Updated 25 October 2026

France in Numbers 2026: Minimum Wage, Tax, Mortgage Rates, Pension Age and Energy Prices Compared

Quick answer: In France in 2026, the minimum wage is €1,867/month (about $2,090 a month full time); an average earner keeps 72% of their pay after income tax and social security; mortgage rates are about 3.2%; household electricity costs €0.248 per kWh; petrol is €2.23/L, up 30.4% since February. The table below puts 11 everyday money measures for France side by side and ranks each one against the other countries in our data, using official figures from national statistics offices, central banks, the OECD and Eurostat.

Most comparisons of France look at one number at a time. This page gathers the figures that matter for working, buying a home, paying bills and retiring in France, so you can see them together and see how France compares. Each section links to our full guide for that topic, which covers every country and lists the original sources, and each dataset can be downloaded free.

France at a Glance

MeasureFranceRank
Minimum wage€1,867/month (≈ $2,090/month)10th highest of 38
Tax on an average wage28% (keeps 72%)13th highest of 38
Pay rise forecast 20272.9% (inflation 3.4%)2nd lowest of 29
Mortgage rate3.2% (new home loans, August 2026)8th lowest of 31
Electricity (household)€0.248/kWh (≈ $0.28)14th highest of 33
Petrol price€2.23/L (+30.4% since Feb)4th highest of 29
State pension age62 y 9 m10th lowest of 39
Pension (share of pay)70% of net pay23rd highest of 50
Bank deposit protection€100,000 per person, per bank—
Inheritance tax (children)top rate 45%—
Retirement visa incomeNo fixed figure (usually at least the net minimum wage)—

Rank compares France with the other countries in each dataset; "highest" means the largest value. "—" means the measure isn't ranked.

Minimum Wage in France (2026)

The legal minimum wage in France is €1,867/month. For a month of full-time work that is about $2,090 at current exchange rates, 10th highest of 38 countries in our comparison. SMIC; raised in 2026.

Full table for every country, with sources: Minimum Wage by Country 2026: Hourly and Monthly Rates in US Dollars. Download the data (CSV).

Income Tax and Take-Home Pay in France

A single worker on the average wage in France (about $67,000 at purchasing-power parity) pays 28% of gross pay in income tax and employee social security, so they keep 72%. That is 13th highest of 38 countries, against an OECD average of 25.1%.

Income tax and employee social security take 28.0% of pay at the average wage, 23.7% at two-thirds of it and 33.8% at 1.67 times it. Including employer contributions, the total tax wedge is 47.2% of labour costs.

Full table for every country, with sources: Income Tax by Country 2026: How Much of Your Salary You Keep in 38 Countries. Download the data (CSV).

Pay Rises in France: 2027 Forecast

Employers in France expect to raise salaries by 2.9% in 2027 (median of the major pay surveys), after 3.1% in 2026. With inflation at 3.4% (Sep), that is a real cut of about 0.5 points unless inflation falls.

Full table for every country, with sources: Salary Increase Forecasts 2027 by Country: Every Major Survey in One Table. Download the data (CSV).

Mortgage Rates in France (2026)

The typical mortgage rate in France is 3.2% (new home loans, August 2026), 8th lowest of 31 countries; the euro area average is 3.6%.

Up 0.10 points since February 2026 (3.10%). Monthly payment per €100,000 over 25 years: €485.

Full table for every country, with sources: Mortgage Rates by Country 2026: Where Buying a Home Costs the Most. Download the data (CSV).

Electricity Prices in France

Households in France pay about €0.248 per kWh of electricity (about $0.28), 14th most expensive of 33 countries; the EU average is €0.283. Change: −3.0% vs late 2025.

Household gas: €0.135 per kWh. Typical household using 2,500–5,000 kWh a year, all taxes included, January–June 2026.

Full table for every country, with sources: Electricity Prices by Country 2026: What Households Pay per kWh, and What the Iran War Means for Bills. Download the data (CSV).

Petrol Prices in France Since the Iran War

Petrol in France costs €2.23/L (week of 19 October 2026), up 30.4% from €1.71/L in the week before the Iran war began. It peaked at €2.23/L (19 Oct). At about $2.49 a litre it is 4th most expensive of 29 countries, and the rise is 11th largest of 29 countries.

Full table for every country, with sources: Petrol Prices Since the Iran War: How Much They Have Risen in 35 Countries. Download the data (CSV).

