saying "to live"

Question

What are the different usages of habiter and vivre

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Tom,
- Habiter: to live where

J’habite à Bruges = I live in Bruges
Tu habites en Belgique = you live in Belgium
Il habite dans un pavillon = I live in a bungalow
Nous habitons en banlieue = we live in the suburbs

- Vivre: to live where / how / how long and when

Je vis à Bordeaux = I live in Bordeaux
On vit ensemble = we live together
Ils vivent dans la pauvreté = they live in poverty
Tu as longtemps vécu tout seul = you lived alone for a long time
Il a vécu au début du siècle dernier = he lived at the beginning of the last century

I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Answer

Thanks, that's helpful, but I'm still a little unsure of specific differences of the two works. Habiter is used for a geographical location-living in a city or town. Vivre can be used for a location too, but also for a condition, like living in poverty, or during the last century. Is this correct?

Answer

Bonjour Tom,
Yes, indeed. 'Vivre' can be used to express a general condition, such as in 'vivre dans la pauvreté' (see example from previous answer), 'vivre dans l'opulence' = 'to live in luxury'
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !