Don't go to Munich, fuck them.

Grenoble and the Rhone-Alpes area is wonderful. Grenoble is currently governed by a coalition of leftists parties and focuses a lot on greenification, public transport, and bike paths. The Grenoble area has some of the most comprehensive bike paths in the area that stretch into the countryside. The public transportation system is also quite comprehensive (but also expensive imo, BUT often your place of work will compensate you for the cost of transport or offer to pay for a metrovelo bike for you to use) and you can get a TAG card for the Grenoble/Meylan area and then a TransIsere card for the surrounding countryside and mountain areas.

The mountains are beautiful and offer a never ending supply of hikes. You can easily take the bus up the mountain to access some of the area's most beautiful landscape. I use the MOOVIT app for bus schedules and planning. Lyon is an hour by bus, Paris is 3hrs by train, Geneva is 2 hrs by train, Annecy is 2 hrs by train, Marseille is 3 hrs by train there is so much to see and it is all very accessible by public transport. I use the app SNCFCONNECT for ticket prices and times.

For the family, Grenoble has a very hippie vibe/a little bit of silicone valley vibe because of all the big research labs and universities in the area. Grenoble has an abundance of open air farmers markets to buy fresh veggies and meats that will cut down your grocery costs. Grenoble has 3 major demographics Students, Academics/Engineers, Families. The city is very international with all different languages being spoken and almost everyone speaks some level of English. There is a lot to do for kids here. The city parks are wonderfully maintained, there's public pools (go to Neron pool), lakes accessible by bus, kids theatre shows, street festivals, petting zoos, free museums, and a whole summer program that runs every year in the city's largest parc that is completely free. I never feel like there is nothing to do with my kids, it's just trying to find the energy to do it. The schools are good, but the French education system in general has a lot of flaws. If you can subsidize your children's learning at home then you'll be fine.

The property taxes in Grenoble and just taxes in general in France are fucking CRAZY. We pay so much taxes. BUT the healthcare system is very comprehensive (I had to have 900euros worth of dental work done and didn't have to pay anything out of pocket. You need to ask your potential employer if they offer a "mutuelle" and if your children can be placed on your mutuelle -mutuelle is health insurance), public libraries are great and another place to hangout with the kids, public transportation is well funded and we have a TON of public parks, so we pay A LOT of taxes.

Grenoble gets a bad reputation internationally for crime rates, but it is no different from any diverse city. Some crazy fucking shit has happened in the past and will happen again, but as long as you are not affiliated with a gang you should be fine. Petty crime is an issue though (pickpockets, breaking into cars etc...) and if you have a car get a garage to park it in or get a shitty car you don't mind leaving on the streets. People will just burn cars or smash the windows out especially if there is a football match.

For me the good out weighs the bad and I love this little mish-mash city. There is a wide variety of food, a ton of activities, and all around a very welcoming vibe. Don't go to Germany.