Once a week, Florian Tiennot, a 31-year-old sound engineer who recently relocated from Paris to Marseille, makes the journey back to the capital for a day in the office. It’s an eight-hour round trip, but Tiennot believes it’s worth it. He explains, “Paris had become increasingly expensive, whereas here in Marseille, the cost of living is much cheaper and you have the sun, the sea, and a relaxed lifestyle. The surrounding countryside is breathtaking, and I can even go skiing in just two hours during the winter.”
One of the major benefits of living in Marseille is the cost of housing. In January, Tiennot purchased an 82 sq m home in the city for €337,000. He notes, “In Paris, where I used to live in the fashionable Canal Saint-Martin area, I would have paid double for a similar property.”
Due to Marseille’s Mediterranean location and manageable size, it has seen a significant influx of people moving from Paris in recent years, either to buy or rent homes. According to Marie-Christine Steffanetti of local agent Barnes Marseille, Marseille’s popularity among Parisians has been steadily growing for about a decade and has accelerated since the start of the pandemic.
While many Parisians choose to settle in the neighborhood of Vauban, Tiennot avoided it during his search for a more authentic Marseille experience. Situated less than 2km from the sea, Vauban offers stunning sea views with its steep narrow streets, diverse range of apartments, and townhouses with colorful facades. Additionally, the neighborhood is teeming with independent shops, specialty stores selling local produce, and a variety of restaurants and bars.
Océane Lunven, a 27-year-old resident of Vauban since 2015, has witnessed the area’s transformation firsthand. She explains, “Before the pandemic, there were only three bars you wanted to be in, and you always hung out with the same people. Now, new bars and restaurants are opening all the time. Sometimes, I haven’t even heard about them until someone newly arrived from Paris tells me about them.”
However, Marseille’s growing popularity has led to rising housing prices. According to Meilleurs Agents, average list prices increased by 34% between September 2019 and September 2023. While Lunven’s rent for her two-bedroom flat near La Bonne Mère has remained at €680 per month since 2015 due to rent controls, citywide rents have increased by 12% since 2019 and 5% in the last year alone.
One of the factors contributing to Marseille’s appeal is its urban regeneration program, which dates back to 2013 when the city was named a European Capital of Culture. Euroméditerranée, a €7 billion redevelopment project initiated in 1995, has transformed the city’s image from one associated with high crime rates and urban decay to a vibrant and rejuvenated destination. This project has created public spaces, jobs, and new homes. Noteworthy sites include the Villa Méditerranée and the Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean (MuCEM).
Marseille’s coastal location, numerous beaches, and easy access to the surrounding countryside are also major draws for those moving from Paris. Anaïs, a 29-year-old considering buying a one-bedroom flat in Vauban, says, “I grew up in a place near a lake surrounded by mountains and nature. I couldn’t stand the long winters in Paris, so I wanted to live in a city surrounded by nature.”
Marseille’s smaller size ensures that many neighborhoods are within close proximity to the seafront or one of the city’s beaches. The 8th arrondissement, for example, is known for its large villas, parks, cultural attractions, and expensive homes. It is also home to the Le Corbusier-designed Cité Radieuse, a renowned Modernist apartment block.
For residents like Cabrit and Anaïs, the lower cost of living in Marseille has allowed them to escape the office-centered and expensive lifestyle in Paris. As Anaïs highlights, “In Paris, everything revolves around work, and going out means spending a lot of money.”
Unfortunately, crime is still a concern in Marseille. President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to invest approximately €1.5 billion in improvements, including enhanced transportation, policing, schools, and hospitals. However, Marseille still has the highest rate of vandalism among France’s ten largest cities.
Despite its challenges, Marseille’s unique combination of cultural assets, coastal location, and affordable living costs continue to attract Parisians seeking a different way of life. As Lunven concludes, “Marseille has its problems, but it’s still a city where you can feel safe. Plus, there’s no shortage of things to do and explore.”
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