A few facts + figures

For those who are numbers oriented, or who have asked questions about the price of things here in France, here are just a few answers.

We have had the car for 30 days as of today (Thursday 8th Oct)
We have driven more than 6800 kms in that time (an average of 230 kms per day).
On the motorways (“A” roads) where the speed limit is mostly 130 we average nearly 120 kms per hour of driving, however we mostly avoid these instead preferring the national (“N”) roads or Departmental (“D”) roads.
On the minor roads we struggle to average 55 kilometres per hour of driving, but we see and experience so much more.
Our car is a Peugeot 308SW diesel from which we get nearly 1000kms per tank of fuel (averaging nearly 20kms per litre.
We have paid between 0.91 and 1.15 euros per litre for diesel or “gazole”. Cheapest fuel is always at supermarkets while the most expensive is in the many roadside stops (“aires”) on the motorways.
Unleaded petrol ranges from 1.14 to about 1.30.

The all important wine purchases are very inexpensive. On average we are paying between 2.50 and 4.50 for a bottle of more than acceptable red or white from most supermarkets.
A decent bottle of champagne can be obtained for as little as 15 euros, while Moet is about 26. Cheap but quaffable Methode de Champenoise can cost as little as 4.50.
Alcohol generally is cheap in the supermarkets e.g. a bottle of gin from 6 euros, Baileys 10-11, Cointreau about 13 etc. A dozen small stubbies of beer (330ml) can cost less than 4 euros.

Most processed food items seem to be marked about the same as in Perth, but of course in euros rather than dollars so are therefore 50-70% dearer. Fruit & veges are cheaper and generally better. Soft drinks seem much more expensive than at home, but we never buy them so I am not sure. Really nice pastries of many kinds cost between about 0.60 and 2 euros.

Cheeses (Fromage) are probably cheaper than at home but it is difficult to do a direct comparison. The choice is mind-boggling. France is reputed to have more than 400 different styles of cheese, and our major supermarket seems to stock most of them.

The food staples are probably a bit cheaper e.g.
1 litre fresh milk 0.90
Bread A large baguette costs between 0.30 and 0.60
A dozen eggs From about 1.50

Accommodation is probably not that much different to Australia (with the notable exception of Paris). A room for two in a good Chambres d’Hote (B&B) will cost from 45-65 euros. Two or three star hotels are in the range 50-75 euros with breakfast extra (usually 7-10 euros each).

Entrance fees to museums and other places of interest are generally cheap by European standards (much cheaper than our previous experiences in the UK). We have paid between 3 and about 9 euros for various places.

Some things are ridiculously cheap but usually for a good (often environmental) reason e.g. as mentioned before we can park our car all day in a parking station at the end of a tram line in Montpellier (medium sized city), and get a return tram ticket for every person in the vehicle into the centre of the city (1/2 hour journey), for only 4 euros. And in Montpellier we can rent a good quality bike for just 1 euro per day.

Music CD's and Movie DVD's are more expensive than at home. CD's cost between 20 and 30 euros, while DVD's look to be in the 20-35 euro range.

Hardware (of the Bunnings kind) seems very expensive e.g. a small pair of pliers will cost 12-15 euros. The cheap Chinese imports do not seem to have made it here.

Hope this helps you appreciate the cost of living in France.