15 Richest Cities in France: Where French High Society Thrives! (2024)

Post Updated :
– September 11, 2023 : add photos of cities; add internal linking.

Bonjour bonjour les amis,

Today I’m going to tell you about an interesting subject that interests many French people (and foreigners) :

Where are the richest cities and places in France?

Where do the rich french people live?

I based myself on the official data of the government agency “INSEE” : The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies in France

And I have learned some interesting things about the rich in France ! 🙂

— Louise

Read Also : French Numbers 1-100: video, audio and PDF versions

French Richest Cities : Methodology and Dataset

My ranking of richest places in France is based on a dataset from the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty (FR : Ministère de l’Économie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle et numérique).

The dataset concerns the 2021 French tax on real estate wealth by territorial community :

• Impôt de Solidarité sur la Fortune – ISF (in French).
• Impôt sur la Fortune Immobilière – IFI

Description of ISF/IFI (tax on real estate wealth by territorial community)

For each city and place of more than 20,000 habitants with more than 50 taxpayers liable for the solidarity tax on wealth (ISF) or the tax on real estate wealth (IFI), you can find out the :

• number of ISF/IFI taxpayers
• average wealth (FR : patrimoine)
• average contribution (FR : impôts)
• by region, department and city of France

I’m choosing to present you the richest cities in France ranked by number of ISF taxpayers :

15 Richest Cities In France With Paris (2023)

Top 15 of the richest cities and places in France based on the number of ISF taxpayers, from the higher to lowest :

15. Monaco – 694 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
• Department: Alpes-Maritimes
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 694
• Average wealth (€) : 3,821,046 €
• Average contribution (€) : 27,026 €
• Description: A tiny city-state on the French Riviera, Monaco is known for its lavish lifestyle, luxury casinos, and as a playground for the rich and famous.

14. Strasbourg – 711 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Grand Est (Alsace)
• Department: Bas-Rhin
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 711
• Average wealth (€) : 2,376,319 €
• Average contribution (€) : 9,950 €
• Description: Located on the border with Germany, Strasbourg is a culturally rich place with a mix of French and German influences. It is known for its stunning cathedral, historic center, and as the home of several European institutions.

13. Rueil-Malmaison – 734 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Île-de-France
• Department: Hauts-de-Seine
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 734
• Average wealth (€) : 2,193,654 €
• Average contribution (€) : 8,267 €
• Description: An upscale suburb located west of Paris, Rueil-Malmaison is home to many successful professionals and offers numerous parks and recreational activities.

12. Saint Maur des Fossés – 744 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Île-de-France
• Department: Val-de-Marne
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 744
• Average wealth (€) : 2,226,866 €
• Average contribution (€) : 9,098 €
• Description: A picturesque suburb located southeast of Paris, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés is known for its beautiful parks, historic chateaus, and affluent residents.

11. Aix en Provence – 941 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA)
• Department: Bouches-du-Rhône
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 941
• Average wealth (€) : 2,238,380 €
• Average contribution (€) : 9,219 €
• Description: A charming place in the south of France, Aix-en-Provence is known for its stunning architecture, historic fountains, and thriving arts scene.

Read Also : 15 Popular Sports In France

10 Richest Cities In France (2023)

Here is the 10 richest cities in France (Paris included) :

10. Nantes – 985 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Pays de la Loire
• Department: Loire-Atlantique
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 985
• Average wealth (€) : 2,263,115 €
• Average contribution (€) : 9,294 €
• Description: A thriving city located in western France, Nantes is known for its rich history, beautiful parks, and growing technology sector.

9. Toulouse – 1,225 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Occitanie
• Department: Haute-Garonne
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 1,225
• Average wealth (€) : 2,254,577 €
• Average contribution (€) : 8,989 €
• Description: The fourth-largest city in France, Toulouse is a major center for aerospace, technology, and research. It is also known for its picturesque historic center and vibrant student population.

8. Nice – 1,281 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA)
• Department: Alpes-Maritimes
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 1,281
• Average wealth (€) : 2,229,664 €
• Average contribution (€) : 9,401 €
• Description: Located on the French Riviera, Nice is a popular vacation spot known for its stunning beaches, beautiful architecture, and vibrant arts scene.

7. Versailles – 1,366 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Île-de-France
• Department: Yvelines
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 1,366
• Average wealth (€) : 2,294,023 €
• Average contribution (€) : 9,001 €
• Description: Famous for its opulent palace and gardens, Versailles is a wealthy suburb located southwest of Paris. The place is steeped in history and is a popular tourist destination.

6. Marseille – 1,536 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA)
• Department: Bouches-du-Rhône
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 1,536
• Average wealth (€) : 2,235,122 €
• Average contribution (€) : 8,919 €
• Description: A diverse and bustling port place on the Mediterranean coast, Marseille is the second-largest city in France. It is known for its rich history, vibrant cultural scene, and stunning coastline.

5. Bordeaux – 1,707 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Nouvelle-Aquitaine
• Department: Gironde
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 1,707
• Average wealth (€) : 2,325,970 €
• Average contribution (€) : 10,089 €
• Description: A beautiful port city located on the Garonne River in southwestern France, Bordeaux is known for its world-class wines and stunning architecture, making it a popular tourist destination.

