Cost of Living in Lyon
France
Comfortable budget (single)
$3,410/month
Range $2,154–$3,410/month
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Lyon?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Lyon for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$4.5
flat white at cafe
Beer
$6.5
pint at pub
Lunch
$17.5
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$425
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$94
monthly pass
Gym
$45
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $1,615–$2,513 | ↑ +2% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $853–$1,346 | ↑ +2% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $67–$130 | ↑ +2% |
| Internet & Mobile | $27–$45 | ↑ +3% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $341–$512 | ↑ +2% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $45–$81 | ↑ +2% |
| Coffee | $4–$5 | ↑ +13% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $85–$103 | ↑ +2% |
| Gym membership | $31–$58 | ↑ +1% |
| Cinema ticket | $13–$16 | ↑ +4% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Lyon — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$1,615–$2,513/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$15,350
Buy outside (per m²)
$8,440
Price-to-rent ratio
28×
Avg mortgage rate
3.6%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Lyon center at ~$15,350/m² with a 25y loan at 3.6% would cost roughly $4,660/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Lyon. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $2,700 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $3,450 | ❌ No |
| Marketing manager | $3,100 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $2,450 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $2,350 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Lyon.
Utilize the Carte Técély for seamless travel across Lyon's efficient TCL public transport network, including metro, tram, and bus.
Shop for fresh, local produce and gourmet items at Les Halles Paul Bocuse, a renowned indoor market in the 3rd arrondissement.
Explore the historic traboules and traditional bouchons in Vieux Lyon for a unique cultural and culinary experience.
Budget scenarios
Single
$2,154–$3,410/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,513/mo
- Groceries: ~$512/mo
- Transport: ~$103/mo
Couple
$3,410–$5,205/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,513/mo
- Groceries: ~$512/mo
- Transport: ~$103/mo
Family
$4,936–$7,628/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,513/mo
- Groceries: ~$512/mo
- Transport: ~$103/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Lyon Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,019–$3,141/mo
Lyon Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,777–$2,764/mo
Lyon Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,292–$2,010/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Food capital
- • Pharma
- • Rhône
❌ Cons
- • Less global than Paris
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.