Helping 10,000 Americans retire in France 🇫🇷🍷🥖 → No HOAs, no hustle culture, no daily commute. Just good bread, better healthcare, and a slower pace.
🇫🇷 $3,500/Month in Southern Burgundy: Is It Real?
IN TODAY'S ISSUE📍HIDDEN GEM: Chalon-sur-Saône — Burgundy riverside living with canals, cycling bliss, and “why-isn’t-everyone-talking-about-this?” energy. 🏡 AFFORDABLE FIND: €265,000 — Renovated 1940s character home near central Chalon-sur-Saône and a furnished apartment for €943/mo. 📜 TAX, VISA, HEALTHCARE: Retiring before Medicare? France’s healthcare setup can be a budget game-changer after you become a resident. 📺 FRANCE MUST-WATCH: See Chalon-sur-Saône up close. It's medieval center, river front, and friendly people. 📚 FRANCE RESOURCE LIBRARY: Four simple French-learning tools—do 15-30 minutes a day for a smoother landing in France. 👋 Personal UpdateSpring is finally peeking around the corner, and I’m ready to trade my “winter coat” (aka a few extra pounds 😄) for fresh air and long rides. I dropped my bike off for a tune-up… which, as you can imagine, led directly to a deep dive into France’s cycling routes. And one region kept pulling me back: Burgundy, just south of Dijon—especially the areas along the canals and near Chalon-sur-Saône. It checks all my favorite boxes: dedicated cycling paths, canal networks, great wine, hiking routes… and a cost of living that tends to feel refreshingly sane. A travel writer I follow (Rick Steves’ France expert) says it’s the best area of France. Sure, he lives there—so he’s biased. But the more I look… the more I’m starting to agree. Alright, on to the newsletter... Affiliate Disclosure 📍HIDDEN GEM - Chalon-sur-SaôneSet on the Saône River in the heart of southern Burgundy, Chalon-sur-Saône is the kind of town that feels quietly “French” in the best way: river quays for evening strolls, café terraces, and an easy pace—without being sleepy. It also sits at the junction of the Saône and the Canal du Centre, which is where things get very interesting if you like waterways and two wheels. History lovers get plenty to chew on here. Chalon traces roots back to Roman times (then called Cabillonum), and later played a role in Burgundy’s medieval story. Today, you’ll find handsome churches, old houses, and a lovely riverfront that makes the town feel both lived-in and visit-worthy. Now for the part my fellow “bike-route rabbit hole” people will appreciate: Chalon is plugged into major cycling itineraries. One great option is riding a stretch of the Voie Bleue (which overlaps with EuroVelo 6 in places), following the Saône’s gentle terrain—think flat-ish riding, big skies, and village-to-village cruising. Getting in and around is straightforward. You’re on a train line with quick access to Dijon and Lyon, and you’re within easy driving distance of airports—meaning you can have “small-town Burgundy life” without feeling stranded. The local vibe? Practical, friendly, and distinctly non-Parisian—in the way many retirees find deeply relaxing. And for buyers/retirees: this area often lands in that sweet spot—real amenities (shops, hospitals, transit), plus the Burgundy lifestyle (wine country, markets, waterways), typically at prices that feel far more attainable than the big headline regions. My back-of-the-napkin math says you can live here comfortably on $3,500 per month, including rent. Not bad! 📍FAST FACTS: Chalon-sur-Saône *Anything underlined is clickable 🔗 AFFORDABLE FINDS 🏠€265,000 — Renovated 1940s character home Set in the pleasant Saint-Martin-des-Champs area, about 5 minutes from the center of Chalon-sur-Saône, this renovated 1940s home blends classic charm with modern comfort—meaning you can realistically move in without a “six-month renovation detour.” Inside, you’ll find generous, light-filled spaces across two levels: an equipped kitchen that opens to the terrace, a bright living/dining room, and—best of all for many buyers—a main-floor lifestyle option thanks to a beautiful primary suite (bedroom + large dressing room + private shower room). A second roomy shower room with WC completes the ground floor. Upstairs, a mezzanine/landing connects three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a separate WC—great for visiting family, hobbies, or an office. Outside, the approx. 300 m² walled plot gives you privacy without a maintenance burden, with a large courtyard plus two terraces (one covered). Comfort upgrades include double-glazed PVC windows, electric shutters, recent gas heating, and good insulation.
€943/mo — Furnished T3 apartment, 64 m² in Chalon-sur-Saône This quiet, well-located furnished T3 (2-bedroom) apartment is a practical option for a couple or small family. It offers 64 m² with a bright living room, fully equipped kitchen, and a well-laid-out shower room. It’s on the 4th floor with an elevator and includes a private cellar (cave) for extra storage. Heating is individual electric convectors. Neighborhood conveniences: supermarkets within ~1.5 km, pharmacies and bakeries within ~500 m, nearby schools, and EV charging stations close by.
TAX, VISA, OR HEALTHCARE TIP 💡If you’re considering retiring early (before Medicare), you already know the punchline: health insurance in the U.S. can be brutally expensive. It’s not unusual to see premiums in the $1,500–$2,500/month range—and then you’re still staring down a deductible that can run several thousand dollars on top of that. France works differently—especially once you’re actually living there. After 90 days as a resident, you can apply to enter the national healthcare system. The basic idea: France reimburses a substantial portion of already-lower-cost care (often around 70% for many services), and most residents pair it with a mutuelle (supplemental plan) to cover much of what’s left. The result is what makes many Americans do a double take: instead of “premium + deductible + coinsurance roulette,” you get a system that’s typically more predictable—often with far lower out-of-pocket exposure, especially once you add a mutuelle. One important nuance: for retirees, we still don’t yet know what the eventual healthcare access fee will be. But even if it lands at “a couple thousand euros per year,” many early retirees will still see it as a dramatic improvement compared to U.S. pre-Medicare costs—both financially and mentally. FRANCE MUST-WATCH 📺Chalon-sur-Saône FranceEnjoy this beautiful and relaxing video of Chalon-sur-Saône, France. You'll see the boats, bikes, and friendly people of this underrated city in France.
📚 FRANCE RESOURCE LIBRARYOver the past week I’ve talked with several folks who are right on the edge of moving to France—either making the final decision now, or planning to go later this year. And I kept hearing a familiar line: “Yeah… I really need to start learning French.” Totally fair. It’s not a requirement for the visa. But if you’re not already spending even 15-30 minutes a day, the transition to France is going to be a lot harder than it needs to be—especially for paperwork, appointments, and everyday life (pharmacies do not speak “charades,” unfortunately). In the Language Resources section of the Resource Library—I list four simple tools to help you start (or restart) today:
Small daily effort now = a much smoother landing later. Don't wait on language learning!
That's it for this week's issue. À bientôt, Tommy PS - 👋 Who are my hikers and bikers? Hit reply and let me know! |
Retire in France (as an American)
Helping 10,000 Americans retire in France 🇫🇷🍷🥖 → No HOAs, no hustle culture, no daily commute. Just good bread, better healthcare, and a slower pace.
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