4. Boulogne-Billancourt – 1,995 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Île-de-France
• Department: Hauts-de-Seine
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 1,995
• Average wealth (€) : 2,298,803 €
• Average contribution (€) : 9,235 €
• Description: A well-off suburb located southwest of Paris, Boulogne-Billancourt is home to many successful professionals and boasts numerous parks and green spaces.

3. Lyon – 2,198 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
• Department: Rhône
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 2,198
• Average wealth (€) : 2,400,918 €
• Average contribution (€) : 9,577 €
• Description: France’s third-largest city, Lyon is known for its rich history, gastronomy, and vibrant cultural scene. It is also a major business and industrial center.

Read Also : My 13 Best Bakery In Lyon

2. Neuilly Sur Seine – 3,713 taxpayers

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Île-de-France
• Department: Hauts-de-Seine
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 3,713
• Average wealth (€) : 2,863,305 €
• Average contribution (€) : 13,507 €
• Description: A posh suburb located just west of Paris, Neuilly-sur-Seine is known for its affluent residents and beautiful parks. Many successful business people, celebrities, and politicians reside here.

1. Paris (all arrondissem*nts) – 39,911 taxpayers

Paris is divided in 20 arrondissem*nts (districts or boroughs in English).

We have ISF datas for each arrondissem*nt but we preferred agglomerate all data in 1 city : Paris.

Without surprise, Paris is the richest city in France with 39,911 ISF taxpayers !

• Category: Richest city in France
• Region: Île-de-France
• Department: Paris
• Number of taxpayers (ISF): 39,911
• Average wealth (€) : 2,519,266 €
• Average contribution (€) : 11,205 €
• Description: Paris, the capital of France, is a global center for art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture. Known as the “City of Light” (FR: Ville des Lumières) it boasts iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum. Paris attracts millions of tourists each year, making it one of the most visited cities in the world.

Top 10 Richest Cities In France (Without Paris and Île-de-France region excluded)

Note the overrepresentation of the city of Paris (capital of France) and the Île-de-France region.

That’s why it is interesting to select 10 richest cities outside Paris and Île-de-France to see where are the riches in others regions of France :

1. Lyon – Rhône – Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (3,198 taxpayers)
2. Marseille – Bouches-du-Rhône – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) (2,657 taxpayers)
3. Toulouse – Haute-Garonne – Occitanie (2,347 taxpayers)
4. Nice – Alpes-Maritimes – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) (1,989 taxpayers)
5. Nantes – Loire-Atlantique – Pays de la Loire (1,802 taxpayers)
6. Strasbourg – Bas-Rhin – Grand Est (1,690 taxpayers)
7. Montpellier – Hérault – Occitanie (1,521 taxpayers)
8. Bordeaux – Gironde – Nouvelle-Aquitaine (1,493 taxpayers)
9. Lille – Nord – Hauts-de-France (1,468 taxpayers)
10. Rennes – Ille-et-Vilaine – Brittany (1,282 taxpayers)

Top 10 Richest Departments In France (With Paris)

Based on the numbers of ISF taxpayers, the 10 richest departments in France are :

1. Paris – Île-de-France (39,911 taxpayers)
2. Hauts-de-Seine – Île-de-France (12,559 taxpayers)
3. Rhône – Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (2,975 taxpayers)
4. Bouches-du-Rhône – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) (2,803 taxpayers)
5. Gironde – Nouvelle-Aquitaine (2,769 taxpayers)
6. Alpes-Maritimes – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) (3,967 taxpayers)
7. Yvelines – Île-de-France (3,158 taxpayers)
8. Val-de-Marne – Île-de-France (3,168 taxpayers)
9. Pyrénées-Atlantiques – Nouvelle-Aquitaine (826 taxpayers)
10. Loire-Atlantique – Pays de la Loire (1,180 taxpayers)

People also ask about richest cities in France :

What is the wealthiest part of France?

The wealthiest part of France is the city of Paris (center) and its 18 arrondissem*nts (districts) with 39,911 taxpayers of ISF /IFI tax = tax on real estate wealth by territorial community (source: INSEE).

Moreover, the region of Paris, named Île-de-France is also the richest region of France with 59,650 taxpayers, ahead of the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) with “only” 8,195 taxpayers !

Please read above the complete list of richest places in France.

Where do the rich live in south of France?

The rich live in South of France in region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) with 8,195 taxpayers of ISF /IFI tax = tax on real estate wealth by territorial community (source: INSEE).

And specifically in the richest cities in South of France of PACA (French riviera) :

1. Marseille – Bouches-du-Rhône (1,536 taxpayers)
2. Nice – Alpes-Maritimes (1,281 taxpayers)
3. Aix-en-Provence – Bouches-du-Rhône (941 taxpayers)
4. Monaco – Alpes-Maritimes (694 taxpayers)
5. Cannes – Alpes-Maritimes (664 taxpayers)
6. Antibes – Alpes-Maritimes (430 taxpayers)

Please read above the complete list of richest cities in France.

Where do the richest in France live?

The richest in France live in these departments according official source of INSEE:

1. Paris (city center) and its 18 arrondissem*nts (districts) with 39,911 taxpayers of ISF/IDI (tax on real estate wealth by territorial community (source: INSEE).
2. Alpes-Maritimes – 3,967 taxpayers
3. Val de Marne – 3,168 taxpayers
4. Yvelines – 3,158 taxpayers
5. Rhône – 2,975 taxpayers

Please read above the complete list of richest places in France.

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