😐A single person spends $2,669 per month in Ferney-Voltaire vs $2,140 in Lyon, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,182 per month in Ferney-Voltaire vs $3,334 in Lyon, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,696 per month in Ferney-Voltaire vs $4,527 in Lyon, rent included.
😐Ferney-Voltaire costs about 25% more than Lyon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ferney-Voltaire and Lyon sit above the global median – Ferney-Voltaire by 94%, Lyon by 55%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ferney-Voltaire
Lyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.09€19.84
$17.28€14.85
33.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.1€70.6
$70.8€60.8
16.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$19.05€16.37
$13.71€11.78
38.95%
Cappuccino
$4.92€4.22
$4.32€3.72
13.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52€3.03
$2.84€2.44
23.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.71
$1.84€1.58
8.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.87€5.90
$7.98€6.86
-13.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82€5.00
$6.31€5.42
-7.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ferney-Voltaire
Lyon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03€1.74
$1.54€1.33
31.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17€1.01
$2.08€1.79
-43.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93€1.65
$2.72€2.34
-29.04%
Eggs
$3.39€2.91
$4.95€4.25
-31.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.39€17.52
$23.30€20.02
-12.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.88€11.07
$14.15€12.16
-8.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.42€9.81
$28.12€24.16
-59.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99€2.57
$2.37€2.04
26.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31€1.98
$2.48€2.13
-6.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.50€3.01
$3.39€2.92
3.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36€2.03
$3.36€2.88
-29.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$2.78€2.39
-28.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.38€2.05
$3.07€2.64
-22.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19€1.02
$1.45€1.25
-17.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15€0.98
$1.23€1.06
-6.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.28€13.13
$14.71€12.64
3.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64€4.85
$9.03€7.76
-37.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85€1.59
$2.90€2.49
-36.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26€1.94
$3.64€3.13
-37.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Ferney-Voltaire
Lyon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.42€2.94
$2.42€2.08
41.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.72€42.72
$85.5€73.4
-41.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.43€8.10
$8.59€7.39
9.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.53€2.17
$2.34€2.01
8.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.47€30.48
$43.98€37.79
-19.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13€1.83
$2.33€2.00
-8.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K€30.5K
$36.4K€31.3K
-2.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2K€32.0K
$36.2K€31.1K
2.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ferney-Voltaire
Lyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186€159
$270€232
-31.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.94€9.40
$15.20€13.06
-28.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.8€47.13
$33.31€28.62
64.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ferney-Voltaire
Lyon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$104€89.4
$44.40€38.15
134.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.04€24.96
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.93€9.39
$14.82€12.74
-26.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ferney-Voltaire
Lyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,588€2,224
$663€570
290.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$47.1K€40.5K
$11.9K€10.3K
294.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ferney-Voltaire
Lyon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.09€39.60
$120€103
-61.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.20€37.98
$49.99€42.96
-11.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.9€83.3
$126€108
-22.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€100
$132€113
-11.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ferney-Voltaire
Lyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,626€1,397
$903€776
80.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,337€1,149
$701€602
90.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,805€2,410
$1,836€1,577
52.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,848€2,447
$1,322€1,136
115.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,304€3,698
$6,584€5,658
-34.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,804€4,988
$4,063€3,491
42.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ferney-Voltaire
Lyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,117€3,538
$3,177€2,730
29.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
3.68
-0.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ferney-Voltaire: September 6, 2026
Last update for Lyon: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,626 in Ferney-Voltaire versus $903 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 30% higher in Ferney-Voltaire, 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 $82.0 in Ferney-Voltaire versus $71.0 in Lyon. Groceries tell a different story – $322 in Ferney-Voltaire vs $424 in Lyon – so Ferney-Voltaire wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Ferney-Voltaire vs Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lyon cheaper than Ferney-Voltaire?
Yes – Ferney-Voltaire is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,004 per month in Ferney-Voltaire and $3,210 in Lyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,588 per month in Ferney-Voltaire and $663 in Lyon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ferney-Voltaire and in Lyon?
Interestingly, groceries are about 32% cheaper in Ferney-Voltaire – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Ferney-Voltaire or in Lyon?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lyon, where all-in costs run around $2,140, than in Ferney-Voltaire at $2,669. In Lyon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ferney-Voltaire it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ferney-Voltaire or Lyon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lyon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ferney-Voltaire or Lyon?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lyon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ferney-Voltaire makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ferney-Voltaire vs other spots: cost of living compared