The TRUTH About Moving to Bordeaux: Is it Affordable? 2025 Cost Guide

#StorybookLivingFrance #BordeauxFrance #LivingInFrance #MovingToFrance

✨ Welcome to Storybook Living France, where we explore what it’s really like to live across all 13 regions of France — from lifestyle and weather to housing costs, salaries, schools, and more.
This week, we begin in Bordeaux, the heart of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and one of France’s most desired cities.
Known for its world-class wine, riverside beauty, and rich cultural scene, Bordeaux attracts dreamers, expats, and families looking for a slower pace — but is it right for you?
In this episode, we explore:

🏠 Average housing prices & rental costs
☀️ Weather and climate year-round
🚆 Transportation, distances & access to Paris
💰 Cost of living, salaries, and job outlook
🎓 Family life, schools, and healthcare
🍷 Lifestyle, food, and nearby adventures

Join us every Saturday as we uncover a new region of France! Next week we visit *Lyon!*

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📍 Note: Data and currency conversions are subject to change. Always check the latest information before making relocation decisions.

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Chapters:
Intro/Region – 0:00
Distance to Airport/Regions – 1:10
Population – 1:34
Weather – 2:06
Local Transportation – 2:52
Parks – 4:09
Cost of Living – 4:55
Wages – 6:00
Housing – 6:59
Schools – 9:04
Medical – 10:03
Gyms – 10:46
Walk/Bike – 11:00
Religion – 11:18
Safety – 11:37
Social Scene – 12:05
Unique Features – 12:29
Some City Highlights – 13:07
Summary – 14:55

*Photo & Image Credits:*
🎥 *Copyright & Attribution:*
*Google Maps Data:*
Map data *©2025* Google, GeoBasis-DE/BKG (©2009), Inst. Geogr. Nacional, Copernicus / NASA (where applicable)
*OpenStreetMap Data:*
*©OpenStreetMap contributors License (ODbL) at* https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright
Used under fair use for educational and commentary purposes.

***
*PHOTO & VIDEO CREDITS (PEXELS & UNSPLASH)*

*Thanks to the following creators for their contributions* :

*Pexels Videos* :
– The Louvre (Dimitar Germanov)
– Castle Thouars, Cité du Vin (Czapp Árpád)
– Bordeaux Vineyard (Bin Xiao)
– Nursery School (MART PRODUCTION – https://www.pexels.com/video/playing-with-letters-7342768/)
– Saint-Émilion (Philippe WEICKMANN)

*Pexels Photos* :
– TBD Traveller (Bustling Street, Pedestrians, Vespa, Riding Bike, City Square)
– Niki Nagy (Chateau, Climbing Plants, Grosse Cloche)
– Borja Lopez (Bordeaux Streets Above, Bicyclist, Place de la Bourse)
– Tima Miroshnichenko (Work video, Doctor photo)
– Other Pexels: Min An, Gustavo Fring, Paulo Cerqueira, Jean Fourche, Scott Webb, Adrienn, Brett Sayles, Miguel Cuenca, Ertabbt, Jiamin Huang, Valentin Wechsler
– Macarons photo by Proeverij Agenda: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pile-of-macaroons-635297/

*Unsplash Photos* :
– Nils Vogt (Toulouse)
– Zakaria EL BAZI (Cailhau Gate)
– Kseniia Poroshkova (Grosse Cloche in the rain)
– Phoebe Henricks (Bordeaux street photo)
***
*MANDATORY WIKIMEDIA/CREATIVE COMMONS CREDITS*

*Please Note* : These creators and licenses require specific attribution:

– Lake and trees in fall (Bois de Bordeaux): Antoine Blanchard, CC BY-SA 4.0
– Parc Bordelais in Caudéran: Olivier Aumage, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR
– Goats at Parc Bordelais: Michel Buze, Public domain
– Bordeaux bridge photo: Alexander Gresbek (from Pixabay)
– Unedited General entry image, Wall art, Skate park: A1AA1A, CC BY-SA 4.0
– Unedited Terrace of the Darwin Ecosystème, Submarine exterior: Jefunky, CC BY-SA 4.0
– Klimt wall light show: Immersivearteditor, CC BY-SA 4.0
– Utopia cinema stained glass/Hall: Anne Utopia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wikimedia License URL: The full license URL for most of these images is https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.

License Details: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
***
Macaroons Photo: Proeverij Agenda (Pexels) – https://www.pexels.com/photo/pile-of-macaroons-635297/

Nursery School Video: MART PRODUCTION (Pexels) – https://www.pexels.com/video/playing-with-letters-7342768/
***

#BordeauxExpat #CostOfLivingFrance #FranceLife #BordeauxLifestyle #FrenchCities #RelocateToFrance

