Belfort vs Saint-Tropez

Belfort is a genuinely cheap small city, with a cost of living index of 58/100 and a 1-bedroom in the center at $561/mo, which is hard to beat anywhere in France. The catch is the local economy: an average net salary of $2,131/mo and limited English proficiency mean you had better arrive with remote work or savings, especially since the France Digital Nomad Visa demands $5,000/mo in income. The small expat community and a retiree score of 56/100 tell you this is not a soft landing for newcomers, though a safety index of 80/100 and a 71/100 overall expat score keep it respectable. Come for the low rent and quiet, stay only if you can tolerate cold winters and a social scene you will have to build yourself.

Saint-Tropez is a tiny, expensive playground for the rich, not a practical place for most expats. With a population of just 4,000 and a 3-bedroom city center rent of $1,040, it's shockingly affordable for a celebrity hotspot, but the high cost of living and limited opportunities make it a tough sell. The expat score of 84/100 and retiree score of 86/100 are decent, but the digital nomad score of 76/100 reflects the lack of a serious nomad infrastructure. Unless you're retired with a Long-Stay Visitor Visa and a taste for the Mediterranean, skip this overpriced postcard.