Moving to Paris is often the go-to solution for anyone who wants to live in France. The French capital is a bustling and diverse metropolis that's also a major finance and business hub. There are countless opportunities for foreigners to find a job and settle down here. Millions have already done so, in fact, to the point that there's practically no more room. Paris is a great city for relocation and all, but it's not the only French city where you can find work. There's also Grenoble, Lyon, Marseilles, Toulouse, Nice, and more. Discover these fabulous metropolises and see if you can live in any of them yourself!
Toulouse
If you think that Southern France is all about beaches and luxury resorts, think again. Even though those are what makes this part of the country popular—especially among tourists—it doesn't mean you can't live and find work here. After all, there's still Toulouse! As the capital of the Occitanie region, Toulouse is one of the biggest and most populated cities in France. It's also a melting pot, made up of expats and international students who have settled down in France. But why did they pick Toulouse? Because it's a major technological hub. It's France's own answer to Silicon Valley in the US.
Grenoble
Digital nomads would find Grenoble very interesting. For the rest of the world, it's another big city that's near the
French Alps. Tourists flock here when they go on their ski holidays in winter. But if you've always wanted to live and work in France, Grenoble is a great place to establish your roots in the country. For one thing, the place is brimming with job opportunities in digital technologies, ranging from computer scientists to IT specialists. It was never that hard for the digitally literate to
find a job in France, but it's even easier if they start looking in Grenoble!
Rennes
Truth be told, Rennes isn't all that famous. When you think of the cities to visit in France, you likely focus more on Paris, Cannes, St. Tropez, Strasbourg, or Nice, don't you? Rennes, on the other hand, is a beautiful but underrated city in
Brittany. It's just as fairytale-like as many other towns in the
French countryside, complete with timbered houses and Medieval churches. But what makes it perfect for those looking to work in France is its diverse job market. Rennes has many industries, including health, digital, mobility, food, and even creative industries. Add to that the city's low living costs and you've got a winner!
Strasbourg
Strasbourg, home to one of
the world's most iconic Christmas trees, is always popular around the holiday season. Some even go so far as to proclaim it the “Christmas capital of the world.” You can't blame them either because the holiday spirit here is utterly magical. When you pair Christmas decorations with Strasbourg's storybook-like appeal, it's always gonna be lovely. But unbeknownst to many, the city also has a good number of industries. It's not that difficult to find work in engineering, pharmaceuticals, electric manufacturing, and the food industry here. Don't forget about the tourism and hospitality sectors too!
Lyon
As one of the largest cities in France, it's no surprise that there are many work opportunities in Lyon too. Serving as Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region's capital city, it has always served as a major player in
France's job market. Especially for those who want to work in the food industry! Paris may be the “food capital of the world,” but Lyon is the “food capital of France.” The city's culinary scene has always been open to up-and-coming chefs, patissiers, connoisseurs, and more. It even boasts a whopping 2,000+ Michelin-starred restaurants. Talk about a foodie's paradise!
Bordeaux
France isn't just famous for its food. The country famously holds a lot of authority in the wine industry too! While Lyon serves as France's food capital, Bordeaux in the Aquitaine region is the world's wine capital. This is where they produce champagne, the country's most famous wine export. The city is also home to some of the finest and most prestigious
wineries in France, which in turn also provide lots of jobs for those who want to work in France. And that's just one industry. The city has strong healthcare, tourism, and digital industries too!
Nice
As mentioned previously, Southern France isn't only about vacations and summer trips. The same goes for the
French Riviera too. This famous strip of coastal cities has its own stable job markets too! Take Nice, for example, which is another of France's largest cities. Nice doesn't have over 900,000 residents because it's a fabulous tourist destination. Surely that's part of it, but there are many industries here too. The city serves as the major tech hub of Southern France, complete with startups and big companies that are constantly in need of IT employees, engineers, programmers, designers, and more.
Marseilles
Marseilles is the second-largest city in France, right after Paris. Much like Nice, do you think that the coastal city got to be as big as it is because it's simply a popular vacation hotspot? Of course, not! Even in past centuries, Marseilles has long served as a central business hub of France. It used to be one of the country's main ports, making it a vital city for trade back then. Today, Marseilles flourishes in the shipping, healthcare, tourism, creative, and digital industries. Out of all the cities in France, it's the closest to rivaling Paris in terms of number of job opportunities.
Ever want to live and work in France? Paris is often the go-to metropolis, but there are other great cities too. From the countryside to the French Riviera, discover other amazing places where you can find good work in France!
