Moving from Exeter, UK to Nice, France: A New Adventure on the Côte d'Azur
People can have a different lifestyle if they moved from Exeter in the UK to Nice in France. Both places are different because the first one is a small town in the UK and the second one is a city in France.
The lifestyle can be not only faster but also more enjoyable and open for changes. It is true for people who decide to move from Exeter, where you can find some evidence of English history and see some small streets. I think it is very different to be in Nice, where it is always a bit sunny and there are more tourists. The culture is different too.
Overall, people who like to relocate to a new place and have a shiny lifestyle can enjoy the move from a small town with not so many changes to a totally different city with a new culture.
Preparing for the Move
Uprooting your life and moving abroad is not something you can do on a whim. It requires planning, not least because it involves learning how to navigate a different set of legal and administrative procedures. When you uproot yourself from Exeter and head for Nice, one of the first steps is to sort out the paperwork. Since the UK is no longer in the European Union, you need a visa to live in France. For anything over 90 days, you have to apply for a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour). To do so, you have to gather together a range of documents to prove you will have somewhere to live, that you have the means to support yourself and that you have sufficient health insurance.
It is also worth thinking about the practicalities of moving: if you are taking personal possessions from Exeter in the south-west of the UK to Nice on the French Riviera, you will want to engage a specialist, international, door-to-door moving company to make your move as easy as possible.
Finding a Home in Nice
Whether you’re in the market for a studio flat, a family home, or something near the Mediterranean, you’ll find a good range of accommodation in Nice. The real estate market for rentals in the central neighbourhoods is highly competitive, and you’ll want to move quickly to get your hands on a good property. The most popular quarters are the Old Town (Vieux Nice), the central Carré d’Or, or the leafy, residential neighbourhood of Cimiez. You could choose to live close to the main markets and the ancient buildings of the Old Town or further out, in a quieter suburban environment.
Rents are higher in Nice than in Exeter, and also closer to the centre and the Promenade des Anglais. A one-bedroom flat in the city centre will cost between €900-€1,500 per month. The further from the coast and the tourist hotspots, the lower the rents. You’ll need to visit several properties before deciding. This will give you a good idea of the market and what’s available for your budget.
The Cost of Living and Lifestyle Differences
Although things in Exeter aren’t quite as pricey as elsewhere in the UK, things in Nice are more costly, particularly the housing rent, eating out, and leisure activities. However, the lifestyle is often worth the cost: life in the south of France is much more relaxed, and geared towards the joie de vivre, taking the time to appreciate the simple things in life – whether that be a long lunch, a morning at the markets, or a weekend at the beach.
The most obvious way in which these two places are dissimilar is that Exeter enjoys a temperate oceanic climate with mild summers and cool, wet winters. Nice, by contrast, has a Mediterranean climate with over 300 days of sunshine per year. The good weather encourages outdoor living, and many people spend their free time on the beaches, hiking trails and open-air markets.
Another of the great differences is the food culture. Of course, in Exeter the British Sunday roast and a pint in a local pub are options. But in Nice, the Mediterranean diet is alive and well: fresh seafood, olive oil, local vegetables and classic Provençal dishes such as salade niçoise, pissaladière and socca are the norm, and one can shop for these and other treasures at the local markets such as the Cours Saleya.
Navigating French Bureaucracy
You get used to the fact that living in France means dealing with the country’s infamous bureaucracy. There are endless steps to take: having a French bank account opened, registering with the local authorities (Mairie), setting up utilities such as electricity and internet, getting your car registered in France, and so on. For British expats, healthcare also needs to be considered. France has an excellent healthcare system, but for the time being, Brits will have to take out private health insurance, and then register with the French social security system to access state healthcare.
Learning the Language
It’s possible to get by with English, especially in tourist areas, though you’ll find life a lot easier, and find yourself part of the local population, if you’re able to speak some French. Even if you’re living in a mixed and multilingual city such as Exeter, where there are many foreign nationals from all over the world, if you’re living in Nice, you’re going to need to adapt to a French-speaking culture. Taking language courses can make a huge difference to your ability to access everything from the neighbours’ conversations to the dreaded paperwork.
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Conclusion
Leaving Exeter for Nice means a whole new culture, life and lifestyle. If you’ve always dreamt of the Mediterranean, the sun, the laid-back lifestyle, the aesthetics and beauty, or the opportunity to see how the other half lives, then Nice is the place to be. From the paperwork to the language, to the cost of living – it’s all highly demanding. But once you’ve settled in, the rewards of living in this part of France are well worth it.
