Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and AmbertCost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Ambert
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,140 in Lyon versus $1,869 in Ambert.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,334 in Lyon versus $2,835 in Ambert.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,527 in Lyon versus $3,802 in Ambert.
🌍Living in Lyon is roughly 14% more expensive than in Ambert, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lyon55% above, Ambert36% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Ambert
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.28€14.89
$15.31€13.20
12.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.8€61.0
$45.89€39.56
54.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.71€11.82
$8.35€7.20
64.19%
Cappuccino
$4.32€3.73
$3.91€3.37
10.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84€2.45
$2.95€2.54
-3.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.59
$1.96€1.69
-6.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.98€6.88
$5.69€4.91
40.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.31€5.44
$4.78€4.12
32.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Ambert
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54€1.33
$1.07€0.92
43.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08€1.80
$2.41€2.08
-13.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.72€2.35
$2.83€2.44
-3.89%
Eggs
$4.95€4.27
$3.45€2.97
43.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.30€20.09
$19.23€16.58
21.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.15€12.20
$14.65€12.62
-3.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.12€24.24
$26.30€22.67
6.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.04
$3.09€2.66
-23.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48€2.14
$2.48€2.14
-
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39€2.93
$2.53€2.18
33.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.36€2.89
$3.05€2.63
10.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.78€2.40
$2.57€2.22
8.17%
Onion(1kg)
$3.07€2.65
$3.13€2.70
-1.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.77€1.52
-18.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23€1.06
$0.67€0.57
83.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.71€12.68
$14.72€12.69
-0.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.03€7.78
$7.71€6.64
17.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.50
$3.76€3.24
-22.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64€3.14
$2.81€2.42
29.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Ambert
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.42€2.09
$1.92€1.66
26.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.5€73.7
$50.4€43.42
69.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.59€7.41
$5.08€4.38
69.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.34€2.01
$1.79€1.54
30.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.98€37.91
$34.96€30.14
25.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.33€2.01
$2.14€1.85
8.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.4K
$36.1K€31.1K
0.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K€31.2K
$36.7K€31.6K
-1.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Ambert
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$270€233
$216€186
25.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.20€13.10
$17.13€14.77
-11.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.31€28.71
$32.49€28.00
2.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Ambert
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.40€38.27
$37.83€32.61
17.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.04€25.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.82€12.78
$9.12€7.86
62.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Ambert
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$663€571
$785€677
-15.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.3K
$13.6K€11.7K
-12.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Ambert
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120€103
$92.2€79.4
30.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.99€43.10
$51.8€44.63
-3.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126€108
$108€93.3
16.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€114
$186€161
-29.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Ambert
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$903€778
$782€674
15.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701€604
$645€556
8.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,836€1,582
$1,451€1,250
26.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,322€1,139
$1,131€975
16.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,584€5,676
$4,210€3,629
56.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,063€3,502
$3,173€2,735
28.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Ambert
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,177€2,739
$1,881€1,622
68.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.68
3.81
-3.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lyon: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ambert: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $903 in Lyon and $782 in Ambert. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lyon pays 69% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Lyon vs $46.00 in Ambert for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $424 vs $394 per month, with Ambert cheaper across the board.
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
Lyon vs Ambert: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lyon and in Ambert?
Lyon and Ambert differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,140 vs $1,869 including rent). Ambert is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lyon or Ambert?
Average pay runs 69% higher in Lyon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lyon and in Ambert?
Rent for a central apartment: $903 in Lyon versus $782 in Ambert. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Lyon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ambert – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $71.0 in Lyon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,869 in Ambert versus $2,140 in Lyon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Ambert but tight or insufficient in Lyon. The gap between the two cities makes Ambert the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lyon and Ambert?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lyon or Ambert safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lyon and Ambert are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lyon or Ambert?
Expats usually find Ambert gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Lyon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.