Lisa(34)

Eindhoven is a tech hub, but after eight years at the same employer I wanted something different. Via LinkedIn I connected with a French tech company at Sophia Antipolis, the technology park near Antibes. They offered me a CDI — a contrat à durée indéterminée, the French equivalent of a permanent contract. The salary was slightly lower than in the Netherlands, but the quality of life was incomparable.

A CDI is worth its weight in gold in France. It gives you access to rental housing (landlords want to see a CDI), a mortgage and all social benefits. My employer arranged my registration with the Sécurité Sociale and the mutuelle d'entreprise (collective supplementary insurance). The onboarding was entirely in French, which was challenging, but my colleagues were patient.

I live in a 45m² apartment in the old town of Nice, five minutes' walk from the Promenade des Anglais. Rent: €900 per month, including charges. It feels like a holiday every day when I walk along the boulevard after work. The Cours Saleya market is my weekly ritual: socca, pissaladière, ratatouille — Niçoise cuisine is a world of its own.

The cost of living on the Côte d'Azur is higher than the rest of France, but comparable to Eindhoven. An espresso on a terrace: €2.50. A three-course lunch in a bistro: €18. The big saving is transport: I don't need a car. The tram and bus in Nice cost €1.50 per trip or €30 for a monthly pass. I reach Sophia Antipolis by company shuttle.

The tax burden as an employee is manageable. Your gross-to-net difference is larger than in the Netherlands due to cotisations sociales (employee pays about 22%), but the impôt sur le revenu (income tax) is progressive and for my salary lower than in the Netherlands. My net monthly income is €3,200 after all deductions. My employer pays an additional roughly 45% in employer charges on top.

My advice to tech professionals: France is an excellent destination. The tech scene is growing fast, there are tax advantages for researchers (crédit d'impôt recherche) and the quality of life is unbeatable. Learn French — the business language is often English, but socially and administratively you need French. Register at the préfecture for your titre de séjour if you stay longer than three months, and enjoy life on the Mediterranean.