What’s It Like Living In Brittany As An Expat

Is Brittany the right place for you? Read our guide to discover what life in Brittany is like for expats and whether it ticks all the boxes for you.

Brittany. It might sound a lot like Britain, it might only be a short trip across the channel, and there may be many Brits living there, but it’s very different from life in the UK.

Known for its spectacular coastline, warm climate, and lush countryside, Brittany is very popular for second-home owners and expats. 

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The area’s reputation precedes it, but what are the truths behind the rumors? This guide to Brittany will tell you everything you need to know about the most north-westerly part of France. 

Is Brittany a good place to live?

Let’s be clear: if you’re a city slicker hoping for a taste of the high life, Brittany is not for you.

The Crozon Peninsula
The Crozon Peninsula: jagged headlands, turquoise waters, a true delight for hikers and walkers.

Brittany is rugged, overwhelming, and incredibly charming. But it’s not ideal for fans of city life. Most of Brittany is overrun by small villages. Even the most prominent towns still feel like villages. But that doesn’t mean the area isn’t without its charms. 

In fact, if you want to get away from it all, embrace nature, walk along the clifftops and eat local food on the beach, Brittany is a dream. Packed full of fishing villages, farms, and hamlets with stone cottages, it’s one of the most beautiful places in France. It’s certainly as close as the French get to rolling hills and patchwork fields. 

If the appeal of Cornwall and Devon isn’t lost on you, Brittany is like someone took all the best bits and removed the pesky seagulls, rain, and cheap tourist traps.

Brittany’s coastline is perfect for those who enjoy the sea and like being outdoors. You could spend the rest of your life hiking in Brittany and never get bored. 

When you’re not outside, Brittany is famous for being a haven for foodies. Of course, there’s all the classic French cuisine and plenty of British influence from across the water.

Bretons love to eat and drink, and cider, crêpes, mushrooms, seafood, and pastries are very popular. The food here is part of the Celtic culture, which remains very strong and pairs beautifully with the local music. 

Moving to Brittany isn’t just about moving abroad and becoming an expat. It’s sort of like joining a very unique but large club. Membership is easy to get, and once you’re in, you’ll never want to leave!

Is Brittany expensive?

Compared with the average cost of living in France, life in Brittany is surprisingly affordable.

The countryside is full of farms selling local fruit, veg and meat, and of course, the friendly fishermen sell restaurant-quality seafood at excellent prices. This means you can eat like a king without spending much.

Tregastel, Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany
Tregastel, Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany.

If you want to eat out, you’ll find restaurants for every budget. Make a note of which put their price up in the summer months and which are tourist traps. You should eat like a local. 

Houses are also reasonably affordable.

When you want a sea view, prices jump, and coastal cottages and stone houses can easily reach over €1 million. But a nice country house in a small village, with a decent garden, can come in at around €100,000.

In other areas of France, this would get you in a tiny, modern villa with no outside space, but in Brittany, you can find some incredible stone houses with land and barns for under €300,000.

Considering buying a home in France? Read our Complete Guide To Buying A Property In France to avoid potential pitfalls and disappointment.

The larger towns of Brest, Rennes, Vannes, and Saint-Malo also offer apartments.

Rent is usually low at between €400-600 per month for a reasonably standard apartment. It’s easy to find a good place. However, larger properties are very in-demand, so renting tends to be expensive and complicated. If you want a larger property, buying is more straightforward.  

You can find more information on renting and how to do it in our guide Renting A Property In France.

Everything else in Brittany is also fairly standard. It benefits from the French infrastructure, so life is pretty easy-breezy.

The only issue you might find is that you are willing to pay a fortune for good internet, but the remote villages just don’t have the lines. Of course, this does save you money because you can’t pay for it if it doesn’t exist.  

If you plan on working in Brittany, the average salary comes in at around €2,500 per month after tax. People here easily live on this amount without worry.

The only thing you’ll really need to consider is the costs of running a car. You need your own transport. There is plenty of public transport at an affordable price, but you need a car to actually live there. 

Everything else in Brittany is fairly standard for France. There are excellent, affordable public services, from libraries and buses to activity centers and sports clubs.

Public schools are amazing, and there are many jobs thanks to the number of tourists, so whether you’re moving with the kids or looking to retire to France, Brittany can cater to your needs. 

Where to live in Brittany

Brittany is well-known for having a very specific microclimate. The Atlantic coastline makes for some beautifully warm, humid weather, while the northern coast onto the channel brings in some cooler air.

