French Lifestyle - Best in Europe

The index was created by the website uSwitch.com, a comparator site for customer services and products. They publish an annual high quality of life index across the primary countries of Europe.

According to their study, France enjoys one of the lowest retirement ages, has the longest life expectancy in Europe and spends the most on healthcare. It also has 1 of the highest levels of spending on education.

French workers also benefit from 34 days holiday a year - compared with only 28 days in the UK - and it comes only behind Spain and Italy for hours of sunshine. France has an typical of 1,967 hours of sunshine per year, compared with 1,476 hours in the UK.

The study shows that money does not buy every thing, for the UK has the highest net household income in Europe. At £35,730 it is £10,325 higher than the European typical.

Nevertheless, individuals living in the UK also have to contend with a higher price of living - the typical household energy bill alone adds up to an eye watering £1,239 a year whilst they also pay £1,175 a year in council tax.

Even travel is expensive with a 30 mile journey into London on a train setting commuters back over £3,000 a year.

Drawing on official figures from the EU, the study shows that the same basket of goods that expenses £134.48 in the UK expenses £124 on average in Europe and only £118.76 in France, which enjoys the lowest food prices amongst those nations in the study.

Whilst they earn less, the French also have some of the lowest alcohol, electricity and gas costs.

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