Grenoble City Guide

Everything you need to know about relocating to Grenoble

Surrounded by picturesque mountains and home to 450,000 people and a healthy employment industry that spans electronics and electrical equipment, machinery, chemicals, plastics, and food processing, it's easy to see why relocating to Grenoble appeals to so many ex-pats of all nationalities.

 Nestled between the river Rhone and the snow-capped Alps, Grenoble is less than 45 minutes from 2 major ski resorts, and as the flattest city in France, boasts more than 320km of bike paths. Yes, if you love the great outdoors, you’ll love living and working in Grenoble.

Housing in Grenoble

Between 1869 and 1960, the population of Grenoble grew five-fold. Vast amounts of money were poured into a dramatic urban expansion plan in the lead up to the 1968 Winter Olympic Games, and since then, growth has shifted to the outer suburbs. These days, renting a three-bed home in Grenoble will cost around three times more than renting one on the outskirts of the city. To buy an apartment in the centre of Grenoble will cost around €3,137 per m2, whereas renting in the same area will cost around €176 per m2 per year.  For a house, you can typically expect to pay more, whether renting or buying, with rent setting you back around €149 per m2 and buying a house costing anywhere between €1484 and €4514 per m2. This means the average house in Grenoble costs around €429,000.
Of course, if you want to try (living in Grenoble) before you buy, you can rent a house for, on average, around €913 per month, or an apartment for €585 per month. There’s a great interactive map of Grenoble which shows you how the costs of accommodation differ in the different regions of Grenoble here.

Visa requirements for working in Grenoble

If you’re a British citizen, you’ll now need a visa to work in Grenoble. To secure a work visa, you’ll have to submit an employment contract with your application and your employer will have to apply for your work permit. Once you’ve been granted a long-stay visa (which will also serve as a residence permit), you’ll be able to stay in France for up to 12 months before needing to reapply.

If you’re from another European Union member state, you’ll be able to make the most of life in Grenoble without having to secure a visa first.

If you’re only looking to work in France for three months, you’ll still need a short-term visa.  

Cost of living in Grenoble

Living in Grenoble isn’t cheap, but it’s certainly not as expensive as some other parts of France.

A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant will cost around €50, but a McDonalds or equivalent fast-food meal will only set you back around €9. Draught beer is typically priced at around €5 for 500cl, whereas an imported beer costs around the same for a 330cl bottle.  

You can pick up a loaf of bread for around €1.84 and a litre of milk for just over €1.07.  

Salaries in Grenoble

According to salary explorer, the average salary in Grenoble is €39,400, and around 50% of those working in Grenoble can expect to earn below this level. Salaries paid by firms in the area do range from about €10,000 to €176,000, with around 25% of employees being paid somewhere between €102,000 and €176,000. IT salaries tend to be higher than in many other industries with a UX Designer in Grenoble commanding a typical salary of around €40,000 and a typical electrical engineer’s salary hitting the €35,000 mark.[ii]  

Commuting and Public Transport in and around Grenoble

Aside from the incredible (and flat) cycling network in and around Grenoble, there are 5 different tram lines, 36 bus lines and 18 park and ride spots, so getting around Grenoble is pretty easy whether you choose to run a car, or use public transport. Much of Grenoble’s public transport network is easily accessible for disabled users too. If you want to test out the bike network before you commit to your own set of wheels, there’s the Metrovelo system which enables you to hire bikes and then leave them close to your destination in designated bike stations when you’re done.

The Education system in Grenoble  

Grenoble is well known for its vibrant and dynamic university. In fact, there are three. Universités of Grenoble I, Universités of Grenoble II and, you probably guessed it, Universités of Grenoble III. These are all co-educational, state-financed institutions, which replaced the original 1339 University of Grenoble founded by Pope Benedict XII – the original university was a leader in the revival of the classics and the development of liberal arts. These days, the universities are renowned for science, technology and medicine (Grenoble I), law, economics and social sciences (Grenoble II), and language and literature (Grenoble III).  

• Schools in Grenoble

Schools in Grenoble follow the French system and are compulsory for children aged 6–16 years, but children can start preschool as early as 3 years old and remain in education until they are 21 if they choose to – and around 50% of students do. There is an established international school in Grenoble, ‘The American School of Grenoble’, which teaches primarily in English and for this reason, is very popular among ex-pats.   

State schools in Grenoble work on the calendar year. Local schools are free and don’t usually require students to wear a uniform. These deliver the nationally-set curriculum and children are taught in French.

• Private Schools Under Contract

These are not like the UK’s private schools. They are run under contract for the French government which pays the teacher’s salaries. Private schools follow the National Curriculum but offer students subsidised fees.

• Preschools in Grenoble

Preschool facilities are available for children below school age. Parents can choose from group daycare facilities, childminders, or even in-home childcare or occasional drop-in centres.

Global technology companies in Grenoble

Grenoble in the Alps is a leading international hub for electronics and digital technologies. In fact, it’s considered the birthplace of micro-electrics in France and was ranked ‘5th Most Innovative City in the World’ by Forbes. The tech industry employs 41,500 people, all within a 20km radius, in companies that range from micro start-ups to global tech giants.

Some of the biggest companies in Grenoble include Apple, Atos, CapGemini, Huawei, Oracle, Salesforce, TDK, and HP Enterprise.

However, working for smaller companies can offer a greater versatility of role, more career opportunities and sometimes more competitive and appealing packages too. So, if you wanted to dip your toe in the water of an emerging tech name, you’re spoilt for choice in Grenoble with start-ups that include Aledia, Bonitasoft, Kelkoo, Photoweb, Pyxalis and more. 

Grebolble he European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), is an outstanding example of European scientific cooperation. 21 countries participate in the financing and operation of this X-ray radiation facility, which is one of the most powerful in the world. The ESRF is expanding its unique capabilities for research into biomolecules, nanomaterials, active catalysts, fossils or valuable cultural assets. It is indispensable for structural analyses in solid-state physics, molecular biology, materials science, diagnosis and therapy in medicine, as well as for special experiments in radiobiology, fundamental physics and physical chemistry.

Things to do in Grenoble in your spare time 

From weekends skiing to afternoons mooching around cultural collections in Grenoble’s museums, there’s always something to do in Grenoble.

Grenoble is packed with history, culture and good food.

The Bastille of Grenoble offers spectacular views from the top of Mount Rachais, and a network of old mandarin caves and tunnels to explore. If you’re tight on time, you can take a cable car up to the top. Halles Ste-Claire offers shopping for all, whilst Quai Perriere is the place to go for the perfect pizza. Check out traditional skiing fayre at La Fondue or understand more about the history of Grenoble with a trip to the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation de l’Isère.

If you enjoy the atmosphere of a good market, each region of Grenoble offers at least one to check out. There’s a weekly flea market held every Sunday at the Porte de France on the far side of Isere to centre–ville, or you can venture to Quais Perrière and Saint Laurent for an even bigger market – but before you set out, check the dates as these markets are only once every couple of months.
So, whether you enjoy shopping, eating, outdoor sports, or history and culture, there is plenty to explore when you relocate to Grenoble.

If you would like to find out more information then drop me a line at rob.hudson@ic-resources.com.