Montpellier is a delightful city.

However, if you found Paris to be incredibly expensive, you must have been checking out mostly the tourist areas.

Marseille is France's second biggest city and Lyon takes 3rd place. But Montpellier is lovely, a vibrant and young city (lots of students)and close to the sea which as far as I am concerned is always a plus.

Montpellier is not the 2nd biggest city in France. It comes 8th after Marseilles Lyons, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Strasbourg. (Montpellier has approx 240,000 inhabitants).
It is a lively university town (the Medecine Univ. is the oldest in France), public transportation is excellent, rentals are not cheap because of the high number of students.

"However, if you found Paris to be incredibly expensive, you must have been checking out mostly the tourist areas."

I meant housing costs, mainly. I feel like I could find an affordable apartment in Paris, but if your income has to be no more than a third of your income for landlords to be willing to rent to you, then it might be hard for me to find a place.

"(Montpellier has approx 240,000 inhabitants)"

Well, according to Wikipedia, the estimated population in 2008 was 533,000. But that's for what Wikipedia calls "the metropolitan area."

Mea culpa on the second largest city. I have no idea how I could have read a sentence that says Montpellier is the 8th largest city (which it does), and read 2nd largest city.

But maybe it's a moot point, if Montpellier is not significantly less expensive than Paris. I'd rather be in Paris, then.

"... and close to the sea which as far as I am concerned is always a plus."

Oh definitely, for me, too. I can't think of too many things I'd miss about New Jersey, but the Jersey Shore is certainly one of them. Having water nearby would be lovely.

Me: "... but if your income has to be no more than a third of your income..."

LOL! Okay, maybe it's time to go to bed. I meant "if your RENT has to be no more than a third of your income..."

"if Montpellier is not significantly less expensive than Paris. I'd rather be in Paris, then."

I never said that. The cost of living is cheaper in the province than in Paris. Rent is part of it and rental costs are higher in Montpellier than let's say Narbonne, Béziers or Perpignan.

"according to Wikipedia, the estimated population in 2008 was 533,000. But that's for what Wikipedia calls "the metropolitan area."
In which case Montpellier is 15th in France.

Montpellier may be a nice city to visit but you can't consider it an alternative to Paris. Paris is Paris. There is nothing else remotely like it.

With the help of people on this forum and on other travel sites, you should be able to find accommodation in Paris that will fit your budget. It will be worth the effort.

Are you absolutely determined to stay in downtown Paris? With your "limited" finances perhaps you need to be realistic as to location. I agree that Paris is Paris, no other city in France IMO compares but that includes what is IN Paris. If those things aren't terribly important then staying somewhere else seems realistic.

You are going to "live" there? What are you going to do? What job? Montpelier is a nice city--but to me pretty generic and a "city". If I'm going to a city, let it be Paris.

I love Montpellier.

"Rent is part of it and rental costs are higher in Montpellier than let's say Narbonne, Béziers or Perpignan."

I agree with this. Plus, I think you might be happy in any of the 3 other towns that are less expensive. I have close friends living in the area near Béziers and it is quite vibrant and the weather is exceptional.

I have a dear friend who has a son attending Univ. in Montpellier. She had one hell of a time finding a low rent apartment (second year, young man wanted OUT of the loud, crowded dorm). Granted, she did not have the 'luxury' of searching outside of the city.

"You are going to "live" there? What are you going to do? What job? Montpelier is a nice city--but to me pretty generic and a "city". If I'm going to a city, let it be Paris."

Gretchen,

See the "French Nationality" thread.

"In which case Montpellier is 15th in France."

Well, who knows. The Wikipedia says it's the 8th largest city, but I really have no idea.

The Wikipedia ARTICLE says.

Mamcalice,

Well, I can't deny that's what I want to hear.

"Are you absolutely determined to stay in downtown Paris? With your "limited" finances perhaps you need to be realistic as to location."

I don't know what you mean by "downtown Paris." I'm not "absolutely determined" about anything having to do with moving to France, but if I do move to France, I want to live in Paris if at all possible. To me, that means somewhere within the 20 arrondissements. If by "downtown Paris" you mean the 1st to 10th arrondissements, which I understand are the most "desirable" (whatever that means), no I'm not absolutely determined to live in any one particular arrondissement. I just want to live in Paris. I don't want to live in the suburbs of Paris. I want to live in Paris.

2. "I agree that Paris is Paris, no other city in France IMO compares but that includes what is IN Paris."

