A manageable everyday budget
Broadly comparable to France: restaurants and fuel are noticeably cheaper, while housing is more in demand. A couple lives comfortably on €2,000 to €3,000 per month.
Advantageous dining & fuel costs
Living in Andorra
Living in Andorra:
Living in Andorra:
quality of life, cost, healthcare, schools.
Far more than a light tax burden: a rare quality of life. Outstanding safety, nature and skiing on your doorstep, high-quality healthcare, trilingual schools — in the heart of the Pyrenees, 3 h from Barcelona.
Living in Andorra, in brief
- Budget: a couple lives comfortably on €2,000 to €3,000 a month; housing is the biggest expense, in a scarce and expensive market.
- Healthcare: the CASS (≈22% contributions) reimburses 75% of routine care and 90% of hospitalisation within the “via preferent” (33% outside it); hospitals of Toulouse and Barcelona 3 h away.
- Schools: three public systems free for residents (Andorran, French, Spanish), including the French school up to the baccalauréat.
- Setting: one of the safest countries in the world, 300 days of sunshine, outside the EU and Schengen (euro as official currency); for employees, a level A1 Catalan diploma at the first permit renewal, A2 at the second.
Andorre Gestoria — French-speaking tax and wealth advisory firm, Canillo (RLG CAPITAL, SL). Up to date as of 15 October 2026.
Andorra
Far more than taxes
Why live in Andorra? They come for the taxes,
Plan my relocation
Why live in Andorra? They come for the taxes,
they stay for the life.
The tax advantage attracts; the lifestyle keeps people here. Safety, nature, quality healthcare, and the ease of everyday life make Andorra a place where people truly put down roots — not just a tax address.
Safety & peace of mind
One of the safest countries in the world: an ideal environment for families who value tranquillity.
Nature & skiing every day
Grandvalira, hiking, mountain biking, Caldea thermal baths: the mountains and fresh air are part of everyday life, year-round.
Trilingual & well-connected
Catalan, Spanish, and French: you feel at home quickly, just 3 h from Barcelona and Toulouse.
Daily life
Relocating to Andorra: cost of living, healthcare, schools,
Relocating to Andorra: cost of living, healthcare, schools,
the essentials.
Three topics that determine whether an expatriation truly succeeds. Here is what you need to know — and we support you through every one of them.
High-quality healthcare
The CASS reimburses a large share of medical costs for contributors, topped up by supplementary insurance. French-speaking medicine and a modern hospital (Meritxell): a reputable and accessible system.
CASS + supplementary insuranceTrilingual schools
Three systems coexist: Andorran, French (state-funded and free) and Spanish. Your children grow up naturally trilingual.
French system available
Settling in by the rules
Moving to Andorra in 2026: the rules to know
Moving to Andorra in 2026: the rules to know
before you leave.
The lifestyle is best enjoyed once the formalities are properly under way. Six subjects to settle, in order — each one links to our detailed guide.
1. Choose the right residence authorisation
Living in Andorra requires a residence authorisation. Active residency concerns those who work there: an employee hired under the general quota — 900 authorisations until 30 April 2027 (Decree 388/2026) —, the director of a company in which they hold more than 34%, or a self-employed person practising a regulated profession. Passive residency is for those who live off their income: an investment of €1,000,000 in Andorran assets (or €400,000 in the Housing Fund), a non-refundable contribution of €50,000 to the AFA (+€12,000 per dependant), income above 300% of the annual minimum wage and at least 90 days of presence a year. For 2026, Decree 74/2026 reserves 163 places for passive residency.
2. Establish your tax residency
The permit is not enough: Andorran tax residency requires more than 183 days of presence in the calendar year, or the centre of your activities or economic interests in Andorra (Law 5/2014, art. 8). On the French side, you also need to fall outside the criteria of article 4 B of the French tax code; the 2013 tax treaty settles cases of dual residency. The details are on our tax residency page and in our guide on how to prove your tax residency.
3. Working and speaking Catalan
The job market is narrow and concentrated in retail, tourism, banking, construction and public administration: a partner’s job needs preparing before the move. Employees must present a level A1 Catalan diploma at the first renewal of their authorisation, then A2 at the second (Law 6/2024). Contracts, permits and rights are detailed in our guide to working in Andorra.
4. Healthcare: the CASS
Employees and the self-employed contribute to the CASS, which reimburses 75% of outpatient care and 90% of hospital care within the “via preferent” (with a referring doctor), 33% outside it. Passive residents take out private health insurance; a retiree can, under certain conditions, remain covered by their home scheme thanks to the 2000 Franco-Andorran social security agreement. Everything is explained in our guide to healthcare and social security.
