Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Dunkirk Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Dunkirk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,146 per month in Lyon vs $1,973 in Dunkirk, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,284 per month in Lyon vs $3,079 in Dunkirk, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,422 per month in Lyon vs $4,185 in Dunkirk, rent included.

Lyon costs about 9% more than Dunkirk, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Lyon and Dunkirk sit above the global median – Lyon by 61%, Dunkirk by 48%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Dunkirk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.49 €15.38
$17.15 €15.08
1.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.9 €66.7
$71.5 €62.9
6.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.75 €11.21
$14.05 €12.35
-9.25%
Cappuccino
$3.93 €3.46
$4.54 €4.00
-13.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 €2.51
$4.14 €3.64
-31.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 €1.61
$3.39 €2.98
-46.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.28 €7.28
$7.99 €7.03
3.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.73 €5.92
$8.08 €7.10
-16.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Dunkirk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 €1.31
$1.56 €1.37
-4.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 €2.25
$2.10 €1.85
21.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 €2.31
$2.95 €2.59
-11.19%
Eggs
$4.30 €3.78
$5.03 €4.43
-14.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.51 €21.55
$25.27 €22.22
-3.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.19 €14.24
$14.32 €12.60
13.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.97 €22.83
$19.63 €17.26
32.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 €2.37
$3.57 €3.14
-24.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 €2.21
$2.39 €2.11
5.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 €3.08
$3.53 €3.10
-0.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 €3.54
$3.78 €3.33
6.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 €2.52
$2.74 €2.41
4.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 €2.43
$2.96 €2.60
-6.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.31
$1.90 €1.67
-21.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.74
$0.92 €0.81
-8.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.15 €12.44
$15.25 €13.41
-7.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.25 €7.25
$8.94 €7.86
-7.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.21 €2.82
$2.72 €2.39
18.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 €2.71
$3.99 €3.51
-22.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Dunkirk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.09
$1.94 €1.71
22.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.3 €73.2
$48.38 €42.54
72.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.67 €4.98
$4.67 €4.10
21.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 €1.67
$1.98 €1.74
-4.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$57.7 €50.7
$55.2 €48.56
4.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.75
$2.11 €1.86
-5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K €33.5K
$35.1K €30.9K
8.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K €32.1K
$37.0K €32.6K
-1.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Dunkirk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$279 €245
$249 €219
11.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.04 €19.38
$16.86 €14.82
30.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.96 €32.50
$36.38 €31.98
1.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Dunkirk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.38 €39.02
$38.15 €33.55
16.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.27 €20.46
$18.20 €16.01
27.86%
Cinema Ticket
$14.04 €12.34
$15.56 €13.68
-9.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Dunkirk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$737 €648
$874 €769
-15.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K €10.6K
$8,697 €7,647
39.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Dunkirk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 €97.7
$114 €99.9
-2.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 €44.44
$47.13 €41.44
7.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 €106
$122 €107
-1.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$167 €147
$158 €139
5.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Dunkirk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$983 €864
$785 €690
25.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$694 €611
$614 €540
13.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,916 €1,685
$1,377 €1,211
39.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 €1,090
$1,067 €938
16.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,540 €5,751
$4,041 €3,553
61.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,008 €3,524
$2,630 €2,312
52.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Dunkirk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,226 €2,837
$3,425 €3,012
-5.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.76
3.55
5.92%

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

Last update for Lyon: July 25, 2026

Last update for Dunkirk: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $983 in Lyon versus $785 in Dunkirk. 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 Dunkirk, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Lyon versus $72.0 in Dunkirk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $432 vs $412 – making Dunkirk 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
Lyon vs Dunkirk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dunkirk cheaper than Lyon?
Yes – Lyon is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $3,219 per month in Lyon and $2,960 in Dunkirk. 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 Dunkirk, 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 $737 per month in Lyon and $874 in Dunkirk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lyon and in Dunkirk?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Lyon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Lyon or in Dunkirk?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Dunkirk, where all-in costs run around $1,973, than in Lyon at $2,146. In Dunkirk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lyon or Dunkirk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dunkirk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lyon or Dunkirk?
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 Dunkirk. 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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