The remaining cost for your treatment or medicines can be covered by joining a top-up health insurance, called complémentaire santé. In this category you have the choice between an assurance and a mutuelle.

This type of additional insurance will pay most, but not all of the residual costs, depending on your policy, circumstances, and treatment.

France in general is not a top choice if you are hoping to make a massive cut to your cost of living. That said, regions like Carcassone, the area often labelled as the “Other South of France” is far more affordable than its flashier counterparts, while offering the best of French country living.

The cost of living can be less than 1,351 euros a month in the town of Carcassonne.

Given the attraction of the Cité, the Bastide, and the surrounding area, property prices are very reasonable in Carcassone and other regions like Languedoc and Pau.

Fully renovated apartments can range from about 80,000 euros for a studio to 200,000 euros for a six-bedroom property.

Houses in Carcassonne center are harder to find but are available from about 200,000 euros. And, if you extend your search to 5 kilometers out from the center, there’s a far greater choice, everything from new-build villas to renovation projects.

Rents start at about 350 euros per month for apartments and from 600 euros per month for houses, making some of them even cheaper than renting in Third-world markets like Panama.