Dreaming of moving to France, but completely 
overwhelmed by the 13 different regions? Unsure of where to go or what it will really cost? 
Welcome to Storybook Living France, our newly evolved series. We've shifted from featuring dream 
homes to exploring what it's actually like to live in them. Here we break down every region of France 
with real data, real costs, and an inside look at lifestyle, culture, and community, helping you 
find your perfect place to call home. Welcome to our first deep dive, Bordeaux. [Music] 
The vibrant capital of Nouvelle-Aquitane, France's largest region by area. Nouvelle-Aquitane 
stretches from the Spanish border north through the famous wine regions and along the Atlantic 
coast. This region combines historic castles, stunning coastlines, and a dynamic urban court in 
Bordeaux, making it one of the most economically powerful and culturally rich areas outside of 
Paris. It's the perfect mix of city sophistication and natural beauty. The international airport 
Bordeaux-Merignac is about a 15 minute drive from the city center. Toulouse and Biarritz 
airports are about 2 and 12 to 3 hours away. And if you're not traveling, make sure you make a 
day trip to the historic and friendly Toulouse to enjoy its pink buildings and savor its famous 
cassoulet. The city of Bordeaux itself has a metropolitan population of about 1 and a quarter 
million people. The Nouvelle-Aquitane region is home to over 6 million, giving it a dense network 
of charming smaller towns and villages nestled between the major hubs. The population is diverse, 
growing quickly and has a strong community focus, especially around the university and wine 
industries, and the robust university scene hosts the city's 105,000 or so students. Bordeaux 
enjoys a mild oceanic climate. That means warm, beautiful summers and cool, moderate winters. 
The city averages a healthy amount of sun with sunshine for 170 days per year with roughly 
80 of those being considered good or solid days of sunshine. In winter, the lows drop 
to 3° C or 37 Fahrenheit with highs up to 10° C and 50 Fahrenheit. In the summer, you can 
expect the lows to reach about 15° C and 59 F, while the highs reach 27 C or 81 F, making it a 
place where comfortable outdoor living is key. Bordeaux has an excellent public transport network 
run by TBM. The city is famous for its modern tram system which is fast and efficient connecting 
the city center to the suburbs and even the Bordeaux-Merignac airport. There are also frequent 
bus services and you have something called BatCub which is the river shuttle. Bordeaux Saint-Jean is 
a major rail hub connecting you to Paris in just 2 hours via the high-speed TGV train. You can also 
catch the bus or the tram to visit many of the famous winery chateaux. Your transportation pass 
is valid for 1 hour and it costs €1.90 or $223. If you are visiting Bordeaux, then make 
sure to pick up the Bordeaux City Pass, which grants you unlimited free travel for 24, 
48, or 72 hours and free entry to many of the city's museums and monuments. A monthly pass 
for the tram, bus, and boat is approximately 19 to 55 or 22 to $65. Discounts are available for 
students, seniors, and more. There are many parks and places to bring the kids throughout Bordeaux 
and its suburbs, such as the sprawling Bois de Bordeaux in central Bordeaux, which has meadows, 
ponds, and a floral park. Parc Bordelais in the family-friendly district of Cauderan, has wooded 
areas, playgrounds for the kids, and a few farm animals as well. But there is a very large number 
of parks and outdoor recreation for you to explore here. For a large zoo, you can visit La Ferme 
Exotique in Caudaujac, a 35 minute drive away. And also remember the proximity to the ocean and the 
famous Dune du Pilat make for fantastic weekend activities for you and your children. Bordeaux 
offers a high quality of life without the extreme cost of Paris or the southeast coast. Your money 
goes further here. General daily living costs, groceries, utilities, and dining out are quite 
reasonable for a major European city. Overall, the cost of living, including rent, is estimated 
to start at around $1,500 or €1,300 for a single person per month. Basic utilities for a 900sq ft 
home cost approximately €195 including electric, heating, water, and garbage or $230 per month. 
Monthly groceries will cost approximately €400 to €500 for a single person or $470 to $590 on 
the low end which includes some dining out which is slightly less than Paris. Internet and phone 
will cost approximately $40 per month or $47. The economy here is strong and diverse, 
dominated by the aeronautics, defense, and high-tech sectors. Salaries are competitive. 
For a comfortable life, the average net monthly salary in Bordeaux is approximately €27 to €30,000 
or $31,000 to $35,000. This figure is slightly lower than Paris, but offers strong purchasing 
power relative to Bordeaux's local cost of living. Bordeaux's average is slightly above the national 
French average. An average base pay in Bordeaux starts at €24,000 or $28,000. Or perhaps you can 
find work as a Sommelier and earn about $32,887 or approximately $38,000. Working in 
tech may bring in €45 to €74,000 per year or $53 to $86,000 per year. Finding 
housing in Bordeaux requires patience and costs are highly location dependent. The 
average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is approximately €850 
to €1000 or $920 to $1,200 per month. This drops if you look further into the suburbs 
like Merignac or Le Bouscat where you can find a three-bedroom rental for approximately €1,000 to 
€1200 or $1,180 US to $1400. If you're buying, the median price for property in central Bordeaux 
is around €495,000 or $580,000 for the standard average sized homes, but you can find a small 
property starting at about €120,000 or $140,000. Some neighborhoods to consider are Saint-Pierre, 
a historic, charming, and lively area great for young professionals who want to be in the middle 
of the action near the bars and restaurants. Chartrons is a trendy and sophisticated 
neighborhood known for antique dealers, art galleries, and upscale dining. It's calmer 