Vannes garden view in Brittany
Vannes

Depending on what you are looking for, you could get it very wrong or very right. Here are our favorite places to live in Brittany.

Vannes

Vannes feels like another world. The town was a Roman fort and still retains plenty of old buildings, windy streets, and cramped pubs.

It’s as stunning and historic as they come. It’s set in the middle of a national park called the Golfe du Morbihan, and the other side is bordered by the sea, meaning no matter where you look or drive, it’s beautiful. It’s also a great place to buy cider and cheese!

If you love the idea of Vannes, you might want to read our guide on living in Vannes is an expat. It has all the information you need to consider before moving to this wonderful town.

Dinan

Right next to Saint-Malo but without the hustle, bustle, and ferries. Dinan is a picture-perfect stone village. It’s very artistic, with all sorts of festivals, fairs, and markets.

Houses can be pricey, but it strikes the perfect balance of busyness even in winter without being too crowded. It’s also large enough to offer enough activities to keep you entertained. 

Roscoff

Famous as one of the significant ports connecting France to England and Spain, you’d think it would be a very commercial, industrial town. Instead, Roscoff is a beautiful village. It’s often overlooked as people usually move through it onto other places.

As a result, it’s always busy without being the center of attention. It’s affordable, has excellent local pubs and bars, as well as a stunning seafront with beaches. 

Rennes

Rennes is the economic hub and beating heart of the area. It’s as close to a major city as you’ll get in Brittany.

There’s always something to do or see, and it has all the amenities and attractions of a larger town. However, it’s retained the charms of a much smaller village.

You’ll find cobbled streets, coffee shops, wooden buildings, and wonky houses. It’s also home to one of France’s largest markets every Saturday. 

Paimpont

Not far from Rennes, Paimpont is supposed to be where King Arthur and Merlin lived for a while. It’s easy to believe as the village and surrounding area is magical and mystical, with a stunning forest.

There’s also a beautiful lake. With good connections to Rennes, Paimpont is ideal for anyone who isn’t fussed about the seas and loves nature but still wants access to a larger town. 

Expats in Brittany

Brittany has one of the largest communities of expats in France. There are even some small villages where the English outnumber the French.

Breton stone houses on a steep cape in the English Channel
Traditional Breton stone houses on a steep cape in the English Channel, Brittany.

Of course, you’ll find many expats from other countries, too, usually drawn to Brittany for surfing. However, the number of Brits is so large that they dwarf any other expat communities and tend to adopt different nationalities as their own. 

Like many other areas, you can find online boards, websites, and Facebook groups of expats that can help out with everything from jobs and accommodation to activities and restaurant suggestions.

However, the best place to find expats in Brittany is just to go to Brittany. Noticeboards outside the mayor’s offices usually have contact details of local groups of expats. If there aren’t any on the board, you can always ask inside. 

Most expats choose to live along the coastline near the sea. The property is more expensive, but the views are worth it. Moving inland, expats tend to clump together in villages such as Gouarec. You’ll find that expats in Brittany clump together like this in groups and have their own mini expat communities. 

In some smaller villages, older French residents are reluctant to welcome expats, fearing one family might be the invading force or a larger army. If you move somewhere without many expats, be prepared to embrace the local culture and language to win over your neighbors. 

Things to know before you move to Brittany

Learn French

It might sound British, but Brittany is, of course, French. This means that French is the official language of the area.

Although most people speak good English and there are plenty of Brits around, it’s still best to learn at least some French before you go. If you want to impress the locals, you can always pick up some phrases in the traditional Breton language. 

Dinan streets in Brittany
Dinan streets

While most people speak English, it’s usually for tourists. Business here is still very much done in French. If you plan on working. You need to speak French. It’s how locals separate between their own lives and the lives of invading tourists. 

We hope you do love crêpes

Crêpes, also known as Galettes, are a way of life here. You can eat crêpes morning, noon and night. Savoury or sweet. 

And seafood

Alongside the crêpes, seafood is very popular here. Plenty of fishing villages and traditional fishermen mean oysters, mussels, and other fish are served daily. If you don’t like fish, you should reconsider moving to Brittany. 

And prefer cider to wine

The rest of the French drink wine at every opportunity. In Brittany, it’s all about the cider. Embrace it. It’s usually served in bowls (really) and can be drunk at any time of day. 

Get acquainted with Breton music

Bretons are very proud of the local music scene. Most pubs have live music regularly, and concerts and street music are also very popular. Get on YouTube and look up some classical Breton music. If you can’t force yourself to like it, life in Brittany could be very complicated. 

