Retiring to France and Spain offers best quality of life in Europe
(Tue, 3 Nov 2009)
The best European countries for quality of life are France and Spain, according to a new study.
The uSwitch.com Quality of Life Index places France top of the list, closely followed by its more southerly neighbour.
The UK, meanwhile, finished bottom of the table, despite having an average net household income of £35,730, double that of Spain and more than £10,000 above the European average.
Workers in France can expect to retire three years earlier and live two years longer than those across the English Channel, while UK workers have less holiday allowance than their continental counterparts.
Spain enjoys the most sunshine and the lowest fuel and alcohol costs, some of the major reasons it is a key retirement destination.
Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says, “There is more to good living than money and this report shows why so many Brits are giving up on the UK and heading to France and Spain.
"We earn substantially more than our European neighbours, but this level of income is needed just to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and our homes warm.
"It’s giving us a decent standard of living, but it’s not helping us achieve the quality of life that people in other countries enjoy.”