There’s no single right answer: the US is better suited for fast earnings, career growth, and large-scale business, while France offers a more comfortable life, a better fit for small and mid-sized business, and access to free healthcare and education.
In short
- In the US, capital can be built up in 2–10 years of intense work; in France, the same result is out of reach even after 50 years
- France offers free healthcare and schooling, while in the US people pay for both themselves — which drives a different motivation to earn more
- Small and mid-sized businesses in France are subsidized by the state, but growing into a large business brings the maximum tax burden
- For career growth, investment, and fast advancement, Europe has only one real alternative to the US — London, and even that comes with caveats
- France leads European countries on quality of life, food, safety, and comfort, even with more modest incomes
Earning Money: The US vs. France
The key dividing line between the two countries isn’t lifestyle — it’s the relationship with money. According to people who have relocated, in the US it typically takes 2–3 years, and for some 5, 7, or 10 years of intense work, to accumulate significant capital — provided you’re willing to work in a fiercely competitive environment, up to 20 hours a day with no days off. In France, the same outcome is out of reach even after 20, 30, or 50 years of work, regardless of how much time is put in.
According to people who have relocated, in the US it typically takes 2–3 years, and for some 5, 7, or 10 years of intense work, to accumulate significant capital — provided you’re willing to work in a fiercely competitive environment, up to 20 hours a day with no days off.
This isn’t about laziness or work ethic — it’s about how each system is built. In America, earning a lot is the norm: healthcare and education are paid for out of personal income, so society rewards high earners. In France, the logic runs the opposite way: a high personal income means the person is effectively funding a social system that everyone around them benefits from — so there’s little incentive to stand out or chase a bigger paycheck.
That creates a hard ceiling: according to people who have relocated, it’s practically impossible to get rich on a salary or a business in France. Small and mid-sized businesses there can generate a stable, comfortable income with government support, but building real wealth is another matter entirely — in old Europe, markets have long since been divided up, built out, and claimed by previous generations. In the US, that room to earn still exists — which is exactly why the financial calculation tends to favor the States over France.
In the US, a high income is the norm and is encouraged because people use it to pay for healthcare and education. In France, a high personal income means someone is effectively funding a social system for everyone else — so there’s less incentive to stand out.
Free Healthcare and Education vs. Taxing Yourself
In France, healthcare and schooling are free and, according to people who’ve lived there, among the best in the world — so you can earn modestly and still live well. In the US, the logic runs the other way: healthcare and education are paid for by the individual, which means you have to earn a lot — and that’s not seen as a flaw in the system but is actually encouraged and reinforced by social norms.
According to relocated residents, the overall tax burden in France and the US is comparable — the difference isn’t in how much you pay, but in what you get back: in France, free social services; in the US, the freedom to earn without the kind of ceiling the French model imposes.
Small and Mid-Sized Business in France: Subsidies Instead of Scale
Running a small or mid-sized business in France is a workable strategy for anyone who isn’t aiming to get rich. The government actively supports this segment: part of the costs are subsidized, and an entrepreneur can earn enough for a comfortable life without working to the breaking point.
The math works because free healthcare and schooling are already covered by the state, so you don’t need a high income for a decent standard of living. The same system that blocks big wealth actually works in your favor at the small-business level: subsidies ease the burden, and a modest income doesn’t feel like a problem against a backdrop of free social services.
The strategy stops working once a business grows from small to large: subsidies give way to a tax burden built for a different scale. So the goal isn’t growth — it’s finding a stable niche that lets you live well without risking the pressure reserved for big players.
In France, it makes sense to keep a small or mid-sized business small: subsidies and free social services make a modest income comfortable, while growth changes the rules against the owner.
Why Large Businesses Leave France
The strategy that works for small and mid-sized businesses in France stops working the moment a company grows into a large one: instead of subsidies, the entrepreneur faces the maximum tax burden. According to people who have relocated, large businesses in France end up worse off than small ones — which is exactly why companies that do manage to grow tend to leave the country en masse.
State-owned enterprises are forced to stay — they simply don’t have the option to leave. Every other large French business, by the same accounts, has already relocated: some to Luxembourg, some to the Netherlands, some further afield. As a result, the tax burden falls on those who didn’t manage — or weren’t able — to leave.
State-owned enterprises are forced to stay — they simply don’t have the option to leave.
