Angers

Cost of living

in the province is much cheaper than in Paris area. Angers confirms this observation, ranking 37th in the study conducted by UNEF (Union Nationale des Etudiants de France) on the 42 largest student cities in France in 2019. This ranking was based on various criteria, including food, health and registration fees as well as leisure activities. To these factors, we added the average price of rent and the average cost of public transportation.
Here are some price ideas about the city of Angers concerning various basic goods :

Type of product	Product price (average)
Restaurant meals	15 €
1 liter milk	0,93 €
12 eggs	2,77 €
Monthly rate for annual subscription to public transportation	37,75 €
One month’s rent for a one bedroom apartment outside the city center	454 €

It should be also noted that Angers is experiencing a very significant increase in the selling price by m2 for real estate. In the first quarter of 2021, it saw the largest increase in France with 16,8 % compared to the same period last year, according to the barometer SeLoger.com.
The increase is explained by the scarcity of supply in relation to a very dynamic demand, or which new constructions are not sufficient to meet the needs. Many Parisians choose to live in Angers, to enjoy its relaxing, green and dynamic environment.

Safety

Angers is safe city, where you can walk around quietly and with your family fearing anything. Overall, the downtown area is safe. However, as in all cities, some neighbourhoods are quieter than others.
Some neighborhoods such as the Roseraie, Justices, Belle-Beille or Montplaisir can be dangerous for a lonely girl who walks in the evening, spent some hours.
We advise you to avoid the train station in the evening, after 10 pm.
In terms of ratios, here are some elements of comparison in 2020 thanks to this table, the data of which were taken on the site linternaute.com :

Per 1000 inhabitants	Angers	Rennes	Tours	France
Total number of crimes and offences	48	55	56	46
Gratuitous violence to people	6,3	7,4	6,3	NC
Burglaries	4,1	4,4	5,7	NC

Employment

Angers is a very dynamic city on the economic terms. It has a rich territory of very diversified companies, knowing that no sector of activity weighs more than 10 % of jobs.
The very business-friendly ecosystem allows the existence of several branches of excellence. The first, historic, is the plant sector, since Angers and its territory is the leading horticultural area in France. Moreover, Angers is home to the world-class competitiveness cluster, Végépolys. But let’s not forget to specify that Angers is also the third French vineyard. This represented in 2013, more than 20,000 jobs and 4,200 companies (Source : Conseil Général de Maine-et-Loire).

Since 2015, Angers region has also been awarded the French Tech label, knowing that the electronics and digital industries are booming. The area is a reference for IoT (Internet of Items) and their manufacturing.

Health is another very promising sector of activity. Many companies are at the forefront of biotechnologies, attracting many researchers who are working to transform the health sector to prepare for the future.

The tertiary sector is also very dynamic in Angers, taking advantage of a favorable environment with different facilities in several well-equipped business districts. Many insurance companies are based in Angers.

In addition, the diversified local economy is also composed of subcontracting companies, acting in particular in precision mechanics, in carpentry, and counts many jobs in “human services”.

Finally, the geographical position of Angers makes it a central logistics platform and materializes in particular by a market of MIN (Market of National Interest) very active specialized in food, services, logistics and transport with 550 employees.

On 20 October 2021, the Hellowork.com platform published a study on the dynamism of French medium-sized cities. The metropolis of Angers is ranked second behind Tours, in terms of the number of permanent, fixed-term and work-study offers. But Angers is also ranked second in terms of interim jobs, while Tours is only 7th on this ranking.
The presence of these two cities of Pays de la Loire in the first two positions demonstrates the growing dynamism of the region.

Education

In the 2020-2021 academic year, Angers had 42,700 students. The city of Angers, with its gentle way of life and its dynamism, has seen a steady increase in the number of students over the past 10 years (+22 % according to l’Etudiant.fr).
It offer a total of 600 very diverse courses : engineering diplomas, masters, BTS, preparatory courses, CAP etc.

The main Universities in Angers 

The University of Angers (Université d’Angers = UA) offers training in all the major fundamental sectors, some of which are accessible through work-study programs (apprenticeships and professional contracts) as well as in continuing training (validation of acquired skills, tailor-made training).  In total, more than 400 diplomas are prepared and 50 courses are available on an alternance basis.
The UA has 25,534 students in 2020-2021, 12% of whom are international students. The students are spread over three campuses: St-Serge, Santé and Belle-Beille. It also has two delocalized campuses in Cholet and Saumur, the other two main cities of the department of Maine-et-Loire.
The UA ranks first among French universities in terms of the success rate in the Bachelor’s degree program, after a three-year course after the baccalaureate.

The other major university present on Angers is the Catholic University of the West (Université Catholique de l’Ouest = UCO), which counts 7,130 students for 21 courses and 70 trainings.
It is a private school, with higher fees, ranging from 2490 € to 6900 € / year depending on your income for licenses.
UCO has a professional integration rate of 82% of students 6 months after the end of their master’s degree.

The life as a foreign student in Angers 

Studying in Angers means taking advantage of a very pleasant living environment, with a relatively mild climate. It also means walking around in a city of human scale that allows you to quickly locate key places, and to enjoy the various parks and flower gardens. You can have a drink with friends on a terrace in the city center or on the banks of the Maine River on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights.
This allows you taking advantage of an extremely varied range of qualitative training, so that everyone can find what suits them.
Angers offers many activities, and combines dynamism, with drunken outings, concerts, sports events, while allowing you to spend quiet moments in relaxing places. It is this subtle balance that characterizes the city !

