), à hauteur de 172 euros par gouttière.

[@OuiInFrance]

Thanks so much!! Re: The dental costs, I mentioned that in the video that I was reimbursed for about half of my nightguard, the 170ish. The rest came out of my pocket.

[@Haazheelt]

En France, on ne parle pas de charges sociales sauf du côté du patronat. On appelle cela des cotisations sociales et elles sont tout ce qu'il y de plus normal pour bénéficier de services gratuits comme les assurances chômage, vieillesse, santé, etc. Les impôts font fonctionner quant à eux, la santé ou l'école gratuite par exemple.

[@victoriabarclay3556]

Nice. Dental insurance in Us covers almost nothing so no big difference there except I pay $800 for my mouth guard. My mom is half French and when her hip broke she paid $10 A day out of pocket for 2 months and she was treated so well. Pharmacists can also do a lot more there that can take place of some types of visits

[@basementstudio7574]

Great stuff Diane. I hope to retire to France in a couple years. Haven't decided where yet. That is probably going to take a fair amount of time as France is very diverse. I know things won't be perfect but nothing is. I figure if just roll with it and take things as they come I should be ok.

[@Alex-mp1zb]

Try to learn some French before you come. It will help a lot even if it's broken. Also, I'd advise you to come for holidays before and, also, at different times of the year. A sunny village in June might be less attractive in January...

[@basementstudio7574]

All good advice. Already learning French. My wife speaks some French as her parents are Parisian. She still has an uncle there. Thanks.

[@annepoitrineau5650]

Sweden is not placed correctly (around 15:00). By the way, the swiss medical care system is individual insurance which varies with age. There are several plans (difference in psychoanalysis paid or not, and the type of room you get, if memory serves: 1978 to 2001, and my daughter still lives there). But there is also an option for the destitute. It is not prohibitive though (it was 1/8 of my wages), and you pay a bit less tax, so all in all, it boiled down to very similar to the French system, financially.

[@clementineclement5757]

Excellent video, especially about the income tax. Just one more bracket, that is the ISF ( Impôt sur la Fortune/Tax on Fortune) but very few people are concerned only about 0,37 %(about 153,000 people) . It only concerns people having a patrimony over 800.000 euros. Even then, taxation is 0,5% then over 1,3 million 0,7%, then over 2,57 M 1% then over 5 M 1,25 and finally over 10 M 1,5%. And a lot of patrimony components are not taxable, f.i. antiques, agricultural grounds that are rented long-term, woods & forests etc etc. Surely only a handfulof foreign residents are concerned !

[@benjaminlamey3591]

french social security is good. it has a cost that is not negligible, financed by taxes and cotisations. However, it is a great service to the country, the citizens and even the companies operating here, as the workers are healthy adn the problems are treated pretty well when they appear.

[@boredmillionaire9914]

“Impressions de France”-that movie from the French pavilion at EPCOT. That’s how I think living in France is 😆

[@LetsChillPage]

Hi from South France, Social Security reimburses up to a maximum of eight sessions per year with a psychologist. It still has to be within the framework of a protocol decided and prescribed by the “médecin traitant,” psychological trauma linked to a severe accident, for example. Peace, folks. ☮👈😎

[@WaddleQwacker]

taxes are a funny topic to me. Living in canada with lots of american coworkers complaining about how low income people are the ones crumbling under taxes and charges while rich people get it easy, and constantly say they should "tax the rich". But when a country does it, they are also the ones complaining about it because they think of it as a punishment for them getting richer. But as you say, the reality is really different. It depends on your revenue, what you do with your money, and the way the taxmoney is used in your everyday life is also often more "visible". It's hard to explain how things really are across cultures, it requires a lot of discussion to really go deep down all the impacted areas you don't even think about.

[@jasonweikert1922]

Self employment is taxed really heavily in France too. But with that said. The health insurance is not insanely expensive in France. But the sells tax is very high at 20 percent.

[@HubrisMaximus]

Great video and I totally agree! I think that (and really appreciate) French society really does value “fraternité” or solidarity quite a bit more than in the US where individualism (rugged or otherwise) is highly valued. To really enjoy life in France you have to buy into that or you will get frustrated. I did want to make one small correction. Having a carte de séjour (resident card) doesn’t always grant the right to work. If you are like me (and most expat retirees), your carte séjour visiteur specifically prohibits working.