The moment a company grows from small to large, subsidies give way to the maximum tax burden. That’s why large French businesses relocate en masse to Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and elsewhere.
Educating Children: International Schools and Languages
France has plenty of international schools that teach in English — a good fit for families who aren’t ready to switch their children straight into French. That doesn’t make French any less practically valuable: in the US, it’s commonly taught as a foreign language in schools. European schools, more broadly, often teach several languages in parallel.
In that sense, the language barrier shouldn’t be the deciding factor when choosing a country — it gets resolved regardless of whether you pick France or the US. A better starting point than language or taxes is your own goals: building a business, advancing a career, or giving your family a comfortable life.
Career, Investment, and London as Europe’s Only Real Alternative
For building a business, attracting investment, and achieving fast career growth with large bonuses, the US beats any European country. The one exception in Europe is London — but even London falls short of America on those same metrics. London is only worth considering in one specific case: if the job requires being in that particular time zone — then it’s a workable, if not equivalent, alternative.
The rest of Europe isn’t suited to these goals: salaries are lower, opportunities to build a business are more limited, and the overall pace of development is noticeably slower than in the US. That’s the flip side of the same high quality of life that sets European countries apart. So the choice between the US and Europe comes down to priority: fast career and financial growth points to the US or London as Europe’s only real option, while a comfortable, unhurried life points to the rest of Europe — and France above all.
The US, London, and the Rest of Europe: What Fits Which Goal
Table scrolls sideways
| Criterion | USA | London | Rest of Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building a business and investing | Leader | Behind the US, but Europe’s best option | Limited opportunities |
| Career growth and bonuses | Fastest growth | Behind the US, ahead of the rest of Europe | Noticeably slower |
| When to choose it | Priority is money and career | If the job requires being in this time zone | Priority is comfort and quality of life |
According to people who have relocated, the quality of life in the rest of Europe makes up for the more modest salaries and business opportunities.
Quality of Life in Europe: France, Barcelona, and the Migration Picture
If the goal of relocating isn’t a career leap but quality of life, family comfort, and the ability to avoid working yourself to the bone, Europe beats the US on exactly that measure: salaries and business opportunities are more modest here, but the standard of living is higher. Among European countries, France is widely considered the leader on overall conditions — on the combination of food, comfort, cost of living, and safety, it stands out against Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia, and Monaco.
Barcelona deserves a separate mention — it’s often called one of the best places for freelancers, partly thanks to its digital nomad visa. But the city has a downside: an influx of undocumented migrants from Africa has lowered the level of safety, and local authorities effectively shift the cost of supporting them onto tourists, without reacting much to petty theft.
local authorities effectively shift the cost of supporting them onto tourists, without reacting much to petty theft
Growth in the Arab population is noted not only in Spain but also in Germany, Sweden, and Britain — the same migration challenge applies to Europe as a whole. France stands out in this respect for trying to respond to it more firmly: a recently passed migration law and the rising influence of right-wing parties amid a parliamentary crisis are seen by supporters as an attempt to restore order, though the country’s political situation remains unstable.
Barcelona is considered one of the best places for freelancers, but an influx of undocumented migrants has lowered safety levels, and the cost of supporting them is effectively passed on to tourists.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to learn French to move to France?
For everyday life in France, English is usually enough to get by — communication generally isn’t a problem. But that doesn’t remove the language requirement further down the line: to get a residence permit and a passport, you will need to learn French.
Can I move to France without knowing French if my child will attend an international school?
Yes, international schools that teach in English remove the language barrier for children from day one. But to get a residence permit and a passport, the person relocating will still need to learn French — it’s not required for kids at school, but it is a requirement for the parent as the applicant for status.
What should I choose if the main goal is simply to earn more, not comfort?
If the priority is fast financial and career growth, the US is the clear choice: salaries are higher, business opportunities are more accessible, and the pace of development is faster. Europe, and France in particular, loses out here — it’s built for comfort and quality of life, not for speed of earning.
Is it worth moving to Barcelona for the digital nomad visa?
Barcelona is often called one of the best places for freelancers, partly because of this visa. But it’s worth weighing the downside: an influx of undocumented migrants has lowered safety levels, and local authorities partly shift the cost of supporting them onto tourists, without always reacting to petty theft.
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