Taxes in Paris

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<hr>free medical care<hr></blockquote>

Where do you people find free medical care in France???

Anybody who earns a salary in France pays a good chunk towards social security/health care. If you want complementary refunds (mutuelle), you pay more. Students have to start paying their own from age 19, instead of being covered by their parents' plan. If you go to the doctor, you have a small payment to make. Fewer medicines are reimbursed at a high percentage. If you go to the hospital, you pay a daily fee out of your pocket.

So, Michael Moore notwithstanding, there is no free medical care in France, and if anyone is getting it free (very poor or on welfare or whatever), someone else is paying for it.

#10, you're right, there is no such thing as a free lunch. What i meant is, that after you paid your taxes and social security, (which OP already assumed he had to pay), you don;t have to fork out large amounts of money for health care. There are indeed small amounts of money to pay, but those are peanuts compared to the money you pay in the US (where the OP lives). And the public care in France has a much better reputation than the NHS in the UK (fortunately i have very little experience with either so I am just going by what I've heard).
sorry if that was unclear or upset you.

In fact, the French (especially in the northern cities) are beginning to protest, because the British are eligible for French health care under EU rules, and more and more British are coming to France for their medical treatment, where there is little or no wait -- and nothing to pay because of the reciprocal agreement.

Ive just moved to Paris and as my hip pocket is hurting thought Id share some of my observations:

- rents are expensive and apartment sizes are small. take a look at sites like www.seloger.co.uk to get ideas of prices
- sharing/co-location is not common here, so you may have to rent by yourself which means a higher proportion of your income will probably have to go on rent
- unfurnished apartments are completely unfurnished - no light fittings or curtains, no kitchen shelves, cupboards etc. you pay a premium for an equipped kitchen or a furnished apartment
- when you rent you have to give 2 months rent upfront as bond (as opposed to the 1 month which is common in other countries)
- when you rent you have to pay a fee to the agency that you rent through. one months rent is standard for unfurnished; 2 months for furnished<BR>- you have to have compulsory insurance before youll be able to sign a lease

- cell phone call costs are higher than in North America, the UK, Australia etc, but you can get good deals on land-lines (incl international calls) when packaged with internet and french cable tv
- bank accounts seem to have substantial monthly fees attached

- the discounted work-canteens can be a big benefit, as is the subsidisation of your public transport

if you want to ask me anything else based on my impressions so far, feel free

Kerouac, thats brilliant advice regarding the comité d'entreprise. I definately have to find out more about whats on offer at my work!!! do you have any more tips? (or a recommendation for a good tax adviser?)

Thanks all,

I have a final interview next week. Seems like I will get an offer. I already have a good offer in London so looks like I willbe relocating in Europe soon.

Luc

My company has a very active comite d'entreprise as well, but i must say that although it has been nice to buy tickets to the ballet for 35 EUR instead of 50 and to be able to get tickets to a special preview show of the movie 'Happy Feet' it is not exactly a benefit I would base my decision which job to choose on.