How Much Does It Cost to Live In Lyon?
Lyon is a large city in France which is a home for nearly a million people.
An old city along with the modern architecture, boutiques, and antique shops attracts tourists and makes them stay here for a long time.
There are lots of picturesque parks, two rivers, and a few original museums.
Lyon is known as the gastronomical capital of France, an industrial city, the city of the bridges and cozy squares.
The prices for apartments are four times cheaper than in Paris.
Nevertheless, the salaries are the same and this makes Lyon a very convenient city to settle in.
France : Cost of Living by City
Cost of Living in France
RESTAURANTS
Some of the best restaurants in France are located in Lyon.
You will find a huge variety of French wines, national dishes, as well as fast foods and international cuisines.
Remember that you can eat all the possible pastry and sweets.
MARKETS
At the markets, the Lyon citizens buy fish, fresh fruits, vegetables, pork and beef sausages and more.
The prices are affordable and lower than in the supermarkets.
The large covered markets are located at some squares and the banks of the rivers.
You will need around $100-$150 to buy a kilogram of every sort of fruit, a beef round, chicken breasts, a bottle of wine, and a pack of cigarettes.
TRANSPORTATION
As we have already mentioned, Lyon is a large city.
Apparently, its infrastructure is well-planned and developed.
Local people use buses and the metro, but the most healthy and favorite kind of transport here is a bicycle.
If you think of buying a car here, the average prices are $23,873.81 for Volkswagen Golf or $21,221.16 for Toyota Corolla.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
In Lyon, just like in the rest of France, residents look for cheap budget accommodation so they have more money for sports, leisure, shopping, and rest.
Monthly utility cost is $167.34 for an apartment of 85 sqm.
The Internet can be reached in every part of the city.
Unlimited data connection without plans and discounts is $34.27 per month.
SPORTS & LEISURE
This city has a great variety of fitness clubs, spa-centers, sports grounds and swimming pools for the whole family.
There are tennis clubs, rock-climbing sites, cinema, and virtual reality clubs.
This is not the place where you are going to be bored.
Below are the prices for the most common sports and leisure activities.
CLOTHING & SHOES
The main shopping center in Lyon is considered the most beautiful one in the city.
It is situated in a picturesque place with lots of restaurants, playgrounds, and open terraces.
There are lots of original clothing and shoe boutiques along with the traditional chain stores.
RENT PER MONTH
Rented dwellings in Lyon range from the cheapest and badly furnished to the most luxurious ones.
You can choose a great hotel for your vacation, but permanent residents choose to rent a simple budget accommodation and spend the saved money on pleasant things.
An average price for one bedroom apartment in the center is $763 while the same area outside the center is $593.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Lyon
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $13.64 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $6.82 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.55 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.14 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.50 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.82 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.16 |
| Monthly Pass | $71.85 |
| Gasoline | $1.66 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $167.34 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.37 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $34.27 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $49.10 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $11.37 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $12.51 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $94.12 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $44.66 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $93.48 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $763.31 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $593.06 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1472.93 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Lyon?
Traditionally, when a large city has some iconic products like wine, fish, and cheeses, along with special soups and yummy pastry, people there spend more money on food.
Lyon is the city where people spend the most on markets, restaurants and monthly rent.
The rest is set off to pay for utilities, sports and outwear.
The most healthy transport here is a bicycle and it’s really been a part of the Lyon culture.
You can rent one in a special renting spot and leave it at a similar place in the place of destination.
Therefore, you can save some money on transportation.
Besides, you can rent a car and travel around the city like that.
Only 12% of the income is spent on buses, metro, and gasoline.
Average Costs Breakdown
Lyon: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Average monthly net salary is at the level of $2,159.04 per employee.
The fixed national minimum wage throughout the country is $1,741.8.
This money is really enough to live a decent life even if you are a starting worker or a former student.
Finding the job is difficult in Lyon, similar to the rest of France, but it will not be a problem if you are offered a job and invited by an employer.
Well-qualified specialists like IT consultants, software engineers, or sales managers earn the highest salaries in Lyon.
Although, even the minimum wage is enough to either rent an apartment or take a housing loan.
The yearly mortgage interest rate makes 1.68%.
Lyon Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Lyon Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Lyon
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Bordeaux | 76.31 |
| Grenoble | 78.43 |
| Lille | 67.73 |
| Marseille | 64.64 |
| Montpellier | 74.08 |
| Nantes | 72.37 |
| Nice | 75.84 |
| Paris | 84.68 |
| Strasbourg | 75.47 |
| Toulouse | 76.3 |