Which is why I began to research locations in France, other than Paris. Which is why I started this thread about Montpellier.

"If those things aren't terribly important then staying somewhere else seems realistic."

Those things ARE terribly important to me. What is IN Paris IS terribly important to me. If it's at all possible for me to afford living in Paris, I want to live in Paris.

You say "staying" somewhere else. You may be thinking I'm talking about visiting France. I'm not. I'm talking about moving to France. Of course, I would not move to France w/o visiting France first, but in the context of whether I live in Paris or not, I'm talking about moving to Paris.

I think Montpellier would be a splendid place to live. We considered moving to that part of France for 3 months because there is so much to do and it is easy to get around. We still love Paris, but if I were thinking of totally relocating as an expat, I would choose SW France. Montpellier is a gem. There is a great transport system and while the Centre Ville is lively and appealing, it seems there are also surrounding communities that are quite liveable. The weather is also sunnier more days per year than in any other part of France.

mamcalice,

I just realized you are also under the impression I'm talking solely about visiting Paris. I just noticed your word "accommodations." That implies a visit, not a permanent move, so I just want to clarify that I'm talking about moving to France, not just visiting. Not JUST visiting, to forestall comments telling me I can't move to France w/o visiting France.

"I think you might be happy in any of the 3 other towns that are less expensive. I have close friends living in the area near Béziers and it is quite vibrant and the weather is exceptional."

Thank you, 1994. This is helpful information.

"I think Montpellier would be a splendid place to live. ..."

Thank you, uhoh_busted. You've understood what I was asking and why I was asking it, and you've given me helpful responses.

I appreciate it.

"The Wikipedia says it's the 8th largest city, but I really have no idea."

Well you should if you're planning to live in France
You are confusing the population of a city (240,000 for Montpellier - 8th in France) and the population of a city + suburbs + urban area (agglomération urbaine - 543,000 - 15th rank).
Paris (city) : 2,2 million people
Agglomération urbaine : 12 millions.

ah - crossed posts I notice. We spent a month near Perpignan in 2010 and really were impressed with the region. We went in November, and totally loved it. (We picked a month that purposely wouldn't have the greatest weather...and were pleasantly surprised.) We've been through on trips before (usually starting or ending in Paris, and in May). For this trip we flew in and out of Barcelona.

There IS a fairly active and apparently welcoming expat community. You build a wealth of information if you spent 10 days-2 weeks in the region to see if it indeed would be a viable alternative for you to Paris.

What we liked most was that the various cities and towns seemed to be filled with all ages, obviously with younger people, and did not empty out when it wasn't "market day," which we'd noticed in other parts of France (regarding pretty little towns, not cities).

(I meant to suggest you COULD build a wealth of information in 10+ days...)

Ah, didn't realize I'd have to do homework to know what was going on.

"Ah, didn't realize I'd have to do homework to know what was going on."

Well, the alternatives would have been me explaining everything I had said on the French Nationals thread because you of course did not know any of it since you hadn't seen it, or ignoring your question. Those were the two additional choices to the third choice that I made, which was to direct you to the French Nationals thread.

French Nationality thread, not Nationals. Sometimes neither sleep nor coffee help.

"Well you should if you're planning to live in France "

Yes, which was why I went to Wikipedia, to get an idea.

"You are confusing the population of a city (240,000 for Montpellier - 8th in France) and the population of a city + suburbs + urban area (agglomération urbaine - 543,000 - 15th rank)."

Actually, no I'm not. Wikipedia is apparently confusing "the population of a city..." etc., etc., not me.

And if I type anything more, this comment will become obnoxiously sarcastic, so perhaps we can agree to move on?

"There IS a fairly active and apparently welcoming expat community."

It can be, yes. I appreciate the information you've given me.

"And if I type anything more, this comment will become obnoxiously sarcastic, so perhaps we can agree to move on?"

I was pointing out the difference in size between the 2 cities you mention: Paris and Montpellier. It might be useful to know - in the event you move to Montpellier - that you are not going to live in a metropolis of half a million people. Sorry if you took it badly. You seem to have a knack for putting off people who are trying to help.
Lesson learned.

"Sorry if you took it badly. You seem to have a knack for putting off people who are trying to help."

Here was my response to your first comment about Montpellier's population (with which I had no problem):

"Well, according to Wikipedia, the estimated population in 2008 was 533,000. But that's for what Wikipedia calls "the metropolitan area."