Retirement Age in France

The state pension age in France is 62 y 9 m for people reaching it in 2026; the earliest you can claim is Earlier for long careers. Future change: Reform frozen until January 2028; 64 for those born 1969+. The 2026 social security law froze the 2023 reform at 62 y 9 m. A full-rate pension is automatic at 67.

Full table for every country, with sources: Retirement Age by Country 2026: State Pension Ages in 39 Countries. Download the data (CSV).

How Much the State Pension Pays in France

A full-career average earner in France can expect a mandatory pension worth about 70% of their previous net pay, 23rd most generous of 50 countries (OECD average 63.2%). Low earner (half the average wage): 66%. High earner (twice the average): 59%.

Full table for every country, with sources: State Pension Amounts by Country 2026: How Much Retirees Actually Get. Download the data (CSV).

How Much of Your Money Is Protected in France

Bank deposits in France are protected up to €100,000 per depositor, per bank (about $111,900), the limit set by EU law for every member state. Harmonised by EU law; local-currency equivalent outside the euro. Money in payment apps and e-money wallets is usually not covered.

Full table for every country, with sources: Deposit Insurance Limits by Country 2026: How Much of Your Money Is Protected. Download the data (CSV).

Inheritance Tax in France

France has inheritance tax. Children can receive €100,000 per child tax-free, and the top rate for children is 45%, 3rd highest of 28 countries. Rates 5% to 45% above about €1.8 million per child; spouses are exempt. Rates for other relatives reach 60%.

Full table for every country, with sources: Inheritance Tax by Country 2026: Thresholds, Rates and Who Pays. Download the data (CSV).

Retiring to France From Abroad

Foreign retirees usually move to France on the Long-stay visitor visa, which requires No fixed figure (usually at least the net minimum wage). Prices are about 78% of US levels, so $2,000 buys roughly what $2,580 would in the US. Pensions taxed under tax treaties; US Social Security is taxed only in the US.

Full table for every country, with sources: Best Countries to Retire Abroad on $2,000 a Month: Costs, Visas and Taxes Compared. Download the data (CSV).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage in France in 2026?

The minimum wage in France is €1,867/month, about $2,090 a month for full-time work. That is 10th highest of 38 countries. SMIC; raised in 2026.

How much tax do you pay in France?

On the average wage, income tax plus employee social security in France take 28% of gross pay, so a single worker keeps 72% (OECD average: 25.1%).

What is the average pay rise in France for 2027?

Pay surveys forecast an average salary increase of 2.9% in France for 2027, against inflation of 3.4%.

What are mortgage rates in France right now?

Mortgage rates in France are about 3.2% (new home loans, August 2026). Up 0.10 points since February 2026 (3.10%). Monthly payment per €100,000 over 25 years: €485.

How much does electricity cost in France?

Household electricity in France costs about €0.248 per kWh (about $0.28), 14th most expensive of 33 countries.

How much has petrol gone up in France?

Petrol in France has risen 30.4% since February 2026, from €1.71/L to €2.23/L.

What is the retirement age in France?

The state pension age in France is 62 y 9 m in 2026, with the earliest claim at Earlier for long careers. Legislated change: Reform frozen until January 2028; 64 for those born 1969+.

How much is the state pension in France?

In France, mandatory pensions replace about 70% of an average earner's net pay after a full career, against an OECD average of 63.2%.

How much money is insured in a bank in France?

Deposits in France are insured up to €100,000 per person, per bank.

Is there inheritance tax in France?

Yes. Children can inherit €100,000 per child tax-free in France; above that the top rate for children is 45%.

How much income do you need to retire in France?

The Long-stay visitor visa asks for No fixed figure (usually at least the net minimum wage).

Compare France With Other Countries

See every country side by side in Compare Countries 2026: Minimum Wage, Tax, Mortgage Rates, Energy and Pension Age in 35 Countries, or open a country page: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States.

Cite this page: Blog Digest, “France in Numbers 2026: Minimum Wage, Tax, Mortgage Rates, Pension Age and Energy Prices Compared”, updated 25 October 2026, https://randomthoughtsever.blogspot.com/2026/10/france-in-numbers-2026-minimum-wage-tax.html

Related Guides

Figures checked against the official sources listed in each linked guide in October 2026. Exchange-rate conversions are approximate. This page is for information and isn't financial or legal advice.