🇫🇷 Lyon vs 🇪🇸 Barcelona
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Lyon is 22% cheaper than Barcelona
Quick answer
Comparing Lyon, France and Barcelona, Spain: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $2,225 in Lyon versus $2,839 in Barcelona. Lyon is roughly 22% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $990/mo (Lyon) vs $1,539/mo (Barcelona). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $2,225/mo in Lyon single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $2,839/mo in Barcelona single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $990/mo in Lyon · $1,539/mo in Barcelona.
- Cheaper overall: Lyon ~22% cheaper than Barcelona.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇫🇷 Lyon | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $1,550/mo | $2,000/mo | +29% |
| Moderate | $2,225/mo | $2,839/mo | +28% |
| Comfortable | $3,350/mo | $4,250/mo | +27% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇫🇷 Lyon | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $990/mo | $1,539/mo | +55% |
| Groceries & Food | $380/mo | $400/mo | +5% |
| Dining Out | $190/mo | $200/mo | +5% |
| Transport | $190/mo | $200/mo | +5% |
| Utilities & Internet | $190/mo | $200/mo | +5% |
| Healthcare | $152/mo | $160/mo | +5% |
| Leisure & Personal | $133/mo | $140/mo | +5% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Lyon
$990
Barcelona
$1,539
Groceries & Food
Lyon
$380
Barcelona
$400
Dining Out
Lyon
$190
Barcelona
$200
Transport
Lyon
$190
Barcelona
$200
Utilities & Internet
Lyon
$190
Barcelona
$200
Healthcare
Lyon
$152
Barcelona
$160
Leisure & Personal
Lyon
$133
Barcelona
$140
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: INSEE (France), Eurostat / INE (Spain), Eurostat. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇫🇷 Lyon | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (baguette) | $1 | $1 | +17% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -14% |
| Eggs (12) | $3 | $3 | -16% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $11 | $7 | -33% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇫🇷 Lyon | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bouchon lyonnais (set menu) | $22 | $13 | -41% |
| Fast food combo meal | $10 | $9 | -13% |
| Cappuccino | $3 | $2 | -31% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $5 | $4 | -20% |
Housing
| Item | 🇫🇷 Lyon | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center | $990 | $1,539 | +55% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $600 | $1,196 | +99% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $1,600 | $2,100 | +31% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,100 | $1,500 | +36% |
Transport
| Item | 🇫🇷 Lyon | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (TCL) | $72 | $45 | -38% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $2 | $4 | +79% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇫🇷 Lyon | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $165 | $130 | -21% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $30 | $38 | +27% |
| Mobile plan (10GB+) | $11 | $20 | +82% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇫🇷 Lyon | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $35 | $45 | +29% |
| Cinema ticket | $12 | $10 | -17% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇫🇷 Lyon | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $18 | $16 | -11% |
Quick Facts
🇫🇷 Lyon
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,225
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $990/mo
- Cappuccino
- $3.20
- Inexpensive meal
- $13.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $68
- Internet speed
- 180 Mbps
- Safety index
- 68/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 97/100
- Country
- France
🇪🇸 Barcelona
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,839
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,539/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.10
- Inexpensive meal
- $13.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $52
- Internet speed
- 185 Mbps
- Safety index
- 68/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 100/100
- Country
- Spain
Explore more: Lyon city guide | Barcelona city guide | France | Spain
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lyon or Barcelona cheaper to live in?
Lyon is approximately 22% cheaper than Barcelona overall.
How much does it cost to live in Lyon per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Lyon is approximately $2,225 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Barcelona per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Barcelona is approximately $2,839 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Lyon and Barcelona?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $990/month in Lyon and $1,539/month in Barcelona.