Is Paris Worth It for Early Retirement? What the Numbers Actually Say
MJ spent four days in Paris as part of our GenXit country research, scouting it not only as a tourist, but as a global nomad asking the question that matters: could we actually afford to live here? Here’s what she found out about safety, walkability, cost of living, and whether the City of Light belongs on your retirement relocation shortlist.
There’s a version of your future where you wake up in a centuries-old apartment, grab a fresh baguette from the corner bakery, and walk to a cafe along the Seine for your morning coffee. For a lot of us, that version has a name: Paris.
But here’s the question we actually had to ask ourselves: is Paris meaningfully cheaper than where we already live? Because if it’s not, if moving abroad doesn’t actually stretch our bridge fund further, then the dream needs a harder look.
We sent MJ over President’s Day weekend to find out. She traveled solo, stayed in Le Marais, and spent four days keeping both eyes open, not just as a tourist, but as a global nomad asking real questions about real life in Paris.
Here’s what she found.
Paris vs. Chicago: The Cost of Living Reality Check
We use Chicago as our baseline because that’s where we live now. So when we pulled up the Numbeo comparison between Paris and Chicago, the headline number stopped us cold.
According to Numbeo, the overall cost of living in Chicago, including rent, runs about 7% higher than Paris. Strip out rent and Chicago is actually about 5% cheaper for day-to-day expenses. But that rent gap is where it gets interesting: Chicago rents run roughly 35% higher than Paris overall.
Here’s what that looks like in real numbers:
A mid-range dinner for two (three courses, no drinks): $83 in Paris vs. $100 in Chicago
A cappuccino: basically the same, $5.19 in Paris, $5.56 in Chicago
Monthly utilities for a typical apartment: $273 in Paris vs. $166 in Chicago, Paris runs noticeably higher here
Mobile phone plan: $17/month in Paris vs. $71 in Chicago, this one genuinely surprised us
Broadband internet: $34/month in Paris vs. $67 in Chicago, another Paris win
A one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $1,596 in Paris vs. $2,469 in Chicago
So what’s the honest takeaway? Paris and Chicago are in roughly the same cost ballpark. You’re not moving to Paris to save money, you’re moving there for a specific lifestyle. And for us, that’s the problem.
We’re planning to retire at 57, which means we’ll be living on savings and investment returns for several years before Social Security or retirement accounts become accessible without penalty. Every destination on our list needs to meaningfully stretch those bridge fund dollars, not just match what we’re already spending. Paris doesn’t do that. For geographic arbitrage, we need to look elsewhere.
Solo Female Travel in Paris: How Safe Does It Actually Feel?
This question comes up constantly in our community, and it deserves a straight answer.
MJ rated Paris roughly a two out of ten on a safety concern scale, with one being the safest. Her take: treat it like any major city, because it is one. The same instincts that keep you comfortable in Chicago or New York work just fine here.
For context, Numbeo’s current data puts Paris’s crime index at 58 out of 100, moderate for a major European city, roughly on par with Manchester and London. It’s not alarming, but it’s not Zurich either.
The most practical moment of MJ’s trip came one evening when her phone couldn’t connect and she couldn’t order an Uber after watching the sunset near the Louvre. She was about a mile and a half from the hotel, it was getting dark, and she made a simple call: cross to the side of the street with the restaurants and cafes, where the outdoor seating, the lights, and the people created a natural buffer. She walked with purpose, didn’t look lost, and made it back without a single uncomfortable moment.
That instinct, stick to well-lit, populated areas and walk like you belong, is one of the core principles in our Solo Woman’s Travel Guide.
[LINK TO SOLO WOMAN’S GUIDE TO SAFETY HERE]
One more tip worth repeating: at Charles de Gaulle, skip the guys roaming the arrivals hall offering rides. Walk past them and go straight to the official taxi stand. Uber works seamlessly in Paris, and G7 is the local licensed alternative worth having on your phone.
Walkability: Yes, But It’s a Different Kind of Walk
Walkability was one of our non-negotiables when we built out our destination criteria. After moving from Florida to Chicago, we realized how much we love not needing a car, and we’re not going back.
Paris scores extremely high for walkability. MJ was staying in Le Marais, a neighborhood with real residential density, locals, kids, morning routines, not just tourists. You can absolutely live there without a car.
But the rhythm of daily life is genuinely different from what we’re used to in the U.S. Forget the one-stop grocery run. In Paris, you go to the bread shop for bread, the cheese shop for cheese, the wine store for wine, the farmers market for produce. Each stop is its own small errand. It’s charming on vacation. Day in and day out, it’s a lifestyle adjustment that deserves a real conversation before you commit.
The metro more than compensates for distance, there were roughly four stops within five blocks of where MJ was staying. One practical note: some of the deeper metro stations require a serious stair climb. There’s one in particular where MJ was lapped by a couple in their 70s. Worth flagging for anyone whose knees have opinions about stairs.
Bottom line: no car required. But you do need to make peace with a more intentional, neighborhood-based way of living.
The Friction Factor
We talk about friction a lot because it quietly shapes your happiness more than any famous landmark will.
On a scale of one to ten, where one is “moving to another U.S. state” and ten is complete chaos, MJ put Paris at a seven or eight. The language barrier is real. French bureaucracy for finding an apartment, setting up utilities, or navigating residency paperwork is famously challenging. There are long-term American expats in Paris who will tell you that even after years of living there, the administrative side of French life never fully stops being its own ongoing project.
That’s not a reason to cross Paris off the list. It is a reason to factor it into your planning.
If you want a clean framework for evaluating friction, safety, walkability, and cost across every country you’re considering, our Destination Worksheet is a good place to start.
[Link to Dream Destination Worksheet here]
The Moment That Made It All Worth It
We asked MJ if there was a moment over the weekend where she just felt the joy of being a global nomad.
She was walking two blocks off the main road when she spotted a crowd gathering at Pont Neuf just as the sun was setting, everyone there to catch the Eiffel Tower in the fading light. She had that same feeling again on Sunday, walking near the Louvre when the Tower’s lights suddenly switched on and the spotlight started sweeping.
She wasn’t at the base of it fighting the crowds. She was just... there. In Paris. Watching it.
Those moments are why we do this.
So Does Paris Make Our Top Five?
With some sadness, no.
The cost of living is close enough to Chicago that it doesn’t give our bridge fund any meaningful breathing room. The bureaucratic friction for establishing residency is significant. And the language barrier adds a layer of complexity that other destinations on our list handle more gently.
That said, wherever we eventually land, Paris will be a short flight away. MJ made peace with that.
Quick Tips for Anyone Heading to Paris Solo
Plan the trip and buy the ticket, don’t wait for the perfect moment. Pick your top three must-see experiences and consider the trip a win if you hit them. Everything else is a bonus and a reason to come back.
Set your service expectations before you arrive. French cafe culture isn’t slow or rude, it’s just different. They won’t rush you out, and they won’t hover either. Ask for the check when you’re ready. That’s all it takes.
Walk like you belong. Keep moving, keep your head up, and stay on the well-lit side of the street after dark.
🗺️ GenXit Country Snapshot: France (Paris)
Our standardized scorecard for every country we scout. Same criteria, every time, so you can compare.
Links Mentioned in This Article
Solo Woman’s Travel Guide: HERE
Dream Destination Worksheet: HERE
Bridge Fund Calculator: HERE
Watch the full Paris episode on YouTube: HERE
Join our email list for country-by-country updates:
We are a Gen X couple on a two-year mission to pay off our debts, build our bridge fund, and retire internationally at 57. Follow along as we scout ten countries and figure out where we’re actually going to land.