Living in Toulon: why newcomers from big cities choose it

Living in Toulon means a Mediterranean port city of around 179,000 people, with the sea at the end of the street, Mont Faron behind the rooftops and rents well below those of Nice or Aix-en-Provence. It is no longer a city people leave: according to INSEE, Toulon's population rose from 164,899 in 2012 to 179,116 in 2023. Between 2017 and 2023 it grew by 0.7% a year, almost entirely because more people moved in than moved out.

Those newcomers are a mix of profiles. Students come for the University of Toulon, Navy personnel are posted to the naval base, young professionals follow jobs in the urban area, and families leave larger cities for a slower pace and a shorter commute. Most of them rent: 53.5% of Toulon's main residences are occupied by tenants, and flats make up 79.2% of all homes.

Jobs: a city that employs more than it houses

Toulon is an employment centre for the whole of the Var coast. INSEE counted 83,762 jobs in the city in 2023, up from 76,991 in 2017, for 69,508 working residents: there are around 120 jobs for every 100 employed people living in Toulon, so many workers commute in from neighbouring towns. Unemployment, as measured by the census, remains high but is falling: 13.5% of the working population aged 15 to 64 in 2023, against 16.3% in 2017. Public administration, education, health and social services account for a large share of local activity, alongside the naval base and the port.

Everyday life by the sea

The appeal is easy to understand. Toulon has a mild Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and winters that are short and gentle compared with Paris or the north of France. The city has beaches within walking distance of Le Mourillon, a large natural harbour, the hills of Mont Faron for walking, and islands and coastal paths a short trip away. The historic centre, with its markets and narrow streets, is compact enough to live in without a car.

Where to live in Toulon

Your neighbourhood will shape your daily life more than anything else. The areas that come up most often for long-term rentals:

• Le Mourillon: the most sought-after area, east of the centre, close to the beaches, the marina and green spaces. Popular with young professionals, families and newcomers, with rents above the city average.
• City centre and Haute-Ville: the historic heart, with the station, shops, markets and the port on foot. A mix of renovated and older buildings at affordable to mid-range rents, popular with students and young workers.
• La Serinette: quiet and residential, often cited among the most popular rental areas, with good access to schools and services.
• Saint-Jean-du-Var: in the east of the city, for families who want more space and a calmer setting while staying close to the centre.
• Pont-du-Las and Les Routes: the western residential sector, with lower rents than Le Mourillon or the centre and good road and bus links.
• Bas du Faron: at the foot of Mont Faron, green and calm, with moderate rents.

What renting in Toulon costs

SeLoger put the average asking rent for a flat in Toulon at €15.18 per m² a month in September 2026. Typical monthly rents, excluding service charges, are:

• studio (T1, up to about 30 m²): €450 to €700;
• one-bedroom flat (T2, 30 to 55 m²): €600 to €950;
• two-bedroom flat (T3, 55 to 80 m²): €800 to €1,200;
• three bedrooms or more (T4+): €950 to €1,500.

On top of the rent, allow €50 to €150 a month in service charges for a standard flat, €80 to €150 for electricity and internet, and around €8 to €20 a month for home insurance, which is compulsory for tenants in France. Furnished flats in Le Mourillon or the centre sit at the top of these ranges.

Rules to know before you sign

• Deposit: under French law it cannot exceed one month's rent, excluding charges, for an unfurnished flat, and must be written into the lease. It has to be returned within two months at most after you hand back the keys, or one month if the check-out inventory matches the check-in one.
• Income: landlords usually ask for a net monthly income of at least three times the rent. If you fall short, you will need a guarantor or the free Visale guarantee from Action Logement.
• Agent fees: if you rent through a letting agent, the share you can be charged is capped by law.
• Upfront budget: plan for €2,500 to €4,500 on arrival to cover the deposit, the first month's rent, any agent fees and moving costs.