than the center and is very popular with expat families. La Bastide on the right bank is an 
up and coming and greener neighborhood offering beautiful views back across the Garonne River to 
the historic center. It often offers more space for your money and Cauderan is the top choice for 
families. It is leafy and has a residential calm. It's close to the park border and quality schools. 
Nansouty is for families since it is walkable and school friendly. It has a balance of urban and 
residential qualities. It's good for families and well served by transport. And Saint-Michel is 
good for students and the budget conscious. It's cosmopolitan with a diverse population, bohemian, 
too, and it's a more affordable southern district. The region is excellent for families. Public 
education is high quality and preschool is free starting at age three. and expats can use them. 
All children residing in France, regardless of nationality, have the right to attend public 
school. Enrollment is done at your local city hall. For children under three, public day cares 
are highly subsidized, but not free. The cost is based on a national means tested scale. For a 
family with an income of around €4,000 or $4,700 per month, a full-time spot in a public nursery 
might cost around €400 or $470 per month or about 10%. private day cares or hiring a registered 
nanny called an assistante maternelle will be more expensive ranging from €800 to €1200 per 
month or $870 to $1,300 before any government aid. France boasts one of the best health care systems 
in the world and Bordeaux is a major regional hub with excellent facilities including the massive 
Bordeaux University Hospital Center CHU. Once registered in the French system, the Securite 
Sociale, you will have access to high quality care with most costs reimbursed. But of course, 
this is all dependent upon your visa status. For non-emergencies, you can visit local clinics 
or a SOS medecins center for a consultation. Make sure to visit the channel of Baguette Bound 
linked below for more resources about healthcare in France and much much more. Gym memberships in 
Bordeaux range from as low as €21 or $25 per month up to €30 to €47 or $35 to $55 per month for more 
comprehensive clubs. Bordeaux is a paradise for walkers and cyclists with over 730 m. of dedicated 
bike paths within the city. The Bridge to Bridge Trail is a popular 5 and a half mile loop along 
the Garonne River offering stunning city views. There are a number of churches which serve the 
international community. The International Church of Bordeaux is a notable English-speaking Bible 
church and the Anglican Church of Aquitaine also has a congregation in the city providing a 
welcoming community for English speakers. Bordeaux is generally considered a safe city, 
especially in tourist areas and the historic center. Like any major city, pick pocketing can 
occur in crowded areas. Residents and expats generally feel safe walking alone after dark, 
but common sense precautions should be taken, particularly in certain neighborhoods late 
at night. One source even ranked this city as number 14 as safest for women in France. 
Bordeaux has a vibrant social scene driven by its large university population. There are 
countless bars, wine bars, and restaurants, particularly in the Saint-Pierre and Victoire 
areas, like the unique Iboat on the river. The strong biking culture and easy access to the 
coast make it a great active social life. It's a highly social city with a youthful, dynamic 
energy. Bordeaux has a few unique quirks. Did you know the spectacular plus de labor known for 
its reflective Miroir D'eau was once so difficult to reach due to the high protective walls that 
citizens didn't truly appreciate its beauty until those walls were torn down in the 18th century. 
Also for centuries Bordeaux was nicknamed La Belle Endormie the sleeping beauty because it was 
seen as an elegant but sleepy city. Thanks to urban revitalization, the city has completely 
woken up and now rivals Paris in liveliness, charm, and quality of life. Now, let's talk 
about what makes living here shine. Of course, it's the wine capital of the world, surrounded by 
legendary vineyards like Medoc and Saint-Emilion, but the city itself is full of culture. 
from the futuristic Cite Du Vin Museum, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 
Cite Du Vin in Bordeaux is a striking wine museum and cultural center, offering immersive exhibits 
on global wine heritage capped with panoramic tastings overlooking the city. Lesser known 
hot spots include places such as the Darwin Ecosysteme. Head to the right bank to check out 
this vibrant, sustainable eco-hub. This former military barracks is now home to one of France's 
largest indoor skate parks, an organic grocery, street art everywhere, and artisan shops. Les 
Bassins de Lumieres, for something dramatic and truly different, is a huge World War II submarine 
base converted into one of the world's largest digital art centers, hosting incredible immersive 
light and sound shows. Also look up Utopia Cinema. This art house theater is uniquely housed inside 
a beautifully atmospheric former church. And for historic charm, head over to the river to find the 
Porte Cailhau, a beautiful 15th century medieval gate house. And also check out another former gate 
but now a belfry, the Grosse Cloche of Bordeaux, a 15th century bell tower. This well-loved monument 
used to warn the locals of fire. It signaled the harvest and it even was removed to punish the 
inhabitants when they were not cooperative with the king. So whether you're dreaming of sipping 
world famous wine on a riverside terrace, exploring centuries of history, or simply 
enjoying that perfect balance of sophistication and affordability, Bordeaux is a city that truly 
has it all. If you found this information useful, don't forget to like and subscribe and tell 
me in the comments if you could see yourself visiting or actually moving here. And what 
did you find most surprising today about Bordeaux? Thank you so much for being here and for 
watching my new series, Storybook Living France.