Pack plenty of warm jumpers

The Brittany countryside is stunning, so outdoor activities are popular and very fun. The area gets very little rain for being so far north, but it can be very windy. You’ll need warm jumpers more than you’ll need a raincoat. 

Don’t count on career prospects

Speaking of work, most work here revolves around the tourist season and activities. If you’re looking for a year-round office job, you may not have many options. 

Be friendly to everyone

Brittany is the playground of Parisians who want to get away for long weekends. You’ll meet as many people from Paris as you do from Brittany, so be careful what you say about the French capital! 

You can find more useful tips on moving to France in our Living In France Guide For Expats.

Final thoughts on living in Brittany

The unusually warm microclimate, rugged coastline, and good food make Brittany popular year after year. The area is packed full of expats looking to enjoy life outdoors.

It’s more affordable than other popular retirement destinations such as Provence or Toulouse and is positively cheap compared to living in the French Riviera.

The region has held fast to its Celtic history, meaning a strong culture separates it from the rest of France. It’s truly unique and offers some of the best food, music, and countryside in France. 

Brittany holds great appeal for many and for a good reason. The only question is, where do you want to live? Wherever you choose, we recommend making sure you’ve got a decent local pub; it makes a big difference! 

You might find helpful:

  • Living in France – a complete guide to living in France: the pros and cons, the costs, residency, formalities, and paperwork, etc.
  • Healthcare In France For Expats – how to access public healthcare in France, register your S1 form with French healthcare authorities, French health insurance system, top-up and private health cover in France, etc.
  • The Best Places to Live in France – a detailed overview of France’s most popular locations for expats.
  • See our complete France country guide archive.
  • Didn’t find what you were looking for or need further advice? Comment with your question below, and we will do our best to help.
Emily Derrick
Emily Derrick

Now based in France, Emily is a freelance writer from the UK with a passion for travel. Her love for adventuring was sparked during her time living and travelling in Canada as well as multiple trips across Europe.

Emily always takes the scenic route to get to the heart of a country and when she isn't writing, she can be found outside with her two dogs Hugo and Suzette.

Website: Emily Derrick

Articles: 16
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13 Comments

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  1. Hi Emily,

    I have read your article with great interest, my dream is to live part of the year in France, I’m loving the sound of Brittany as I’d like to get out on my cycle more, but don’t do hills 😆.
    I love cafe culture in a fairly busy town, I would need excellent WiFi in order to work on line, I’m not too bothered about being near the sea as I know it increases prices! So any thoughts would be gratefully received 🙏

    The other huge question is I live alone do you think it’s something for a single lady of a certain age!
    Thank you for reading x

  2. Hi Emily,
    I’m wondering if you can help me. I’m looking for landscape with lush forests and meadows, not too dry, but not too windy. I’m not bothered about the ocean, but artisan/artist villages nearby, music, laid-back lifestyle, farming. I’m zoning in on lower Normandy, Aquitaine, and Loire valley. Any hints? France is so big! I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. We want to keep a couple horses, and have a large garden, and of course want that “French feeling’ where we live.
    Thank you so much!!
    Sabina

    • Hello Sabina,
      How lovely that you are planning to move to France, it is just such a great country…
      Like you say, France is so big, where to go! I can’t tell you about every part of France, but I do have experience in some of them. The one that popped to mind is actually the Bourgogne or Burgundy in English (and then especially in the nature reserve called the Morvan). This is a lovely region, where you can actually find everything you wish for and you describe. Also the climate is not too hot and not too dry.
      If you would like some more information or if you have more questions, please don’t hesitate to reply or contact me: https://expatra.com/author/maritgrotenhuis/
      Kind regards, Marit Grotenhuis – MP Bourgogne

  3. Hello Lynn and Brian,

    Thanks so much for your comment. I have no doubt you’ll have a lovely time in Brittany, it’s truly stunning.
    Public transport here is fairly easy to understand and catch, particularly at the airport. I do offer services to provide detailed advice on what to do, how to get around and what you shouldn’t miss. If you’d like to discuss this you can get in touch on my email: e.fullproof@gmail.com and I can put you in touch with guides in the area and help with planning and logistics. I would recommend planning carefully if you want to go to Lille/London as this is a big distance to travel.
    I wouldn’t worry too much about the French though! If you have some French, even if you’ve forgotten it, you’ll find it coming back very quickly and if you try to speak French and show an interest in the Breton language the locals will be thrilled!