Location

Participating in the numerous exchanges between the agglomerations of the Great West of France, Angers benefits from its central position by being a solid anchor point and by maintaining close relations with the capital, Paris.
Angers is located at 1 h 30 minutes from Paris thanks to the high-speed train line. Wether you are looking for Paris or on the contrary towards the Atlantic coast to the West, Angers is ideally located. It takes less than 2 hours to get to Pornic, and about 2 h 30 to get to Noirmoutier.
We advice you to go for a walk in the evening along the banks of the Loire, on the road to Saumur. Stop at Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire, and go for a walk on the other side of the river. You could also go to the Mediterranean Garden, in Saint-Gemmes sur Loire. Pleasant paths pass nearby. Angers is in the heart of the Val de Loire, a French natural region classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
And finally, if you are interested in Bretagne area, Rennes is at 1 h 40 by car. Plan nice weekends in this beautiful region.
As you will have understood, this strategic positioning makes Angers more dynamic in terms of employment and demographics, despite a metropolitan profile similar to several other agglomerations with between 200 and 300,000 inhabitants.

Public transportation

The Angevine urban public transport network is dense and efficient. It is called Irigo. Its management and operation are entrusted to RD Angers, a subsidiary of the RATP group, knowing that the Angers Loire Métropole community of municipalities is the organizing authority for transportation. The network currently consists of a single tramway line (line A), but the work in progress will eventually make it possible to benefit from three tramway lines to cover the entire city, and planned to be inaugurated in 2023.
About the bus lines, the lines from 1 to 15 serve the city of Angers and the first crown. They serve particularly well the main urban centers of interest (hospital, train station, universities), while providing a link with the municipalities surrounding Angers.

The night transportation options in Angers 

4 bus lines provide evening service (1s, 2s, 3s, 4s), and a Night line provides transportation every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1:30 am to 6:30 am. Its loop route serves in particular the city center of Angers, the district of La Doutre, Verneau, Saint-Serge, corresponding to the main places of urban life.

Atmosphere & Culture

Angers is a city on a human scale, which enjoys a mild and pleasant climate. Its dynamism is based on a dense cultural and associative network, with more than 1700 associations that make the different districts live. Various cultural metropolitan facilities are present, such as the Quai (CDN) for the theatre, the Chabada (concert hall) for contemporary music, the Paperie for street arts, the ONPL for classical music and the Ano for opera.
Wind your way through the many pedestrian streets and enjoy the many bars and restaurants. You will see, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings are lively and keep the city center alive.

The cultural heritage of Angers 

Angers is in the heart of the natural region of the Loire Valley. The numerous castles of the region allow you to walk and discover magnificent places. The castle of Angers is the emblem of the city. From the top of this fortress of the Middle Ages, you will benefit from a beautiful 360° view on the city. The gallery of the castle houses the impressive tapestry of the apocalypse. It represents the largest collection of medieval tapestries in the world. It is almost 100 meters long.
Near Angers, contemplate the castle of Brissac, which is the highest in France !

But what characterizes Angers and its region is also the production of many very good wines, ranging from dry white, sweet or sparkling to fruity reds. This represents a total of 27 AOC (Appellation d’Origine contrôlée) of Anjou Saumur.
Angers is at the heart of the third largest wine region in France.

As you stroll through the old town, you will be able to perceive the medieval atmosphere, with cobbled streets, half-timbered houses but also the Cathedral of Saint-Maurice which testifies to the Gothic art Angevin.

Choose your neighborhood in Angers

For several years, Angers has been considered one of the most attractive cities in France. It combines strong economic dynamism with a good quality of life. However, as in all cities, there are important differences between neighborhoods. Angers has 10 administrative districts, which are divided into smaller districts defined by the inhabitants, whose names often refer to the main square or street of the district. Some are lively and festive, while others are chic or family-oriented.

Saint-Serge / Saint-Michel

Located on the left bank of the Maine, the Saint-Serge / Saint-Michel district is lively, taking advantage of its proximity to the hyper-center. This contemporary district is particularly well served by public transport, including the tramway. The Jardin des Plantes is located in this district, as well as the University of Angers and the M.I.N. market, which continues to grow with the development of local products. We could also mention the new ICEPARK rink. These different facilities make it one of the nerve centers of the city of Angers, attracting many students, as well as professionals.

Saint-Jacques / Nazareth / Doutre

Positioned on the right bank of Maine, La Doutre is a historic district of Angers and the city center. It was built during the 11th century, around the Ronceray abbey, and has many half-timbered houses which give it a unique style with a lot of charm. The area is also magnified by many private mansions. It is quiet, and its old cachet makes it one of the most attractive districts of the city. The Quai Theatre, located south of La Doutre, was inaugurated in 2006 and includes two concert halls. It is a space for creation and shows around the different living arts (plastic, digital, lyrical, dance, theatre…).
For the walkers, the “cale de la savatte” is a particularly pleasant place. Many bars and restaurants are located along the Maine river.