Best places to retire in France
Top retirement cities in France
- Caen — retire score 60/100 (cost 17, climate 98, safety 81)
- Rouen — retire score 60/100 (cost 16, climate 95, safety 83)
- Angers — retire score 60/100 (cost 15, climate 98, safety 81)
- Le Mans — retire score 60/100 (cost 16, climate 97, safety 81)
- Tours — retire score 60/100 (cost 16, climate 96, safety 81)
- Limoges — retire score 60/100 (cost 16, climate 96, safety 81)
- Perpignan — retire score 60/100 (cost 17, climate 100, safety 78)
- Nantes — retire score 59/100 (cost 13, climate 99, safety 80)
- Bordeaux — retire score 59/100 (cost 13, climate 99, safety 80)
- Rennes — retire score 59/100 (cost 14, climate 98, safety 80)
- Orléans — retire score 59/100 (cost 16, climate 95, safety 81)
- Clermont-Ferrand — retire score 59/100 (cost 16, climate 94, safety 81)
Why these cities rank for retirement in France
The retire score weights affordability at 40%, climate comfort at 30% and safety at 30%, because fixed-income retirees feel cost most, then weather, then security. In France, Caen leads at 60/100 — cost 17, climate 98, safety 81 — while Cannes is the most affordable base (cost 18/100). Cost is anchored to France's World Bank price level, climate to WorldClim normals (so you can judge whether winters and summers suit you), and safety blends natural-disaster exposure with crime. Two things our score deliberately omits — healthcare quality and retirement-visa eligibility — are decisive for retirees, so treat this as the affordability-climate-safety shortlist and verify health cover and residency rules for France separately before you commit.
The shortlist, by the numbers
Caen scores 60/100 (cost 17, climate 98, safety 81; warmest-month highs ~18.0°C, coldest-month lows ~5.2°C). Rouen scores 60/100 (cost 16, climate 95, safety 83; warmest-month highs ~17.3°C, coldest-month lows ~3.8°C). Angers scores 60/100 (cost 15, climate 98, safety 81; warmest-month highs ~19.3°C, coldest-month lows ~5.1°C). Le Mans scores 60/100 (cost 16, climate 97, safety 81; warmest-month highs ~18.9°C, coldest-month lows ~4.6°C). Each balances the three retirement levers differently — Caen leads overall, while a city like Cannes wins purely on budget — so rank them by what your pension stretches to and the climate your health prefers.
FAQ
Where is the best place to retire in France?
Caen ranks highest in our retirement score (60/100), balancing affordability, mild climate and safety.
Is France a good place to retire?
France's best retirement city scores 60/100; the most affordable is Cannes (cost 18/100). We weigh cost, climate and natural-disaster + crime safety — not healthcare or visas, which you should check separately.
What's the cheapest place to retire in France?
Cannes has the lowest cost of living in France in our data.