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Moving to a Paris with family where to live

6 replies

Bakersdelight · 16/09/2017 10:36

Hello, my husband is currently in discussions over a job move to Paris. His office will be at la Bourse. We have an energetic 4.5 yr old son and a 3 month old baby boy.
Is there anyone on here who can suggest good areas for us to live and for hubby to have a maximum 45 minute commute?
We will not have a huge budget.

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frozentree · 16/09/2017 14:20

So much depends on what you want. If you want to live in Paris itself, it'll be difficult on a small budget. My husband also work at la Bourse but we live way out in the countryside where we have a huge amount of space which doesn't cost the earth as our budget is also pretty limited. He has a 30 minute train into St Lazare and then either walks or takes the metro.

However neither of us wanted to live in the city centre which made our decision easier. Our children are all in the French school system too which could affect where you want to live. Would your son be going to French school?

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Bakersdelight · 16/09/2017 19:23

Hi Frozentree
We currently live outside London and have a 45 minute commute in and enjoy having more space for our money. Which area do you live in and what is your husband's commute time door to door.
I suspect the international schools will be out of reach for us so it will be a French school or something in between.

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GaucheCaviar · 17/09/2017 08:06

Really depends on budget. Western suburbs is where everyone lives but it's pricey. Seventeenth round Batignolles is also popular but again, not cheap. How much cash do you have tôplay with and what are your minimum space requirements? I recommend the English speaking mums in Paris FB group, it's a great resource.

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GaucheCaviar · 17/09/2017 08:26

Based on what you've said though I.d be looking around the Conflans area, where there are some English speaking expats.

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frozentree · 19/09/2017 07:57

We live out in a village near Mantes la Jolie where my husband gets the train. So he has 10 minutes to station, half an hour train and then 10 minute walk or metro. Up till now the trains have been very reliable but with the extension of the RER E there have been more delays of late.

A lot also will depend on how good your French is - my first years here when the kids were small was spent driving back and forth from the Western suburbs to get some English language interactions. Once they started maternelle, I made friends locally, my French improved and now the majority of our social life is based around the village which just would not be possible if you can't speak French.