Cannes

I find the monthly cost of living numbers listed here are way off. In fact, living in Cannes is much cheaper than living in Chicago. Groceries are very affordable. Much lower than shopping at Whole Foods and probably by now, even Trader Joes.
Eating out, well, it can cost you a lot but there are so many affordable options. Rents can be high but again, there are many apartments that are reasonable if you are renting year-round. We have been renting Airbnb's during the winter months, from October to February, and were able to get a beautiful sea view one-bedroom for $1200. Another AirBnb a bit higher up again, for $1200. We splurged on a place with a large terrace and beautiful mountain view for $2300. But it was worth it! $2300 was about what my mortgage was in Chicago. According to Numbeo, cost of living here is around $4100 for a family of four. By the way, Cannes is gorgeous with a sandy, accessible beach, people are very friendly, and it is meticulously maintained. We have been to Aix-en-Provence, Marseilles, Montpellier, Nice, Bordeaux and of course Paris, but have chosen Cannes to live. It is more expensive than Montpellier and perhaps Bordeaux, but not more than Nice or certainly Aix. Aix I found to be the most expensive after Paris.