French Lifestyle - Very best in Europe

The index was produced by the website uSwitch.com, a comparator site for consumer solutions and products. They publish an annual quality of life index across the main 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 advantage from 34 days vacation 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 average of 1,967 hours of sunshine per year, compared with 1,476 hours in the UK.

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

Nevertheless, people living in the UK also have to contend with a higher price of living - the average household power 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 costly with a 30 mile journey into London on a train setting commuters back more than £3,000 a year.

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

While they earn much less, the French also have some of the lowest alcohol, electricity and gas prices.

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