[@alexandrawhite7614]

Hello Diane, I do agree with your comment near the end about French "solidarité". I love the way the slogan, "Liberté égalité fraternité" is displayed over the entrance to every French town hall. I understand not every French person lives up to that, or wants to, but surely seeing it every time you pass by, from childhood to old age, must influence at any rate a lot of people. However, being used to medicine in the Uk, where the idea of equal co-operation between patient and health professional is slowly making headway, I would find the authoritarian stance of French medics (which I have encountered on holiday in France) unbearable! Always "passionant" to hear what you have to say - thanks!

[@aeolia80]

Ah!!! so interesting situation. Here in France we have a shortage of ophthalmologists, which really sucks, well, a shortage in specialists in general, so it can take months to get an appointment. My partner learned that he could book an appointment for an ophthalmologist through our mutuelle website, and we were able to get an appointment at the eye doctor within the week of making it, even though on the eye clinic's website there were no spots available for 4 months, lol, I wonder if many specialists, especially those you don't need a referral for, reserve spots for those with a mutuelle to make sure the person can actually afford the consult and/or treatment. If this is true, it's either an amazing hack, or it's kinda sketchy and preventing certain groups of the population from receiving timely care.

[@aeolia80]

I'm gonna say something a little unpopular, I prefer my home area (Northern California) to France, lol, there I said it. It's more expensive, I was living paycheck to paycheck, I had basically no health insurance, the public transit sucked/s, I had to move all the time because all I could afford was a room in a place, but overall I prefer it, and it had more to do with what was available, like I personally liked the food variety better in NorCal compared to France, lol, even to Paris, no joke, my partner always wonders how I'm so knowledgeable about foreign cuisine and I'm just like, well, lol, I'm from NorCal with a high immigrant population from all over the place that don't water down their food for the local population. Also, the mentality of the people, there's less gatekeeping and shaming for certain interests, people tend to be slightly more positive and polite back home, it was a bit easier to get involved with certain projects, I don't know. I've been borderline or actually depressed the whole time I've lived in France, and people ask me why I don't just move back, well, because of those infrastructure things I didn't have back home, I wanted security, I wanted a permanent roof over my head, I didn't want to own a car if I could help it, I wanted healthcare that I could afford, and also I wanted to stay with my partner and their career was more stable in France than in the US (and because he didn't want to be known by the IRS, lol)

[@Lostouille]

​@@aeolia80 you prefer CA because you were born here or for the fame maybe ?

[@rogergendron664]

4/17/2024 ❤you are interesting, I enjoy the presentation of your articles j’ai 86 and de jenesse salut

[@OuiInFrance]

Thanks very much!

[@l.matthewblancett8031]

for some reason software engineers are paid half what they are in the Us. even in my own french-owned company this is true. it put the brakes on my hopes to enmigrate.

[@nostratvfrance8081]

Oui, votre vécu et vos analyses sur mon pays sont réalistes. Tout n'est pas parfait, c'est vrai et c'est indiscutable. Cependant, nous aimons la vie et nous tentons de bien la vivre. C'est pour cela que nous travaillons pour vivre et non pas : vivons pour travailler. Quoique depuis quelques temps, nos élites font le "forcing" pour casser cet art de vivre en s'inspirant des usages anglo-saxons plutôt que de notre histoire de latins.

[@olivierwurmser7175]

I would say that life abroad worsens any underlying troubles but underlines one's qualities'. My advices regarding the french healthcare system are : 1- check for supplementary insurance schemes that include access to health centers run under contract from those compagnies ("Mutuelles") to get better cost coverage, 2- in case of serious illness like cancer, seek public state run hospitals, avoid private hospitals whenever possible. Level of care is way, way higher in the first, in any aspect.

[@OuiInFrance]

Care is BETTER at public hospitals? A French relative lost one of her twins at a public hospital so when her sister became pregnant with twins the next year, she was advised to go to a private hospital.

