Why is the cost of living in France so high?

[Singledad711]

Hi! I've been living in France for several years now and whilst the cost of living has always been quite high, now the cost of living has gone up here in France compared to 10 years ago ( or even 5 years ago]

According to this map, France is the 9th most expensive country in Europe ( well not the 9th but actually the 6th] since Jersey and Guernsey are part of the UK so they don't count as they're not really countries

And to me Luxembourg is a tnig insignificant country that isn't even visible on a map ( like Liechenstein and Andorra for example]

So anyway France has overtaken the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland and Sweden!

It's quite surprising that France has become more expensive than the latter 2 who are Scandinavian countries which have always been expensive i.e Finland & Sweden

Considering that the average wages in France is around 1500€-1800€ then it doesn't justify the high cost of living in France, which has become the 6th most expensive country in Europe

There's only 5 countries more expensive than France in Europe now in 2023: Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Ireland

And 2 of those are islands i.e Ireland & Iceland and not major mainland countries like Russia or Germany for example

How come the cost of living in France has risen? Why is the cost of living in France so high when the wages are relatively low compared to other European countries where the wages are higher & the cost of living is lower: Germany for example?

..and maybe worth mentioning somebody paying income tax here will at least be able to claim, within limits, a motor mileage allowance for travel to/from home and place of work.

Won't cover all the travel cost but it's on offset ( another swings v roundabouts).

Average petrol price in the Netherlands is 2.20€ so France with 1.90€ is cheap to me.

We were in austria last month.
Every single item in the supermarket was more expensive than Ireland where we live ( even their 'offers') selection woeful too. petrol slightly cheaper. I was shocked even their wine. i just thought theyd go bananas in Tesco with the selection and clubcard and Dunnes here with their money off every 50 euro spent.sure eveeyone here stops the till at 50euro. gets the voucher and puts through their next bit of shopping- ie does 2 transactions.
I came home thinking every european country is becoming dearer- 54 euro for a steak in a reztaurant in Kaprun outside zell am see.
10.90 For a nutella calzone dessert. MAD

@Justaguy43 both countries have their own government with an elected leader but hey, don’t let your narrow minded rudeness get in the way of the truth 🙄

Sure but even though the price of petrol is cheaper in France, that doesn't mean petrol is cheap in France: 1.9€/L is NOT cheap
If you went to Spain or Romania for example, the price of petrol would be considered cheap because overthere it's probably 1.4 or 1.6€/L