😐A single person spends $2,987 per month in College Park, MD vs $2,163 in Lyon, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,464 per month in College Park, MD vs $3,334 in Lyon, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,940 per month in College Park, MD vs $4,505 in Lyon, rent included.
😐College Park, MD costs about 38% more than Lyon, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both College Park, MD and Lyon sit above the global median – College Park, MD by 123%, Lyon by 61%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
College Park, MD
Lyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.69$19.69
$17.46€15.02
12.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4$81.4
$75.9€65.3
7.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.13$13.13
$12.52€10.77
4.87%
Cappuccino
$5.55$5.55
$4.02€3.46
38.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$2.84€2.44
-2.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33$2.33
$1.83€1.57
27.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84$5.84
$7.97€6.85
-26.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65$7.65
$7.11€6.11
7.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
College Park, MD
Lyon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.48€1.27
-38.51%
White Bread(500g)
$3.36$3.36
$2.64€2.27
27.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.30$7.30
$2.66€2.28
174.44%
Eggs
$4.95$4.95
$4.34€3.73
14.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.79$18.79
$25.03€21.53
-24.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.20$10.20
$15.90€13.68
-35.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.18$16.18
$26.06€22.41
-37.91%
Apples(1kg)
$6.37$6.37
$2.69€2.31
136.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74$1.74
$2.60€2.23
-33.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.93$7.93
$3.44€2.96
130.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.70$6.70
$3.90€3.36
71.79%
Potato(1kg)
$4.87$4.87
$2.85€2.46
70.88%
Onion(1kg)
$3.59$3.59
$2.80€2.41
28.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27$2.27
$1.43€1.23
58.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39$2.39
$0.91€0.79
162.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.40$11.40
$14.10€12.13
-19.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.88$13.88
$8.53€7.34
62.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$3.20€2.75
-46.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85$3.85
$3.10€2.66
24.19%
🚌 Getting Around
College Park, MD
Lyon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$2.36€2.03
-13.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$84.3€72.5
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.42$4.42
$5.68€4.89
-22.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52$1.52
$1.90€1.63
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.43$29.43
$58.5€50.3
-49.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$2.10€1.81
-58.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K$26.6K
$37.2K€32.0K
-28.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K$25.0K
$37.8K€32.5K
-33.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
College Park, MD
Lyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221$221
$283€243
-21.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.8$63.8
$22.15€19.06
187.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.2$73.2
$37.37€32.14
95.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
College Park, MD
Lyon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.02$40.02
$44.01€37.86
-9.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.14€19.90
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.17$15.17
$13.87€11.93
9.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
College Park, MD
Lyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,761$1,761
$730€628
141.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.3K$24.3K
$11.8K€10.2K
105.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
College Park, MD
Lyon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4$54.4
$110€94.5
-50.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.85$31.85
$50.5€43.47
-36.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.2$97.2
$123€106
-21.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178$178
$168€144
6.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
College Park, MD
Lyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,668$1,668
$984€846
69.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,593$1,593
$713€613
123.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,555$3,555
$1,909€1,642
86.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,765$2,765
$1,242€1,068
122.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,714€5,775
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,089€3,517
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
College Park, MD
Lyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,470$6,470
$3,282€2,824
97.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.57
3.76
74.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for College Park, MD: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lyon: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,668 in College Park, MD versus $984 in Lyon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 97% higher in College Park, MD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in College Park, MD versus $76.0 in Lyon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $459 vs $434 – making Lyon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
College Park, MD vs Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in College Park, MD and Lyon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,987 in College Park, MD, $2,163 in Lyon – roughly 38% apart. College Park, MD costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in College Park, MD compared to Lyon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,480 per month in College Park, MD and $3,244 in Lyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between College Park, MD and Lyon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lyon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: College Park, MD or Lyon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,987 in College Park, MD and $2,163 in Lyon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between College Park, MD and Lyon?
Kindergarten costs $1,761 per month in College Park, MD and $730 in Lyon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lyon, where all-in costs run around $2,163, than in College Park, MD at $2,987. In Lyon it covers expenses comfortably, while in College Park, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between College Park, MD and Lyon?
It depends on your priorities. Lyon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,163 in Lyon to $2,987 in College Park, MD. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is College Park, MD or Lyon safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between College Park, MD and Lyon?
If budget matters most, go with Lyon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, College Park, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
College Park, MD vs other spots: cost of living compared