.png)
Is Nice a good place to live? The answer in numbers!
- guignethibaud
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Is Nice a good place to live ? As a Niçois at heart, I obviously want to answer yes!
To ensure a more impartial assessment, I consulted the rankings of the best French towns and villages to live in . I was delighted to discover that the capital of the French Riviera reached 9th place in the ranking, out of more than 34,000 municipalities!
Quality of life , real estate appeal, shops, transport, education… I have analyzed the strengths (and weaknesses) of the city for you.
So, are you following me?
Is Nice the ideal city? Some figures
What better way to find out how Nice compares to other French cities than with a ranking?
That's perfect! Every year, the ranking of the best places to live in towns and villages is published.
In 2026, the verdict was delivered for Nice… And it was more than favorable! 😎
9th best French city to live in (out of 34,727 municipalities, no less!).
4th largest city among municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
1st position among the towns and villages of Alpes-Maritimes.
Impressive, isn't it?
I also revisited the 2025 rankings and I noticed that the city had gained 4 positions compared to last year.
For those wondering what criteria this ranking is based on, there are 197 of them, divided into 11 categories. They range from quality of life and health to transportation and leisure activities! I'll tell you more about it later in the article. 😉
Top 10 ranking of the best cities and villages to live in
Before going any further and telling you more about our lovely Nice, I thought you might be interested in knowing about the other cities on the list.
Here is the top 10 list of the best cities to live in in France in 2026:
Biarritz
Annecy
Angers
Bayonne
Rodez
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
Anglet
Caen
Nice 🧡💙
Brest
💡 What do they have in common? At first glance, you might struggle to see the connection between Biarritz and Brest. I understand, I had the same thought! However, upon closer inspection, they are both coastal cities. And when we look at each town in this top 10, we notice that they are all close to the sea, the ocean, or some other body of water (except perhaps Rodez). So, the presence of water and nature is a major factor in quality of life? For us, it's not surprising!
Why is Nice such a great place to live? 11 criteria examined in detail! 🔎
As I was saying, this famous ranking of French towns and villages where life is good is based on an analysis methodology of nearly 200 criteria classified into 11 categories.
Let's look at the strengths of each city together so you can form your own opinion about Nice!
Quality of life: a major strength for the French Riviera!
Let's start with criterion number 1: quality of life!
For many of you, this is a factor that weighs heavily in the balance when choosing a city to settle in.
Among the data analyzed in the ranking are:
The presence of continental waters (bodies of water) or maritime waters (sea, ocean).
Green spaces and nature.
The unemployment rate.
Transport (road network, airport, etc.).
Digital coverage.
The conclusion? Nice ticks most of the boxes ✅ with the Mediterranean, beaches and the Southern Alps nearby, and also the presence of an international airport.
➡️ Read also: Living in Nice: advantages and disadvantages
Security
Burglaries, violence, thefts, vandalism… The study analyzes different indicators at the departmental and municipal level.
Despite some areas of Nice where insecurity persists, the city remains relatively safe.
Health and medical infrastructure
Are you wondering if Nice is a good place to live if you have health problems? The city has several hospitals and clinics spread throughout the area. It also has dozens of retirement homes and senior residences.
Among the other criteria evaluated in this category by the ranking is the presence of a cancer center. This is the case in Nice with the Antoine Lacassagne Center, located in the east of the city.
Transport in Nice: train, tram, bus, plane
This is one of the areas where Nice truly shines: transportation! 🚌
We even dedicated an entire article to this topic to help you: Getting around Nice, our tips
In summary, the municipality has:
An efficient public transport network with buses and trams.
Several TER and TGV stations (Nice-Ville, Nice–Saint-Augustin, Nice Riquier, etc.).
An international airport: Nice Côte d'Azur.
Who can top that?
Shops and services in the Nice metropolitan area
300 shops and 50 restaurants.
That's the number of shops you'll find at CAP3000, the huge shopping center on the outskirts of Nice with a sea view. Yes, you read that right, more than 300 stores all in one place!
So, I'll let you imagine the offering across the whole city.
Are you more of a fan of small, local shops? Some neighborhoods in Nice are particularly appreciated for their vibrant community life. Take Libération, for example, with its market and fantastic food court . 🍜
Clearly, you won't lack anything in Nice!
Education
Is Nice a good place to live in terms of education? Yes, from kindergarten to higher education!
Besides its schools, colleges, and high schools in the various neighborhoods, Nice is also a student city. The University of Nice Côte d'Azur boasts no fewer than 35,000 students!
His engineering school, Polytech Nice Sophia, is particularly renowned.
The environment and pollution
The ranking of the best cities and villages to live in also focuses on certain environmental indicators such as:
Pollution.
Air quality.
The risk of natural disasters.
As I write this article in February, the air quality in Nice is classified as "Average," according to AtmoSud . This is a rather good score considering it can vary from good to average, then degraded, poor, very poor, and extremely poor.
💡 The wind blowing on the coast helps to disperse pollutants!
However, pollution can quickly increase during tourist periods when traffic is very heavy and during periods of high heat.
Local taxes and property tax in Nice
Let's talk about finances and more specifically… property tax!
According to the city of Nice's website , the local tax rate is lower than in most major cities. For example, Nice's rate is capped at 35%, while Marseille and Rennes are around 45%.
Solidarity and social policies
Nice has several Social Housing and Reintegration Centres (CHRS).
You can also find 2 Maisons des Solidarités Départementales (MSD) which aim to support and advise on matters of early childhood, integration, health, disability or aging.
Sports and leisure: a paradise for water sports and mountain activities
In this category, Nice is almost unbeatable! 🏆
Besides the traditional cinemas, bowling alleys, theatres and performance venues, you can enjoy an almost endless range of water sports on the French Riviera:
Diving and snorkeling.
Kayaking and paddleboarding.
Water skiing.
Parasailing.
And to top it all off, the ski resorts of the Southern Alps, such as Valberg or Isola 2000, are only a 1 hour 45 minute drive away! ⛷️
The city also hosts internationally renowned cultural and sporting events such as the Nice Jazz Festival or the Ironman France Nice.
The real estate appeal of the French Riviera
As property hunters in Nice, we are very experienced on this last point!
We had also analyzed the real estate prices in Nice by district for you , if you want to take a look.
Admittedly, Nice is not known for being the cheapest city in France, but it is nonetheless particularly attractive! It is easy to understand why given its ideal geographical location between sea and mountains (and on the doorstep of Italy) and its economic dynamism.
Some properties in the sought-after areas of Mont Boron or Fabron are snapped up even before they are put on the market.
However, it's still possible to find some great real estate deals in Nice… if you know where to look. 👀
Find your perfect getaway in Nice with Nyumba!
So, is Nice a good place to live? I think we can conclude this article with a resounding YES ! From its prime location to its sunny climate, its vibrant atmosphere, and its shops: it definitely deserves its place in the top 10!
Looking to invest in real estate in Nice? At Nyumba, we are two passionate Nice experts at your service to help you find your future home, renovate and decorate it before you move in.
You can also ask us your questions right now via the chat, in the bottom right corner of your screen! ↘️
Comments