Suppose you love living in a French city surrounded by beautiful nature and easy access to big-city amenities. In that case, Toulouse can be your best choice.
Living in Toulouse, France, means you will enjoy a pleasant climate, cultural activities, beautiful scenery, and many more. But before you start packing your bags, let us share 5 must-know tips about moving to Toulouse to help you prepare for your relocation.
You will find tips about how to deal with the pros and cons as well as the cost of living in Toulouse. The tips and information that we share will be your first guide to learning about life in The Pink City located in Southern France.
1. Learn The Pros And Cons Of Living In Toulouse, France
Living in Toulouse may sound exciting. However, like any other city, Toulouse comes with pros and cons. You need to learn about both the pros and cons before you relocate to help you adapt to your new environment.
Below are some of the main pros and cons you should know before heading to Toulouse.
The Pros Of Living In Toulouse
Lovely Mediterranean Climate
Toulouse experiences a Mediterranean climate as it is located near the Mediterranean coast. The weather in Toulouse is generally lovely, with sunny summers and mild winters. Typically the temperatures in Toulouse range from 36°F (2.2°C) to 83°F (28°C). It is rare to find Toulouse experiencing a below-freezing temperature even during winters. This climate allows everyone in Toulouse to enjoy outdoor activities all year long.
Great Connections
The public transport in Toulouse makes it easy for everyone to get around the city. Here, you will find metro lines, buses, and trams.
You can grab your tickets at the ticket offices, ticket machines, directly from the driver, and the Ticket easy app.
On top of that, Toulouse is very walkable. It is best to explore the city centre area on foot because you will have time to take in the view at the same time. Besides, the restaurants and shops are not far from each other.
One Of The Best Cities For Expats In France
Toulouse is one of the best places for expats to live. This city offers a fusion of traditional French culture and a metropolitan city vibe. This city also has an international airport to connect Toulouse to other countries.
Additionally, the local people are generally nice and friendly. To help you make friends easier, it is advisable to learn French. This way you can communicate better with your new colleagues and friends.
The Cons Of Living In Toulouse
The Big Students Population
As one of the biggest student cities in France, Toulouse residents have to deal with the noise from student parties. The local authority will usually close the bars early if there is too much noise.
Except for the noise, the student population is a nice addition to this city. They are the consumers for local businesses and they add to Toulouse’s diversity.
Language Barrier
Not many people in Toulouse can speak English. That’s why it is crucial for you to learn French before moving there.
Learning French will help you communicate freely with local people around the neighbourhood. This way, you can ask for an address, shop, or make friends with your neighbours easier.
2. This Is How You Deal With The Cost Of Living In Toulouse
The cost of living in Toulouse may not be the cheapest in France.
In a month, it is estimated that a family of four and a single person spend about €3,069 and €855, respectively, excluding rent.
The property prices in Toulouse can reach €4,440 per square metre, depending on the location and the size. You may pay more if the house or apartment you buy is bigger and located in the city centre.
On the other hand, the average monthly rent for an apartment is €640. Apartments located in the city centre have more expensive rent than those on the outskirts.
However, there are always ways to cut your expenses and save more money. To save more money on your monthly expenses, you can apply the following tips:
- Choose a house located outside the town centre for lower housing costs.
- Shop online to prevent overbuying.
- Terminate the subscriptions you don’t need.
- Buy your groceries monthly in bulk, so you can minimise your trip to the market that may cause you to buy more than needed.
3. Browse The Best Neighbourhoods In Toulouse
Toulouse has the best neighbourhoods that offer amenities and access to city attractions. The neighbourhoods that we recommend below can be your reference when searching for a home in Toulouse.
The City Centre
The most interesting part of this neighbourhood is the architecture of the buildings. Most of them are built with pale bricks, making the city centre look like a pink city. Well, this is actually how Toulouse earned its nickname.
The City Centre area is perfect for those who love going around on foot. You can walk around the shopping streets in this neighbourhood comfortably. At night, you can enjoy parties at the local bars.
Jeanne D’Arc
Jeanne D’Arc is ideally located between the city centre and train station, connecting it with other parts of the city. The train also can take you to the neighbouring towns.
This area has excellent restaurants that offer various dishes, including from Asia. There are also markets that open every weekend, like the upscale Victor Hugo Market, which is known as one of the cheapest markets in France.
