🇫🇷 Paris vs 🇫🇷 Lyon
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Lyon is 42% cheaper than Paris
Quick answer
Comparing Paris, France and Lyon, France: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $3,817 in Paris versus $2,225 in Lyon. Lyon is roughly 42% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $2,159/mo (Paris) vs $990/mo (Lyon). 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: $3,817/mo in Paris single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $2,225/mo in Lyon single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $2,159/mo in Paris · $990/mo in Lyon.
- Cheaper overall: Lyon ~42% cheaper than Paris.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇫🇷 Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $2,650/mo | $1,550/mo | -42% |
| Moderate | $3,817/mo | $2,225/mo | -42% |
| Comfortable | $5,750/mo | $3,350/mo | -42% |
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 | 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇫🇷 Lyon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $2,159/mo | $990/mo | -54% |
| Groceries & Food | $510/mo | $380/mo | -25% |
| Dining Out | $255/mo | $190/mo | -25% |
| Transport | $255/mo | $190/mo | -25% |
| Utilities & Internet | $255/mo | $190/mo | -25% |
| Healthcare | $204/mo | $152/mo | -25% |
| Leisure & Personal | $179/mo | $133/mo | -26% |
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)
Paris
$2,159
Lyon
$990
Groceries & Food
Paris
$510
Lyon
$380
Dining Out
Paris
$255
Lyon
$190
Transport
Paris
$255
Lyon
$190
Utilities & Internet
Paris
$255
Lyon
$190
Healthcare
Paris
$204
Lyon
$152
Leisure & Personal
Paris
$179
Lyon
$133
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: INSEE (France), Eurostat / INSEE (France), Eurostat. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇫🇷 Lyon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (baguette) | $1 | $1 | -8% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -8% |
| Eggs (12) | $4 | $3 | -9% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $12 | $11 | -13% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇫🇷 Lyon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | $16 | $22 | +35% |
| Fast food combo meal | $11 | $10 | -8% |
| Cappuccino | $4 | $3 | -26% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $8 | $5 | -29% |
Housing
| Item | 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇫🇷 Lyon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center | $2,159 | $990 | -54% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,106 | $600 | -46% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $2,800 | $1,600 | -43% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,800 | $1,100 | -39% |
Transport
| Item | 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇫🇷 Lyon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (Navigo) | $88 | $72 | -18% |
| Taxi start | $3 | $2 | -28% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇫🇷 Lyon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $185 | $165 | -11% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $32 | $30 | -6% |
| Mobile plan (10GB+) | $11 | $11 | 0% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇫🇷 Lyon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $40 | $35 | -13% |
| Cinema ticket | $13 | $12 | -8% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇫🇷 Lyon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $22 | $18 | -18% |
Quick Facts
🇫🇷 Paris
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,817
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $2,159/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.00
- Inexpensive meal
- $17.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $97
- Internet speed
- 200 Mbps
- Safety index
- 62/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 97/100
- Country
- France
🇫🇷 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
Explore more: Paris city guide | Lyon city guide | France
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paris or Lyon cheaper to live in?
Lyon is approximately 42% cheaper than Paris overall.
How much does it cost to live in Paris per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Paris is approximately $3,817 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 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.
What is the rent difference between Paris and Lyon?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $2,159/month in Paris and $990/month in Lyon.