[@olivierwurmser7175]

@@OuiInFrance : my father died of a cancer. He was rushed from a private hospital to another ( a botched job at all levels : error of diagnosis, errors in his administrative file, poor communication between private hospitals too, doctors having -for most- little real regards for patients), and when his case became finally direr he was sent by the last private one (in Paris) to a public one. Meeting the public hospital doctor, I felt that, from the start we should have sought a public hospital. We lost weeks and paid private hospitals doctors for nothing but errors...

[@puccaland]

For emergencies people don't go to malls but simply to hospitals, or SMUR or any dedicated "clinic" nearby. Seeing a psychologist is free one got a prescription from his GP.

[@OuiInFrance]

People don't go to malls for emergencies in the US either! Seeking out regular therapy appointments is most definitely not free in France.

[@puccaland]

​@@OuiInFranceMy bad. For urgent matters not emergencies. Not sure about the difference though? And for specialised medicine all the medical centers, doctors and even hospitals have dedicated rooms everyday to recieve such patients. There is a screening to make sure that it's really an urgent matter though. I am not sure about what you call regular therapy appointment? The new law makes that anyone can benefit from 8 free appointments per year at the psychologist. That's more than enough for most people. However the list of psychologists you can choose is limited. For some medical conditions requiring special therapy, for example my neurologist prescribed cognitive behaviour therapy, it can be fully covered by the basic healthcare insurance depending on the type of illness. There is no restriction on where you go. Of course we're talking medical professionals registered under Secteur 1.

[@justhouz]

Good explanation about income taxes. To put things in perspective, the average salary in France is 2630€/month. But averages are a bit misleading. The important value is the median salary (half of people earn more, half eanr less) is 2010€/month. There is also a large disparity depending on socio-professional category. In addition, salaries are higher, as is the cost of living in large metropolitan areas.

[@OuiInFrance]

Yes, huge range! I remember going to an appt at the public finance office because I had a question about my declaration and while there, I asked the employee a question out of curiosity. I said we always hear of low salaries in France, well under 3k/month. Are there people with salaries well over 4-5k/month? And he assured me that yes, lots of people make great money (usually private sector or self-employed)

[@NumaMaxenceAmbre]

15:03, Je ne sais pas où vous avez trouvé cette carte, mais la Suède à la place de la Suisse, c'est un Big No !! Vidéo très intéressante !

[@astree214]

OMG, didn't even see that, just awfull 🤣🤣🤣 Bien vu !

[@christianc9894]

C'est une très bonne vidéo qui "remet les pendules à l'heure". En France, comme partout dans le monde, il vaut mieux être riche et bien portant que pauvre et malade. Mais nous n'avons pas le défaut majeur des USA : "l'individualisme forcené et la soumission au dieu dollar. Dans ce sens, la vie en France est plus supportable pour tout le monde.

[@beauthestdane]

Just to clarify, if you are using the FEIE, then the double taxation treaty does not come into play at all. You are using the US tax system to exclude your income from US taxes, regardless of where you live outside the US, even if it is in a country with no income tax. The tax treaty comes into play if your are using the foreign tax credit to offset US taxes you would have otherwise owed.

[@BeachyKeen-ub9rg]

👍

[@sosmic]

As french i have a small question. In us if you get injured at work does your boss/company help you to pay the bills to heal yourself ? Here in France the company and "la sécu" are paying for everything. PS : thx for this great video and for helping at fighting against the stereotypes/clichés.

[@duncansmith7562]

the company and the sécu are paying for nothing. The French consumer and tax payer are paying for everything.

[@martinasandoval5326]

We have workers compensation, which is used to pay for injury at work. Usually paid by the employer. We also have disability benefits short term or long term.

[@sosmic]

@@martinasandoval5326 Ok thank you for the answer.

[@ChineseAg]

Depends on which state you live in within USA. My state, Washington, has worker's compensation insurance that we all pay into if one work in our state. Upon injury at work, you have to file worker's compensation claim & need medical professional to complete documentation. Un peu comme Secu 🤷‍♀️

[@duncansmith7562]

@@ChineseAg yes, both US and France have Socialist schemes whereby others pay for health coverage of an individual. there is no enormous difference.

