Moving to Paris: the services that save you money in the first months
Updated 12 November 2026
Moving to Paris comes with a list nobody shows you in advance. A phone plan, a tax return in a system you do not know, documents to translate for the prefecture, French to learn, a job to find. Each step is small. Together they cost a lot of time and money.
These are the services people in the Melting Plot community use and recommend. Each one gives Melting Plot members something extra, unlocked with a free account.
Your first days: get online
Before you have a French phone plan, an eSIM keeps you online from the airport. Airalo sells data plans for 200 countries that you install in a few minutes, with no shop visit. Keep it for trips home and weekends away. Members get 10% off Unlimited plans.
Paperwork: translations and taxes
The prefecture, the town hall and the driving licence exchange often ask for certified translations of your documents. La Française de la Traduction, in the 15th arrondissement, handles legal and official documents in several languages. Members get 5% off on their first visit.
Your first French tax return is the one that scares everyone. French Tax Online answers your questions and helps you file it right. Members get 10% off the first return.
Language and work
Learning French changes how Paris treats you. Benoît, The French Teacher, has taught French for over twenty years to learners from complete beginners to C2, and is a graduate of the Alliance Française de Paris. Members get 10% off a first six hour pack.
Finding a job in France has its own codes. Maia spent ten years recruiting for large companies in Paris, London and Zurich, and now coaches international profiles through the French job market. She offers a free intro call, and members get one half price session with a four session programme.
Life around it
A few smaller things that help once you are settled.
- RentalCover: excess cover for a rental car, bought online before pickup, usually cheaper than the rental desk.
- Fizzer: postcards made from your phone photos and posted to family anywhere. The first one is free.
- Nouche Paris: a Champs-Élysées salon specialised in afro, curly and textured hair. A drink on the house for members.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a French SIM card when I arrive in Paris?
Not on day one. An eSIM like Airalo keeps you online until you sign up for a French plan, and stays useful for trips abroad.
Where can I get a certified translation in Paris?
La Française de la Traduction in the 15th arrondissement translates official documents for the prefecture, the town hall and driving licence exchanges.
Who can help with my first French tax return in English?
French Tax Online helps expats with their French tax return and answers questions in English. Melting Plot members get 10% off the first return.
How can I find a job in Paris as a foreigner?
A coach who knows French recruitment helps. Maia, a former corporate recruiter, offers a free intro call to international profiles.
Settling in is easier when you also have people to call. All these services are on our Member Perks page, unlocked with a free account, and our afterworks are where newcomers meet each other.
See all member perks