Bordeaux vs Montpellier
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Bordeaux leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Montpellier where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Montpellier's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Bordeaux | Montpellier |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 71 | 69 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 48 | 48 |
| Climate | 99 | 100 |
| Safety | 69 | 63 |
| Summer °C | 20.2 | 23.7 |
| Winter °C | 5.7 | 7.2 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | wildfire |
Bordeaux vs Montpellier: the short answer
Bordeaux comes out ahead on overall livability (71/100), only marginally above Montpellier (69/100). The two cities diverge most on natural-disaster exposure. On affordability Montpellier is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Bordeaux 48 vs Montpellier 48, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Montpellier runs warmer in summer (about 23.7°C peak vs 20.2°C in Bordeaux), while winter lows sit near 5.7°C in Bordeaux and 7.2°C in Montpellier. On natural-disaster exposure Bordeaux is the safer choice (safety 69/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Bordeaux and wildfire for Montpellier.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Montpellier — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Montpellier — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Bordeaux — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Bordeaux — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Bordeaux or Montpellier better to live in?
Bordeaux scores higher overall — 71 vs 69 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Bordeaux or Montpellier?
Montpellier has the lower cost of living (cost index 48 vs 48; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Bordeaux or Montpellier?
Montpellier — summer highs reach about 23.7°C versus 20.2°C in Bordeaux.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Bordeaux or Montpellier?
Bordeaux (disaster-safety 69/100). Main hazard: flooding in Bordeaux, wildfire in Montpellier.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Bordeaux?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Bordeaux on our risk index.
How is the Bordeaux vs Montpellier comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.