[@Azeleen16]

Quick precision about complementary health insurance : most people have it because as an employer, it is mandatory to give one to your employees (and employees have to have one, you can't say no to having it). So anyone working as an employee has one :)

[@semilvr]

Only in the private sector

[@Azeleen16]

@@semilvr To be super specific, yes and no, but soon, all public functions will have it too. Territorial public fonctions have it already, in state functions it will become mandatory on the 1st of January and for hospitals it will become mandatory on 1st of January 2026. So relatively soon the whole public sector will be concerned too :)

[@sureshkumar054]

First time I seen you without eyeglasses

[@celinepa8246]

Thanks so much for highlighting that we're not living in utopia here! It can't be said enough times. I'm so freaking tired of the over-romanticized image of France, especially Paris. Even among us Europeans. This city is a beast that will eat you up and spit you out if not approached with caution lol. People buying into the hollywood image are set up for utter disappointment when confronted with reality, even if coming just to visit (see "'Paris syndrome"). The only other city with as big a gap between reality vs. clichée is probably NYC. 🙄

[@LyngJohn205]

Two advantages to acquiring French citizenship: 1) it makes you a European citizen. As a European citizen you can live or world anywhere in the EU. 2) it makes it easy for your children to become French citizens, and thus EU citizens. This greatly widens the job market for your children.

[@OuiInFrance]

Definitely worth it if someone wants to live elsewhere in the EU and/or have kids!

[@sandrad3346]

Great video! I didn't know that French income tax rates are progressive. I did know from having friends there that health care isn't free. However, I have heard that dental care is better in the US than in France. I had a French teacher (born in Madagascar to French parents) once who told our class not to go to the dentist in France. She must have had a bad experience there!

[@OuiInFrance]

I've found that the preventive care is a bit more thorough in the US. A cleaning here in France is 15 minute max (including a quick polish) whereas in the US, I'd be in the chair for 45 minutes and I have no issues w/my teeth. So just a different way of doing things for sure!

[@palupalu5647]

Dental care for visible teeth is 100% reimbursed. Because aesthetics are taken into consideration. For premolars and molars, the rate is lower and the amount is capped.

[@ChineseAg]

In my French class during 1900s had classmate say his French dentist bil got a lot more patients than his colleagues due to his American dental degree. 😁

[@richardcorona3564]

Taxes is a GREAT discussion. GUARANTEED the higher tax rates in France are NOT MORE than what we pay in insurance rates, co pays, deductibles and whatever other costs that come with healthcare in the states. We pay taxes here and get nothing for it. There, universal healthcare!

[@puccaland]

Actually most doctors use the Tiers payant so people who have basic healthcare pay immediately something like 7 or 10 euros, not 25 euros, and those who have supplementary insurance (95% of the French) either pay nothing or will be reimbursed the 10 euros later. I don't think a medical desert can be used to describe a routine anywhere. Never heard that France was some miracle country where everything is perfect about healthcare.

[@enriquesanchez2001]

Thank you, DIANE!

[@puccaland]

Dental crowns, bridges etc are 100% covered as well. That's called 100% santé. That's good for the visible teeth but for the molars in the back they use metal crowns so not the best option. Basic healthcare covers from 70% to 100% for most things. Then it can go down to 60% for instance for psychologists. For chronic illnesses everything is covered at 100% with basic healthcare.

[@FrenchCountryLife]

Nope! I live in France and unless you have a good mutuelle, these types of dental care are not covered. At least, mine aren’t?

[@puccaland]

@@FrenchCountryLife Something doesn't exist or exist in France because you live in France. 68 million people live in France. The dental crowns benefit from the 100% santé just like prescription glasses and earing devices. There is no need for a good mutuelle, anyone with basic healthcare insurance and any mutuelle can use it. The poorest who have 100% free healthcare are eligible as well. But like I said the 100% santé isn't so interesting for the big hidden molars because they don't use ceramic crowns.

[@FrenchCountryLife]

@@puccalandit would be great news if it was covered for the full 100%. I’ll check my mutuelle again but I’m afraid it said it wasn’t… I hope I’m wrong!

