Cost of Living Comparison Between Colmar and Lyon Cost of Living Comparison Between Colmar and Lyon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,673 per month in Colmar vs $2,134 in Lyon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,769 per month in Colmar vs $3,259 in Lyon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,864 per month in Colmar vs $4,384 in Lyon, rent included.

Colmar is about 22% cheaper than Lyon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Colmar and Lyon sit above the global median – Colmar by 25%, Lyon by 59%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colmar
Lyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.07 €14.58
$17.56 €15.00
-2.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4 €61.8
$74.4 €63.5
-2.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.80 €10.07
$12.76 €10.90
-7.52%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.38
$3.89 €3.32
-28.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 €2.17
$2.84 €2.43
-10.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 €1.56
$1.80 €1.54
1.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.77 €4.93
$8.11 €6.93
-28.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36 €4.58
$7.09 €6.06
-24.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colmar
Lyon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 €1.17
$1.55 €1.32
-12.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 €1.47
$2.61 €2.23
-34.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 €1.01
$2.55 €2.18
-53.73%
Eggs
$2.44 €2.08
$4.14 €3.54
-41.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.42 €19.15
$24.95 €21.31
-10.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.30 €6.23
$16.19 €13.82
-54.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.55 €9.86
$25.43 €21.72
-54.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 €1.43
$2.82 €2.41
-40.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 €1.94
$2.49 €2.13
-8.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.67 €1.43
$3.54 €3.03
-52.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$3.91 €3.34
-41.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 €0.97
$2.90 €2.47
-61.03%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 €0.67
$2.70 €2.31
-70.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 €1.00
$1.43 €1.22
-17.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 €0.30
$0.91 €0.78
-60.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 €11.93
$13.78 €11.77
1.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.87 €5.87
$8.51 €7.26
-19.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.71
$3.09 €2.64
-73.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 €3.39
$3.21 €2.74
23.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Colmar
Lyon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.70 €1.45
$2.44 €2.09
-30.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.1 €50.4
$84.7 €72.3
-30.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 €3.04
$5.89 €5.03
-39.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 €0.84
$1.90 €1.62
-48.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.12 €33.41
$58.1 €49.62
-32.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.78
$2.01 €1.72
3.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K €31.8K
$37.4K €31.9K
-0.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K €32.6K
$36.8K €31.4K
3.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colmar
Lyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 €173
$286 €244
-29.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.96 €17.05
$22.54 €19.25
-11.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.49 €28.60
$37.86 €32.33
-11.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colmar
Lyon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.07 €29.95
$44.73 €38.20
-21.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.58 €15.87
$22.78 €19.45
-18.44%
Cinema Ticket
$13.63 €11.64
$13.83 €11.81
-1.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colmar
Lyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,411 €1,205
$737 €630
91.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,136 €6,094
$11.8K €10.1K
-39.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colmar
Lyon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 €50.0
$113 €96.5
-48.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.04 €24.80
$51.3 €43.79
-43.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 €77.6
$123 €105
-26.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €107
$166 €142
-24.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colmar
Lyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$758 €647
$990 €845
-23.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 €518
$702 €600
-13.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 €1,659
$1,920 €1,639
1.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,430 €1,221
$1,263 €1,078
13.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 €3,521
$6,821 €5,825
-39.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,971 €2,537
$4,231 €3,613
-29.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colmar
Lyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,042 €1,744
$3,245 €2,771
-37.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.65
3.76
-2.93%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Colmar: April 26, 2026

Last update for Lyon: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $758 in Colmar versus $990 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 59% higher in Lyon, 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 $72.0 in Colmar versus $74.0 in Lyon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $264 vs $433 – making Colmar 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
Colmar vs Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Colmar and Lyon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,673 in Colmar, $2,134 in Lyon – roughly 28% apart. Lyon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Colmar compared to Lyon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,510 per month in Colmar and $3,202 in Lyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Colmar and Lyon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Colmar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Colmar and $74.0 in Lyon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Colmar or Lyon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,673 in Colmar and $2,134 in Lyon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Colmar, where all-in costs run around $1,673, than in Lyon at $2,134. In Colmar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Colmar and Lyon?
It depends on your priorities. Lyon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,673 in Colmar to $2,134 in Lyon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Colmar 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 Colmar and Lyon?
If budget matters most, go with Colmar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lyon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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