Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Belfort

For one person, living is cheaper in Belfort: $1,885 a month against $2,050 in Lyon, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Lyon, France
Belfort, France
Lyon
🇫🇷 France
$2,050
/mo nomad
Belfort
🇫🇷 France
$1,885
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lyon and in Belfort

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lyon and in Belfort actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,050 per month in Lyon vs $1,885 in Belfort, rent included.

  • Lyon $2,050
  • Belfort $1,885

A couple spends around $3,182 per month in Lyon vs $2,891 in Belfort, rent included.

  • Lyon $3,182
  • Belfort $2,891

A family of three spends $4,315 per month in Lyon vs $3,897 in Belfort, rent included.

  • Lyon $4,315
  • Belfort $3,897

Lyon costs about 9% more than Belfort, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Lyon and Belfort sit above the global median – Lyon by 51%, Belfort by 38%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Belfort
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.86 €15.15
$16.97 €15.25
-0.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.7
$67.7 €60.8
-0.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.67 €12.29
$13.63 €12.24
0.29%
Cappuccino
$4.12 €3.70
$4.13 €3.71
-0.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 €2.48
$2.64 €2.37
4.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 €1.49
$1.74 €1.56
-5.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.60 €6.83
$7.77 €6.98
-2.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 €5.46
$5.69 €5.12
6.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Belfort
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 €1.41
$0.78 €0.70
101.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 €1.55
$1.15 €1.03
49.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 €2.21
$1.64 €1.48
49.39%
Eggs
$4.74 €4.26
$4.80 €4.31
-1.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.95 €20.62
$22.87 €20.55
0.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.21 €10.97
$12.54 €11.27
-2.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.99 €20.65
$23.64 €21.24
-2.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 €2.17
$2.41 €2.17
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 €2.25
$2.45 €2.20
2.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.43 €3.08
$3.53 €3.17
-2.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.19 €2.86
$3.15 €2.83
1.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 €2.25
$2.51 €2.26
-0.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 €2.64
$2.29 €2.06
28.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 €1.27
$1.36 €1.22
3.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 €0.96
$0.89 €0.80
20.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.89 €12.48
$13.38 €12.02
3.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.77 €6.98
$7.96 €7.16
-2.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 €2.39
$1.32 €1.18
101.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 €2.92
$1.09 €0.98
198.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Belfort
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 €2.17
$1.95 €1.75
24.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.3 €73.9
$48.91 €43.95
68.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.39 €7.54
$7.96 €7.15
5.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 €1.98
$2.22 €2.00
-0.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.20 €37.01
$42.13 €37.85
-2.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.21 €1.98
$2.30 €2.07
-3.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K €30.9K
$35.2K €31.6K
-2.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K €33.8K
$37.2K €33.5K
0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Belfort
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$268 €241
$264 €238
1.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01 €12.59
$14.10 €12.67
-0.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.09 €26.14
$29.22 €26.25
-0.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Belfort
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.88 €33.13
$22.71 €20.41
62.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.38 €25.50
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.33 €13.78
$15.38 €13.82
-0.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Belfort
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 €564
$622 €559
0.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.2K €10.1K
$11.7K €10.5K
-4.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Belfort
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108 €96.8
$108 €97.3
-0.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.36 €38.96
$43.58 €39.16
-0.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 €110
$125 €112
-2.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 €114
$124 €112
2.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Belfort
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 €800
$765 €687
16.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$702 €631
$617 €554
13.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,879 €1,689
$1,433 €1,287
31.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,369 €1,230
$1,134 €1,019
20.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,425 €5,773
$4,137 €3,717
55.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,317 €3,879
$3,029 €2,722
42.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Belfort
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,069 €2,757
$2,098 €1,885
46.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.68
3.68
-

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

Last update for Lyon: October 25, 2026

Last update for Belfort: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lyon
$702
Belfort
$617 12.2% $86
Groceries & Markets
Lyon
$385
Belfort
$357 7.2% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
$311
Belfort
$308 1% $3.2
Eating Out
Lyon
$293
Belfort
$294 0.2% $0.7
Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
$180
Belfort
$180 0.2% $0.4
Getting Around
Lyon
$111
Belfort
$76 31.9% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
$68
Belfort
$53 20.8% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $891 in Lyon versus $765 in Belfort. 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 46% higher in Lyon. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68 in Lyon versus $68 in Belfort. Groceries tell a different story – $385 in Lyon vs $357 in Belfort – so Belfort wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Lyon
🇫🇷 Belfort
🕒 Local time
14:02 2:02 PM
14:02 2:02 PM
Same time as Lyon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
522,250
45,155
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lyon Belfort 260 km
From you
  • Lyon
  • Belfort

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
Lyon vs Belfort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lyon or Belfort?
Lyon costs about 9% more than Belfort, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lyon and in Belfort?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,075 per month in Lyon and $2,827 in Belfort. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lyon or Belfort?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Belfort, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $765 there versus $891 in Lyon.
How much does it cost to live in Lyon compared to Belfort?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,050 in Lyon and $1,885 in Belfort. That’s a gap of about 9%.
How do childcare costs compare in Lyon and in Belfort?
Kindergarten costs $628 per month in Lyon and $622 in Belfort. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Lyon or Belfort?
It depends on your priorities. Lyon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,885 in Belfort to $2,050 in Lyon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Lyon compared to Belfort?
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.
Should I move to Lyon or to Belfort?
If budget matters most, go with Belfort. 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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