[@puccaland]

@@FrenchCountryLife It is 100% covered. It's not your mutuelle you need to ask. To be covered at 100% you need to ask your dentist to use the 100% santé programme and you only need to have the basic healthcare insurance + a mutuelle. That's not negotiable that's the law. Simply check Ameli which is the official source for healthcare.

[@FrenchCountryLife]

Thanks for this info!

[@user-iu2mt7nt4m]

There are good and bad aspects of all places. It's up to each person to make the best of it. No place is perfect. No life is perfect.

[@OuiInFrance]

Yup, a point I really try to hit home on my channel

[@Greg_de_Toulouse]

Income tax: you forgot to explain that you can deduce some stuffs from your incomes and then divide the net income by a formula related to the number of kids (each of them counts for 0.5).

[@OuiInFrance]

I didn't want to get too into the weeds but I did mention that certain things can reduce one's tax bill... like having kids.

[@Greg_de_Toulouse]

@@OuiInFrance Yeah I know. Although it's a big thing here. Not every country works like that (e.g. the UK) and the table you displayed applied to the net income reduced with those things. Not the the initial value. This being said everything in the video was great!

[@bylokonnor]

In France like anywhere else, life is still life.

[@OuiInFrance]

A point I really try to hit home...

[@art-of-techno]

If you're poor and benefit from what is called minima sociaux, (minimum social benefits), all health care is now free. The policy put in place a few years ago is called couverture universelle solidaire. Keep up the good work! ;)

[@art-of-techno]

I said all health care but i don't know if dental care is completely covered...

[@feraudyh]

I have lived in France for many decades. It used to be the case that finding an available doctor was much easier. I wonder what happened. Part of the reason is that the medical guild decided that fewer students would pass the exams. I wonder if that was motivated by the idea that doctors would become richer. Then very recently the older cohort of medical practitioners is retiring in droves and the consequence has become dramatic. Some people might blame cost cutting, so I would like to know your informed opinion.

[@OuiInFrance]

This explains it! www.letudiant.fr/educpros/enquetes/deserts-medicaux-comment-expliquer-la-penurie-de-medecins-dans-les-territoires.html#:~:text=Outre%20la%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ration%20de%20soignants,des%20d%C3%A9serts%20m%C3%A9dicaux%20en%20France.

[@user-cs8ps6wq8c]

I think the answer is a complex combination of several elements. But i can tell you that because it has traditionally brought a kind of high social status to be a doctor, and because the ones who could decide was a bunch of old fashioned guys who were giving everything to their job and probably had their wives compensating for their high working hours at home, they did not anticipate nor wanted to accept that the next generation would not want to work 80 or 100 hours a week and have their life revolve only around their work ( and that most of doctors would be women who statistically tend to try more to balance private and professionnal lives than men do). So they did not want to increase the numbers of people that could enter medical school. The problem is that this blindness (and classism) lasted for many years before med schools opened to a larger numbers of doctors, so now we are in the void, as it takes 10 years or more to become a doctor...

[@keninmn8283]

I hear that if you encounter a Frenchman wearing sandals it must be Phillippe Philloppe. Or is that another misconception?

[@dpbusby]

English people often have a very negative view of UK health care system, often comparing its waiting times unfavourably to France , but is quite reassuring to see the French system is actually pretty similar, if more complicated. Whatever, I prefer French or UK health care to US.

[@rehurekj]

i think citizenship should be the end goal for any longterm permanent resident. the cost is significant but waiting makes it more expensive, like here in UK the hikes in fees are both significant and quite frequent. about the "it changes nothing" its true but when the times come it would make difference its usually too late- like with Brexit here in UK, even if it wasnt necessary I fortunately did apply for the permanent residence status for EU citizens available pre- Brexit and it did make my citizenship application easier and straightforward, and with the repeating news about EU citizens with settled status refused at border I feel safer travel with UK passport. my point is citizenship may not be necessary but situation, both personal and the political, may change quickly and then one will be sorry they dont have the second passport and didnt went thru the process earlier.

[@ggjr61]

A lot of people don’t though because they have strong family connections back home and don’t want to risk not being able to return in an emergency.