    Emily 🙂

  4. Hello Emily: We are Brian and Lynn, EU ciitizens (Irish), who will be flying into Paris on March 27. What will be the best first place to go from Chas d Gaulle to Brittany to spend our first night? Can we catch a train, bus or other transport right from the airport? Also, do you have any bi-lingual (English/French) guides who could help us plan a ten day itinerary around Brittany? We are both French speakers, but have not used the language every day for some years. I am particularly interested in finding a nice place to live where Breton is spoken as I was taught Irish and understand the languages are somewhat similar. We wish to pop over from Lille to London for a day and half to visit elderly relatives during these days. Any advice will be appreciated, and if you can refer us to guides, what should we expect to pay per day? I have entered my contact details, and thank you for this forum, Lynn

  5. Thank you for the great article, Emily! My husband and I are in the beginning stages of emigrating away from US. We are semi-retired in that we are currently trying to expand our business, Edgar Wibble Puppets, toward success. Your article has helped us hone in on the area we would love to live in. We had visited France in 2004 with family and, obviously, fell in love with the culture, the landscape, and the people. Unfortunately, on our trip then, we were not able to make it to the north, though we had intended to. We are definite “water” people, love being near it, in it, on it; love seafood and fresh air, and as you mentioned, since the area is touristy, our new dream is to have a place for our “spectacle des marionettes et achete’.” (yes, I will be working diligently on my French in the meantime). And strangely coincidental – we love Celtic and Breton music! Your article hit all of our points of interest as if you were writing just to us! We also love the Celtic culture and look forward to learning what that means when mixed with French history. Thank you for providing such a well thought out and well-written missive to us. I have signed up with several “aid the expat” websites, but your helpful overview of Brittany has introduced this website to me and I will be returning often.
    All the best,
    Kate and Will
    Puppeteers

    • Hi Kate and Will,

      It’s been really lovely reading your comments. I have to say that Brittany is rather spectacular. If you love the sea it’s definitely the place to be in France, the Bretons have a very different relationship with the sea compared to the French Riviera! Brittany sounds ideal for you.
      If you have any more questions, do let me know.

      Thanks,
      Emily

  6. Hi Graham, Thanks for your lovely comment. Vannes is so beautiful and so underappreciated by many. Hopefully, when travel restrictions lift a bit more you’ll be able to fulfil your dream!
    Emily

  7. Thank you.. Merci.. Diolch (Cymraeg/Welsh). Good, brief, interesting article which leaves a person wanting more. Love Vannes, Auray and off-the-beaten-track Kerners. My dream is to stroll around the perimeter of the Gulf of MorBihan (Mor Bychan, Cymraeg) which should fill many a wonderful day… some day. ‘Da bo chi’, G. (P.S. stand at the coast near Kerners and hear the Atlantic Ocean roar outrageously in at change of tide).

  8. Hi Matt,

    Thanks so much for your lovely comments. It certainly sounds like Brittany would be a good fit for you. It’s very friendly and open to new people. Most people speak very good english so as long as you try to speak a bit the locals will no doubt help you out with the French. The weather is surprisingly warm too considering it’s the north of France.
    The French are always willing to accept a handyman although they usually call them Artisans. You can apply online with the French government for the right to trade as a handyman and its very straightforward. We’ve got a great article on how to apply for a visa for working in France so maybe check that out too.
    Keep dreaming! Brittany is wonderful and maybe your dreams will come true. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you.
    Emily

  9. Enjoyed this, from the USA looking for more info on relocating. No time soon just interested what it would be like to learn new cultures. I’m a handyman, construction. Are jobs available like this? Not rich so would need cheep living. Only English but could learn basic French. Maybe like a village open to outsiders. Warm climate less rain. Activities, good food and warm music. Not a drinker so pubs aren’t that important. Low crime. Internet WiFi ect. For contact with family. Maybe a pen-pal to learn more about Brittany. I do Facebook. Super in love with this idea. Maybe one day becomes a reality. Just me! Thanks for your time and article. Matt.

    • Hello Emily!

      A very interesting article about living in Brittany with some useful information. My wife and I moved here from Cornwall in 2019. I’m English but my wife is French but had been living and working in Cornwall for the last 25 years. However, one thing I feel I must comment on is the average salary of €2,500 per month after tax. My wife is a fully qualified school teacher in the UK and was working as a full time teacher in the UK. She now works full time as a teacher in Brittany for a private organisation but still teaches at schools and I must say her salary is nowhere near that figure and is a lot less. Maybe in some industries the figure is higher but certainly not as a teacher. Nevertheless a good article.
      Jake