But in reality, I’ve never done a truly comprehensive comparison before putting together this guide, since I’ve traveled more extensively in big cities and pretty beach towns. I’ve never visited some of the most affordable places in France, because many of them are in rural areas that can only be reached by car (and I usually travel by train). But less famous regions like the Dordogne, and the northern, landlocked part of Provence, have developed a surprising new popularity among Americans looking to move abroad, often during their retirement. If you get the opportunity to visit them, you’ll find beautiful countrysides where living well is easy and affordable. One of our contributors, Sue Aran, has written for us about the simple pleasures of slow living in the Gers department in the southwestern region of Gascony. (And we’ve just published a new piece of hers about an illustrator who has managed to perfectly capture the salt of the earth Gascon way of life.)