[@rehurekj]

@@ggjr61 you can still freely travel, no matter if its emergency or regular visit or travel abroad, even when your application is being processed, and only time youre without passport is when you apply for the new one and that can be done anytime once youre already naturalised, theres no requirement to actually apply for second passport or time limit you need to follow. so dont really get the point about the risks like not doing it cos hypothetical emergency or having family abroad, second citizenship doesnt mean you have to stay there forever and never move elsewhere or return back to your country of origin...

[@Alex-mp1zb]

@@ggjr61 You get dual citizenship: US + French = 2 passports.

[@HubrisMaximus]

Having French nationality will have (at least) two other effects that Diane didn’t mention. Firstly, if she is convicted of a crime she can’t be easily deported from France. Secondly, she will be an EU citizen and be able to travel freely and work in other EU countries.

[@Francois-le-Canadien]

French citizenship through marriage was not that expensive (~200euro), at least it wasn't for me. It did take a long time 26ish months and loads of paperwork, but nothing overly expensive. a interesting thing one of the consulate employee told me is that French citizenship by marriage is a right not a privilege, so they make the paperwork process a little more orenous for that reason, and only a serious criminal record could cause it to be rejected.

[@OuiInFrance]

It's actually quite a bit more than that once you add in all the translations, certified copies of documents, and a DELF exam certifying one's French level, etc. ;-)

[@Francois-le-Canadien]

​@@OuiInFrance I didn't have to get any translation done, they accepted the english copies of my documents without issues. I wonder if that is because it's more lenient at the consulate level vs. in France. I also didn't need to provide a language test as I graduated from a french language HS, but I know that test can be costly.

[@atalmeowlaurent1847]

Very funny, people watch a lot of TV! Also if you visit a place it's not the same to go as a tourist than to live there with a salary from there! 😅 About the doctors, I think is happening all over the world 3-6 months appointments. My mother had an aggressive cancer, the biopsy was done in November, the hospital had the results. She died in May, had a stroke in April so... I just saw how her body turn off. I was not in my country of birth and she didn't tell me, I know how to navigate the health system but I was not there and she didn't tell me and my father and brother are idiots 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@alexandrawhite7614]

I'm so sorry. How awful for you!

[@janinechansons]

What do you use to file your US taxes? Turbo Tax? H&R Block? I'm trying to find the best one. Do you have to put your husband's information in your docs when you file your US taxes?

[@OuiInFrance]

Bonjour, ExpatFile is the service I've used for a while now. They're affordable and make things pretty simple to follow. You can even do your FATCA/FBAR reporting through the service. Here's my referral link: app.expatfile.tax/invite?inviteCode=FC429FEC My husband has 0 ties to the US and is a non-resident alien for tax purposes (NRA).

[@janinechansons]

@@OuiInFrance Thx so much for your quick reply. I'll try ExpatFile. I'll also have to look into getting an NRA for my French hubby. Thx again for the tips! Enjoy your vids!

[@tiggergutt70]

there is an healthcare system that is even MUCH better than the french one, I am french myself, living in Norway for 30 years now. In Norway, as long as you have a resident permit, the hospital is FREE. (note: I have been there 4 times already, and the hospitals are really modern with high qualified personal). the maximum amount of money you have to pay for your doctor/specialist visits in a year is about $400, and then for the rest of the year, the bills are $ 0. Emergency situations do not implies a long waiting time to meet a specialist. Kids do NOT pay a single dime at all for any doctor/hospital/dentist/specialist. only for glasses if the the problem is not too serious. Your salary is 100% paid if you are away from work because of your health or mental condition. Chronicle treatments as those for diabete for instance are totally free. If some medical equipments are needed at home, you get it for free. I personally have a breathing machine for sleep apnea worth about $1100 and I got if for free. etc. You will never face an economical issue due to your health condition in Norway. Because in here, Health is not a privilege, health is an human right. We look at the US healthcare system as a complete unfair nonsense.

[@annepoitrineau5650]

Yes, I see the US health care as barbarian. Actually, most so called "barbars" show more solidarity towards each other than the US system. I think the US system is based on the assumption that if you are poor, it is your fault, and if you are ill, it is your fault too.

[@alexandrawhite7614]

Norway comes 1st or 2nd to top in the happiness surverys. Maybe even the people in hospital are happy!