Note my "But that's for what Wikipedia calls 'the metropolitan area.' "

Here was your reply to the above:

"In which case Montpellier is 15th in France."

Since I had pointed out Wikipedia's figure was for the metropolitan area -- implying, but not explicitly stating, not the city itself -- and since Wikipedia had also said it was the 8th largest city, and since you now said the population of the metropolitan area made it the 15th, rather than the 18th, largest city in France, I replied, "Well, who knows. The Wikipedia says it's the 8th largest city, but I really have no idea."

That was a little flippant. I was feeling frustrated at what felt like we were talking past each other.

The next reply you made was this one:

"Well you should if you're planning to live in France
You are confusing the population of a city (240,000 for Montpellier - 8th in France) and the population of a city + suburbs + urban area (agglomération urbaine - 543,000 - 15th rank).
Paris (city) : 2,2 million people
Agglomération urbaine : 12 millions."

This made me feel that I was being faulted and even laughed at (your icon) for not wanting to know the accurate figures for Montpellier's population, which did not feel true to me, since I had gotten the information from Wikipedia, which meant that I did have some desire to obtain accurate population figures.

That's why I then replied, "Yes, which was why I went to Wikipedia, to get an idea," and "Actually, no I'm not. Wikipedia is apparently confusing "the population of a city..." etc., etc., not me.

And if I type anything more, this comment will become obnoxiously sarcastic, so perhaps we can agree to move on?"

In retrospect, I should probably have skipped that second paragraph and just left it at the paragraph in which I wrote, "Actually, no I'm not, etc."

I had and have no problem with being given the correct information. Thank you for providing that correct information.

Can we move on now?

"Can we move on now?"

Yes. Looking forward to your next thread. "How is Marseilles (or Lyons, Nantes, Rennes, Toulouse etc...' as an alternative to Paris?"
BTW my "icon" was a smiley.

"Can we move on now?"

What do you mean ?

Several posters on both the threads, who have given information that seems to have caused controversy, actually live in France. At least one of them IS French. They have all taken a lot of time to try to help you Katkat.

Perhaps you will disagree, but these posters have endless information regarding life in France. Those of us who moved here from America can offer our own experiences (with the hope of helping you) and those who are French can offer even more valuable info. on the country and it's services.

Telling them off would be unfortunate as it would surely send them packing. I'm not sure if that is what you intend or not.

Someone in one of these threads (I've lost track), suggested you post on an expat forum. I think this is a really good idea. Fodor's is a travel forum. Most folks posting here have not immigrated to France. Not that they don't have good information to offer, but the expat forums will have a lot more. Here are a couple you could consider:

http://services.completefrance.com/FORUMS/completefrance/CS/forums/

http://www.france-forum-frenchentree.com/index.php

There are others, but I think these two are the better choices.

"BTW my "icon" was a smiley."

No, it was laughing out loud. It was this: . But I'm guessing now, since you said the above, that was a typo. You meant only one parenthesis at the end, not two.

Miscommunication. Misunderstanding.

"Looking forward to your next thread. "How is Marseilles (or Lyons, Nantes, Rennes, Toulouse etc...' as an alternative to Paris?""

Not now that you've guessed! That would be too predictable. (smiley).

"Several posters on both the threads, who have given information that seems to have caused controversy, actually live in France. At least one of them IS French. They have all taken a lot of time to try to help you Katkat."

Your comment above probably crossed with my and Pvoyageuse's most recent. She (or he) are good now. Brief thunder squall over.

Jesus Christ. I meant to type, "She (or he) AND ME are good now."

Okay, but I still think you'll get LOTS of information from the two links I posted. Information from a lot of people who have done exactly what you are dreaming of doing - with both good and bad results.

"They have all taken a lot of time to try to help you Katkat."

Yes, they have.

"I'm not sure if that is what you intend or not."

It is not.

"Someone in one of these threads (I've lost track), suggested you post on an expat forum. I think this is a really good idea."

Already done. In the last couple of days, I have signed up with ExpatForum and with ExpatExchange and with SurviveFrance.

You make good points. Thank you.

"Okay, but I still think you'll get LOTS of information from the two links I posted."

I'll check them out right now.

YOu should get along with the French great. They LOVE to argue about what you mean.

And actually I would suggest Rouen--as a real alternative.

"YOu should get along with the French great. They LOVE to argue about what you mean."

LOL! Very funny. It's true. I do enjoy arguing about what I mean. I like to argue, period.