'Pleasantly surprised!' Expats in France debunk 3 common myths about the country that are far from the truth

Seasoned travellers Amelia and JP have built a large YouTube following sharing relocation tips, with some of their videos dedicated to France.

A recent clip on common myths about the country shed light on the its affordability and cleanliness.

A common misconception people have about France is its high cost of living, the pair claimed.

“This is not true,” said Amelia. “Some parts of course are more expensive compared to cheaper countries like Albania, however, we were pleasantly surprised by the affordability overall.

“Especially when we were in Dijon, it was remarkably affordable, it was a lot more similar to our time in Albania."

JP added: “The housing in Paris was pretty expensive, but we paid in Dijon what we paid in Tirana Albania."

The country's affordability was also reflected in the price of food shopping, according to the couple. “The groceries especially are extremely affordable," said JP.

“We would go to the grocery store and come back with two or three bags of groceries and rarely was it over $30 (£23) or $40 (£30)."

There is also a common notion that France is a dirty place, according to the pair, who did not experience this either.

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“I actually had myself prepared for some grossness but I did not experience any grossness,” Amelia shared.

In a separate clip, the pair named Dijon as the perfect location for expats happy to venture off the beaten path.

British retirees often set their sights on major French cities when planning a move abroad, they pointed out.

However, venturing off the beaten path could offer unexpected advantages for those seeking a new life across the Channel.