Public utilities in France
Public utilities in France are similar to the rest of the EU in terms of the real estate taxation, utility bills and other living expenses. In comparison to other European countries, the cost of living in France is higher than in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, but at the same time, much lower than the cost of living in Northern Europe and Scandinavia.
The territory of France does not have its own energy sources, so, in order not to be dependent on other countries, the economic model of the «green» economy is being developed in France. This model means the responsible usage of natural sources by the society. The ideas of ecology, the recycling of materials, energy conservation, use of electricity metres in apartments are popular.
Categories of public utilities
Utility payments for real estate in France are divided into two categories: common and individual. The optimal solution would be to open a separate account for payments, from where the accrued amounts, both common and individual, will be debited monthly. It is possible to link a mail and a telephone number to such an account. When the money in the account is over, you will receive a special notification.
The common part
Includes the costs of major repairs of the building, maintenance (cleaning, gardening, lighting) of common areas and their administration fees (payment for the work of the house management, insurance and taxes). The amount of all these expenses depends on the area of the property owned by the owner. If the apartments are located in an apartment building, the rate for residents is fixed and if one resident is in debt, it is recalculated for all other property owners. This separation is called joint and several liability.
Residents of an apartment building can hire a professional manager or form a voluntary association to solve urgent issues on their own. Payment for the current work of the house management is paid for in a lump sum for a year in advance. For example, residents of an apartment block of 10 apartments or more will pay 1,100 euros (110 euros each) pre-tax. Additional services are charged separately.
Individual payments
They depend on personal consumption by the income splitting and are usually paid according to metre readings. Individual utility payments include:
- Electricity. Electricity supply in France is decentralised. Each owner or homeowners association can choose its electricity supplier from among the 40 companies existing in the country. The energy consumption bill includes the subscription fee and the amount according to the tariff per kWh. For 2023, the base rate in France is 0.2062 € per kWh. The cost of electricity will be calculated based on the power and number of electrical appliances in the apartment, whether a special metre is installed in your house, as well as the tariff you have chosen and the electricity supplier company. The amount of energy consumed per year depends on the thermal insulation of the apartment. According to the French electricity supplier Selectra, on average, with good insulation in a studio of 20 sq. m per year will be 4,366 kWh, in a two-room apartment of 40 sq. m — 5,734 kWh, in an apartment of 120 sq. m — 13,258 kWh, which is approximately equal to 2,733 € (or 228 € per month). There is also an opportunity to choose flexible versions of the tariff plan, considering the difference in electricity consumption during the day or year.
- Gas. The most popular alternative type of fuel for heating the apartment is natural gas. Citizens can make a choice of a comprehensive tariff («electricity + gas»). Private companies supply electricity at a competitive price. Homeowners in rural areas often buy gas cylinders. In recent years, gas supply can be found only in secondary property or in private houses in rural areas. Gas tariffs for 2023 are 0.1284 € for heating water and cooking, and slightly less for heating the house. On average, for a house of 100 sq. m 1,476 cubic metres of gas are consumed per year, which is equal to 2,000 euros (or 166 euros per month).
- Central heating. There is no central heating in France, so every income splitting has the opportunity to heat their apartment with electric radiators or with the gas. In many old houses, heating with fireplaces is often found in winter, while firewood can be bought at any supermarket.
- Water supply. The market for water supply services is divided between private companies, but the decision to cooperate with one or another of them is made by the authorities of the commune. So the level of consumer spending varies depending on the place of residence.
- Internet and TV. On average, monthly Internet tariffs from the operator will cost about 25 €. When connecting a satellite TV and a phone at the same time, the cost will rise to 50 €.
- Insurance. Every month, a necessary payment is real estate insurance. Monthly payment for a two-room apartment of 40 sq. m will come out at about 30 €. The amount of payment depends on the size of the apartment and the chosen company.
Thus, the monthly average amount of utility bills for two people in an apartment of 40 sq. m will be approximately 250 €.
Property tax
This tax is required to be paid by both residents and non-residents who have property in France. Primary housing has an advantage, since its owners are exempt from paying tax for the first 2 years. Also, energy-efficient houses can receive special benefits for payment. To calculate the tax, it is required to multiply the base (50% of the cadastral rental value) by certain percentages established by the local administration. Administrative taxes include: municipal tax, department tax and garbage collection tax, administrative fees.
For example, having a two-room apartment of 40 sq. m, with a cadastral value of 10.42 € per square metre, monthly rental revenue may amount to 416.8 €, and annual income will amount to 5,001.6 €. The tax base is 2,500.8 € (50% of annual income), from which there are percentages of the local administration.
An interesting fact is that in economically strong regions of France, such as Paris, Côte d’Azur, property taxes will be lower due to the economic well-being of administrative districts.
From 631,000 €
Completion in: 2025.III Total of 112 apartments
From 278,000 €
Completion in: 2025.II Total of 50 apartments
From 569,000 €
Built in 2023 Total of 54 apartments
From 364,000 €
Completion in: 2024.IV Total of 108 apartments
From 225,000 €
Completion in: 2026.IV Total of 119 apartments
From 323,000 €
Completion in: 2025.I Total of 8 apartments
Price on request
Total area 48 m² 1 bedroom
From 720,000 €
Total of 6 apartments
Cost of living in France
France has a reputation as a country whose residents know how to love and enjoy the benefits of the quality of life. What for many Frenchmen seems to be a daily routine and a standard for the average income, for many Europeans and residents of other countries will seem to be a luxury life.
On the one hand, this reputation is the merit of the French themselves, who know how to have joy and make simple daily rituals into the high art, on the other hand, a high demand for quality — and especially for the conditions of production of certain goods or products is fair. It is no secret that the French consumer always chooses a local manufacturer, even if the price exceeds a similar foreign product several times.
Income
In 2023, the minimum income rate in France (pre-tax) is 1,747 euros per month with 35 hours of work per week. The average Frenchman in a large city earns around 3,000 euros a month. The salary of narrow specialists and managers of large companies starts from 5,000 euros. Based on these rates, according to French law, the amount spent monthly on accommodation should not exceed 30% of income.
Food
The costs in the supermarket for one person will be around 800 € per month. Сomparatively low prices for wine, cheese, seafood and farm beef. The minimum check in the restaurant starts from 20 €, a full lunch for one person wil be around 100 €.
The fare
If you want to rent a car, you will need to leave a deposit of 2,000 €. However, the rental itself can be quite low-cost and start from 100 € per day. The average cost of petrol is 2.5 € per litre. Most roads between cities are paid, the fare varies from 10 € per car for 50 km of travel, but the distances between cities are rarely more than 100 km. An alternative to motor transport is a network of railways with high-speed trains, thanks to which it is possible to get to Paris in no more than 4 hours from almost anywhere in France. The fare varies from 1 € between provincial cities and 25 € between large ones to 200 € in the luxury class.
Treatment
In France if you have a residence permit, the state compensates for up to 70% of the cost of treatment. So, an appointment with a dentist can cost 200 €, and treatment from 500 €. The day of the hospital can come out at 1,000 €
Thus, the ownership of French property opens up wide horizons to enjoy the quality of life and European standards. Despite the relatively high utility bills, many houses have mechanisms for optimising energy consumption, and living in industrially developed regions, such as Paris and the Côte d’Azur, can significantly reduce property taxes. In particular, new buildings meet modern environmental standards, in winter they save on energy consumption, while not freezing, and in summer they do not heat up from the heat.
If you are interested in getting more detailed information on the topic or getting help with individual calculations before buying your property in France, our experts will pick up all the necessary information for your case.
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