Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lille and in Lyon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,944 per month in Lille vs $2,028 in Lyon, rent included.
Lille $1,944
Lyon $2,028
A couple spends around $2,941 per month in Lille vs $3,130 in Lyon, rent included.
Lille $2,941
Lyon $3,130
A family of three spends $3,939 per month in Lille vs $4,232 in Lyon, rent included.
Lille $3,939
Lyon $4,232
🙂
Lille is about 4% cheaper than Lyon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both Lille and Lyon sit above the global median – Lille by 43%, Lyon by 50%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Lille
Lyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.98€15.99
$16.52€14.70
8.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.5€65.4
$68.2€60.7
7.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.38€11.90
$13.22€11.76
1.21%
Cappuccino
$3.75€3.34
$4.02€3.57
-6.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15€2.80
$2.66€2.37
18.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.52
$1.73€1.54
-1.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.01€7.13
$7.62€6.78
5.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47€4.87
$6.33€5.63
-13.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lille
Lyon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31€1.17
$1.56€1.39
-16.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.96€1.75
$1.72€1.53
13.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.60
$2.48€2.20
17.74%
Eggs
$4.23€3.77
$4.73€4.21
-10.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.25€18.90
$22.97€20.43
-7.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.62€11.23
$12.54€11.16
0.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.62€21.01
$23.68€21.07
-0.25%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48€3.10
$2.42€2.15
43.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.22€1.97
$2.44€2.17
-9.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28€2.03
$3.49€3.11
-34.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.04€2.70
$3.17€2.82
-4.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.71
$2.51€2.23
-23.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.81
$3.09€2.75
-34.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.76€1.56
$1.35€1.20
30.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.60
$1.12€0.99
-40.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.78€12.26
$13.89€12.35
-0.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.66€7.70
$8.16€7.26
6.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50€2.22
$2.66€2.37
-6.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10€3.65
$3.27€2.91
25.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Lille
Lyon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.21€1.96
$2.32€2.07
-4.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.3€60.7
$82.7€73.6
-17.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.22€1.97
$8.38€7.46
-73.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.18€1.94
$2.17€1.93
0.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.40€21.71
$42.11€37.46
-42.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24€1.99
$2.32€2.06
-3.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€31.3K
$35.3K€31.4K
-0.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K€33.8K
$37.5K€33.4K
1.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lille
Lyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$207€184
$267€238
-22.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.45€13.74
$14.02€12.47
10.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.40€27.93
$29.85€26.55
5.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lille
Lyon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.68€29.07
$38.65€34.38
-15.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.93€8.84
$27.56€24.51
-63.97%
Cinema Ticket
$14.82€13.18
$15.29€13.60
-3.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lille
Lyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$631€561
$637€566
-0.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,272€7,358
$11.6K€10.3K
-28.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lille
Lyon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8€78.1
$109€97.0
-19.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13€35.69
$44.77€39.83
-10.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€90.9
$123€110
-17.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102€90.7
$127€113
-19.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lille
Lyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$906€806
$901€802
0.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$711€633
$676€602
5.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,541€1,371
$1,819€1,618
-15.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,166€1,037
$1,274€1,133
-8.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,490€3,994
$6,353€5,651
-29.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,041€2,705
$3,982€3,542
-23.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lille
Lyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,904€2,583
$3,066€2,727
-5.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.92
3.68
6.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lille: October 17, 2026
Last update for Lyon: October 18, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lille
$711 36.6%
Lyon
$676 33.4% ↓ 4.9%$35
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lille
$377 19.4%
Lyon
$389 19.2% ↑ 3.3%$12
🍽Eating Out
Lille
$300 15.4%
Lyon
$288 14.2% ↓ 3.7%$11
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lille
$254 13.1%
Lyon
$311 15.4% ↑ 22.7%$58
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lille
$149 7.7%
Lyon
$182 9% ↑ 21.8%$33
🚌Getting Around
Lille
$90 4.6%
Lyon
$111 5.5% ↑ 23.3%$21
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lille
$62 3.2%
Lyon
$69 3.4% ↑ 11.1%$6.9
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lille
$1.2K 29.6%
Lyon
$1.3K 30.1% ↑ 9.2%$108
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lille
$889 22.6%
Lyon
$922 21.8% ↑ 3.7%$33
🍽Eating Out
Lille
$963 24.5%
Lyon
$914 21.6% ↓ 5.2%$50
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lille
$269 6.8%
Lyon
$325 7.7% ↑ 20.8%$56
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lille
$332 8.4%
Lyon
$404 9.6% ↑ 21.8%$72
🚌Getting Around
Lille
$185 4.7%
Lyon
$227 5.4% ↑ 22.9%$42
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lille
$135 3.4%
Lyon
$166 3.9% ↑ 23.4%$31
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $906 in Lille versus $901 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 6% 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 $74.0 in Lille versus $68.0 in Lyon. Groceries tell a different story – $377 in Lille vs $389 in Lyon – so Lille wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Lille vs Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lille and in Lyon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,944 in Lille, $2,028 in Lyon – roughly 4% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Lille compared to Lyon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,915 per month in Lille and $3,042 in Lyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lille and Lyon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lille, 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: Lille or Lyon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,944 in Lille and $2,028 in Lyon. That's a gap of about 4%.
How do commuting costs compare in Lille and in Lyon?
Public transport costs about 21% less in Lille. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lille, where all-in costs run around $1,944, than in Lyon at $2,028. In Lille it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Lille and Lyon?
It depends on your priorities. Lille has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,944 in Lille to $2,028 in Lyon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lille 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 Lille and Lyon?
If budget matters most, go with Lille. 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.