5. Finding a home
Housing is scarce: it is the first subject to settle. A foreign investor — including a resident who has lived there for less than three years — may only acquire one single-family house or two apartments, related parties included, and pays the foreign real estate investment tax: 6% on a first property, 10% beyond that (Law 2/2026), with a 90% reduction for a home let as a primary residence at an affordable rent for at least ten years. See our guides to renting a home and to buying in Andorra.
6. Paying your taxes in Andorra
Once you are a tax resident: IRPF from 0 to 10% (0% up to €24,000 of income), IGI at 4.5% on consumption, and no wealth tax or inheritance tax. The IRPF return is filed between 1st April and 30 September (Law 5/2014, art. 55). Estimate your situation with our tax simulator and our guide to Andorran taxation.
Before committing, also read about the real downsides of living in Andorra and, to get support, our criteria for choosing the right gestoria in Andorra.
Monthly budget
How much does it cost to live in Andorra? A realistic monthly budget.
An indicative breakdown for a couple, excluding property purchase. Figures vary depending on lifestyle and location.
| Expense (couple, monthly) | Indicative budget |
|---|---|
| Housing (rental) | €1,200 – €2,000 |
| Utilities | €100 – €150 |
| Food | €400 – €700 |
| Transport | €50 – €100 |
| Health insurance | €100 – €200 |
| Leisure | €150 – €300 |
| Approximately €2,000 to €3,000 per month to live comfortably, excluding property purchase. | |
Art of living
Safety, nature, proximity: an exceptional place to call home in Andorra.
What the numbers cannot capture: serenity, fresh mountain air, and proximity to two major cities.
Exemplary
Near-zero crime and a constant sense of security: one of the safest environments in the world to live and raise a family.
Peace of mind every dayThe mountains on your doorstep
Skiing at Grandvalira, hiking, mountain biking, Caldea thermal baths, around 300 sunny days a year: the great outdoors is part of daily life.
All seasonsConnected & trilingual
Around 2 h 30 – 3 h by road to Barcelona and Toulouse and their international airports. A trilingual population where French speakers feel right at home.
Europe within easy reach
Frequently asked questions
Living in Andorra: your questions answered.
What budget do you need to live in Andorra?
A couple lives comfortably on €2,000 to €3,000 per month (excluding property purchase), depending on lifestyle and the location of their accommodation.
Is the cost of living higher than in France?
Broadly comparable: restaurants and fuel are noticeably cheaper, while housing — in high demand — tends to be more expensive. The light tax burden more than offsets the difference.
How does healthcare work in Andorra?
The CASS (social security) reimburses a large share of medical costs for contributors, topped up by supplementary insurance. The system is well regarded and French-speaking, with a modern hospital. Passive residents take out private health insurance.
What schooling options are available for children?
Three systems coexist: Andorran, French (state-funded and free, under convention) and Spanish. Children naturally become trilingual — a lifelong asset.
Is Andorra a safe place to live?
Yes, among the safest in the world: crime is virtually non-existent. This is one of the most compelling reasons families choose to settle here.
How far are France and Spain from Andorra?
Allow around 2 h 30 to 3 h by road to Barcelona or Toulouse and their international airports: Europe remains very accessible in day-to-day life.
Do you need to speak Catalan to live in Andorra?
Catalan is the official language, but French and Spanish are widely spoken. Employees must nevertheless present a level A1 Catalan diploma at the first renewal of their residence and work authorisation, then A2 at the second (Law 6/2024).
How many days must you spend in Andorra?
It depends on your status: at least 90 days a year for passive residency; a main presence for active residency, with at least 183 days a year for renewing the authorisation. To be a tax resident, you need more than 183 days of presence in the calendar year, or to have the centre of your economic interests there.
Can you live in Andorra and work in France?
Yes, but the salary remains taxable in France, where the work is carried out, and a main activity carried out in France ties your tax domicile to France (French tax code, art. 4 B). The tax treaty does not provide for a cross-border workers’ regime.
Can a retiree settle in Andorra?
Yes, most often through passive residency. Private pensions are in principle taxable in Andorra (IRPF from 0 to 10%), although France may tax any portion that is exempt there (tax treaty, art. 25); health cover comes through the 2000 social security agreement or private insurance.
Ready to take the next step? Discover active residency, passive residency, or how to invest in Andorran real estate.