Saint-Michel
Saint-Michel is a popular area for students. This area offers apartments with lower rent, excellent public transport, and large green spaces. Saint-Michael also has restaurants, shops, and medical centres.
This neighbourhood is walkable. You can walk around to enjoy the scenery of Jardin Royal Public Park and Grand Rond.
4. Find Better Opportunities In Toulouse’s Biggest Industries
Toulouse is the centre of the aerospace industry in Europe. This city is also home to European Airbus headquarters and the French space agency. If you have expertise and experience in the aerospace industry, you can advance your career in this city.
However, you may also find opportunities in other sectors such as hospitality, food industries, and entertainment.
It is crucial to secure a job before you move to Toulouse. This way, you will have a secure income source to afford your living costs after moving.
5. Get Familiar With Toulouse By Doing These Activities
Exploring Toulouse is the best way to familiarise yourself with the city. You will find well preserved historical sites, green spaces, and cultural events in Toulouse.
It is also important to give local dishes a taste. Toulouse is famous for its good food, and some restaurants even serve a generous portion for the customers.
Cultural Activities
There will always be things to do in Toulouse, especially cultural activities. Below are some of the places you can visit to help you learn more about the local culture and history:
- Saint Sernin Basilica,
- Pont Neuf,
- Muséum de Toulouse (Natural History Museum),
- Musée des Augustins,
- Theatre du Capitole (Opera House), and
- Musée Saint Raymond.
Beautiful Places To Visit
Toulouse is a beautiful city with nature, parks, and gardens. Remember to visit the green areas in Toulouse to destress your mind after five working days.
Access to nature and beautiful places is pretty easy from Toulouse. For example, if you want to go to the Pyrenees mountains, it usually takes around 2.5 hours to drive. Public transportation services to the area may get disrupted due to pandemics.
Aside from the Pyrenees mountains, the following places can also be your recreational options on your off days:
- Jardín de Plantas de Toulouse,
- Jardin Royal,
- Jardin Compans-Caffarelli, and many more.
Taste The Local Delicacy
Being familiar with the local dishes is one of the best ways to adapt to a new city. In fact, the food in Toulouse is one of the reasons people visit this city.
The following dishes are the must-try ones and local’s favourite:
- cassoulet,
- foie gras d’oie,
- saucisse de Toulouse,
- fenetra cake, and
- Violettes de Toulouse.
If you love alcoholic beverages, Toulouse has plenty of bars that serve the best red wine, champagne, and various cocktails.
Conclusion About Moving To Toulouse
Toulouse is a city located in Southern France, and it has unique architecture, beautiful gardens, vibrant culture, and delicious food. The weather in Toulouse makes living in this city feel even better because you can enjoy outdoor activities all year long.
What’s best about Toulouse is its walkability and transportation system. This means you need not be worried about commuting even if you do not have a car. This also makes Toulouse perfect as a student’s city.
However, the cost of living in Toulouse is relatively expensive. But no worries, you can find more affordable options for housing and groceries here, and you can also find ways to save more money in Toulouse.
Before moving to this city, you need to secure a job and prepare the required documents. You can make a list of things to do regarding your relocation. That way, you won’t have a hard time tracking the progress.
To have an even better relocation process, engage Sanelo to ship your belongings to Toulouse. You won’t need to carry heavy luggage or pack a lot of stuff if you have a professional to handle the shipment of your belongings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving To Toulouse
Is Toulouse, France, A Good Place To Live?
Toulouse is one of the best places to live in France. It has significant economic growth, rich culture, and excellent city amenities.
Is Toulouse A Safe City?
Toulouse is generally a safe city. Its crime rate is lower than in big cities like Paris and London. However, it is wise to be careful while walking during the day or at night.
Is Toulouse Cheaper Than Paris?
The cost of living in Toulouse is lower than in Paris. For instance, with €3,775 in Toulouse, you can afford a lifestyle equal to that you can have with €4,900 in Paris.
Can I Contact Sanelo For International Relocation?
Yes, you can. We have a team to help you ship your belongings to Toulouse from your home country. Please contact us to consult your relocation needs with our team.
For more information about relocating with Sanelo and moving to cities in France, check out the following articles.
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