From time to time, people ask me about the difference between how much things cost here in France and the United States. Naturally, it’s a question that’s difficult to answer without some additional context. However, one generalization I feel I can make is that things that are material-intensive or energy-intensive tend to cost more here, while things that are labor-intensive tend to cost less.
A great example of the latter is the haircut I got this weekend. At a barber shop, you’re primarily paying for the barber’s labor. Sure, there’s some material involved in a new razor blade and some shaving cream, and there’s some energy that passes through the clippers, but that’s really a small part of the product.
In Phoenix, my barber shop charges $26 for a haircut, which seems to be close to the low end of the spectrum. If I want them to touch my beard at all, it’s another $15 to $20. At that price, I trim my own beard. Here in Montpellier, I received a haircut and a beard trim Saturday for 20 €, roughly $22. That’s also what a paid for a haircut and beard trim two years ago in Paris, where one would have expected the shop overhead to be much higher.
Similarly, when we’ve had contractors at the apartment for plumbing and heating work, I’m often a bit shocked by how much the materials cost but pleasantly surprised by the labor charges. So far, it has mostly worked out in our favor, but I haven’t had to replace anything major yet. I’m expecting an estimate soon to replace a toilet after recently finding some anomalies with the current installation, so I’ll have more data then.
As far as energy goes, you don’t even have to be paying the bill to see the difference in prices. If you’ve ever rented a vacation apartment in France, you’ve most likely discovered that the lights in stairwells and corridors are almost always on timers — usually about five seconds less than what you need to unlock your door. It’s also rare to see an incandescent lightbulb, although, to be fair, that’s becoming increasingly true in the United States, too. I recently discovered six remaining incandescent lightbulbs in our apartment — two in the bedroom, two in the kitchen, and two in the bathroom — and finding LED replacements for them is near the top of my to-do list.
C’est pas Versailles ici!
