What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Toulouse

Relocating to Toulouse

About Toulouse

Situated on the banks of the River Garonne, the French city of Toulouse is home to approximately 1.250 million people, and is known by many as la Ville Rose, or ‘the pink city’, because of the pink terracotta bricks at its foundations. Toulouse boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, namely the Canal du Midi and the Basilica of St. Sernin.

The city also enjoys an ideal geographical location, with the Pyrenees mountains in close proximity and the Mediterranean Sea approximately 150 kilometers away. Toulouse is home to beautiful terrains such as Lomagne’s hills in the west and the Saint-Félix-Lauragais’ hills to the east.

France’s fourth largest city is also a popular destination for workers coming from abroad. With bars and restaurants galore, particularly food lovers new to Toulouse will be more than pleased with the local dishes on offer, including the famous cassoulet, comprising haricot beans, local sausage, and duck.

The Climate in Toulouse

The city’s ideal location not far from the Mediterranean Sea means that it experiences three types of climate. The summers are extremely pleasant, with average highs of 27°C and lows of around 15°C, while during winter, temperatures rarely drop below a very mild 3°C.

Toulouse sees its most substantial rainfall during May, while just two months later in July, the city’s rainfall is at its lowest — an example of the unique climate found in Toulouse. Despite its location close to the often snow-covered Pyrenees Mountains, the city experiences little in the way of snowfall, with an average of seven days of snow per year. All in all, Toulouse offers its inhabitants the perfect weather conditions, so those wanting to work in the city shouldn’t have any qualms about the climate.

Finding Accommodation in Toulouse

As a vibrant and bustling student city, Toulouse has plenty of accommodation on offer. In terms of areas, most parts of Toulouse are extremely safe, although poorer areas include Reynerie and Basso Campo.

Expats moving to Toulouse should note that the north side of Haute Garonne is a great deal more expensive than the south side. In central Toulouse, apartments are much more commonplace than houses, and many have invested in buy-to-let properties. This means that finding an apartment should not be a problem, although one or two bedroom flats in the center are very sought after.

In terms of neighborhoods, Saint Cyprian and Saint Michel are home to many apartments and are relatively cheap, while the more upscale areas include le Capitole and les Carmes. Emerging quarters, including Borderouge, are also very expensive.

On average, Toulouse residents will pay around 3,300 EUR per square meter when buying a property or approximately 12.00 EUR per square meter and month should they choose to rent. The city’s newly built apartments are around 1,000 EUR more expensive than their traditional counterparts.

Prior to your accommodation search in Toulouse, you will of course first have to make sure you are legally allowed to move to this city. In our article on moving to France, you can learn all you need to know about visa regulations and residence permits, among other things.