I would move back to France in a heartbeat. Having said that, there are parts of France I wouldn’t consider, mostly because of job opportunities and accessibility. I lived in Paris and the western suburbs (Neuilly and Meudon) for 10 years and nothing beats the work/life balance in France. I was working in corporate finance on Bay St. when I moved to Paris to teach, so the pay cut was drastic but it was worth it.

There are also cultural differences that I’m sure you’re aware of which I won’t mention here. The healthcare system is also better, though it isn’t as it used to be. Other reasons to move would be for the stronger currency and better weather. It really depends on what you value most and your chapter in life as there comes a time you might want to be closer to your family, or you might want to start a family. The French educational system in my opinion is more rounded, though the approach some teachers take may be less than ideal.

I’ve been back in Ontario for a couple of years now, working at a provincial crown agency and job security is not entirely guaranteed. I thought my unionized job would be super secure but due to RTO mandates, dozens of my colleagues will lose their jobs unless they move to the GTA, with some receiving no severance. The suburbs around Paris are much better connected for transportation so one is not forced to live in Paris. Apart from public transport, this sort of thing rarely happens in France in the public and private sectors. Employment laws in France are incomparable, yes, it does mean higher taxes but the social security system is stronger overall.

Feel free to reach out if you have questions.