The average price of a building plot in France in 2013 was €72m², an increase of 8.8% over 2012, although in some regions land prices fell.

The table below shows the average prices for building land in each region of France for the past three years.

As can be seen, there are significant variations between the regions, with the highest average prices in the Ile de France (€215m²) and the lowest in Limousin (€17m²), where prices actually fell slightly, as they did in Lower Normandy and Auvergne.

These variations mean that the cost of the land in proportion to the total cost of acquisition (land and construction) varied from 18% in the Limousin to 47% in the Ile de France. The national average was 33% land to total cost.

Accompanying the overall increase in land prices was a reduction in the average size of the plots, down from 1,070m² in 2012 to 1,015m² in 2013, the third consecutive year in which plots sizes have fallen. In large measure this continued reduction in plots is due to a change in the structure of sales, with a shift to construction in urban areas over rural zones.

Perhaps not surprisingly the smallest plots were in the Ile de France (averaging 696m²), with the largest in the Limousin (averaging 1,867m²).

The building cost of the homes on these plots averaged €1,244m², with Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur the highest cost at €1,401m², and the lowest in the Centre region at €1,107m².

The figures come from the annual review of building land prices carried out by the statistical service of the French government.

As always, although the figures are a useful benchmark, within each region there are substantial variations in prices, and those in the table reflect the majority of sales based in urban areas.

Accordingly, you might expect to pay less for plots in rural areas, although the price will depend upon scarcity and location.