Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Ferney-Voltaire Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Ferney-Voltaire

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,140 per month in Lyon vs $2,669 in Ferney-Voltaire, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,334 per month in Lyon vs $4,182 in Ferney-Voltaire, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,527 per month in Lyon vs $5,696 in Ferney-Voltaire, rent included.

Lyon is about 20% cheaper than Ferney-Voltaire, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lyon and Ferney-Voltaire sit above the global median – Lyon by 55%, Ferney-Voltaire by 94%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.28 €14.85
$23.09 €19.84
-25.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.8 €60.8
$82.1 €70.6
-13.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.71 €11.78
$19.05 €16.37
-28.03%
Cappuccino
$4.32 €3.72
$4.92 €4.22
-12.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 €2.44
$3.52 €3.03
-19.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 €1.58
$1.99 €1.71
-7.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.98 €6.86
$6.87 €5.90
16.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.31 €5.42
$5.82 €5.00
8.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 €1.33
$2.03 €1.74
-24.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 €1.79
$1.17 €1.01
77.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.72 €2.34
$1.93 €1.65
40.93%
Eggs
$4.95 €4.25
$3.39 €2.91
46.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.30 €20.02
$20.39 €17.52
14.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.15 €12.16
$12.88 €11.07
9.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.12 €24.16
$11.42 €9.81
146.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.04
$2.99 €2.57
-20.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 €2.13
$2.31 €1.98
7.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.39 €2.92
$3.50 €3.01
-3.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.36 €2.88
$2.36 €2.03
42.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 €2.39
$1.98 €1.70
40.40%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 €2.64
$2.38 €2.05
28.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.25
$1.19 €1.02
21.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.06
$1.15 €0.98
6.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.71 €12.64
$15.28 €13.13
-3.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.03 €7.76
$5.64 €4.85
60.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.49
$1.85 €1.59
56.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 €3.13
$2.26 €1.94
61.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 €2.08
$3.42 €2.94
-29.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.5 €73.4
$49.72 €42.72
71.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.59 €7.39
$9.43 €8.10
-8.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 €2.01
$2.53 €2.17
-7.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.98 €37.79
$35.47 €30.48
23.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.33 €2.00
$2.13 €1.83
9.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K €31.3K
$35.5K €30.5K
2.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K €31.1K
$37.2K €32.0K
-2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$270 €232
$186 €159
45.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.20 €13.06
$10.94 €9.40
38.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.31 €28.62
$54.8 €47.13
-39.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.40 €38.15
$104 €89.4
-57.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.04 €24.96
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.82 €12.74
$10.93 €9.39
35.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$663 €570
$2,588 €2,224
-74.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K €10.3K
$47.1K €40.5K
-74.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 €103
$46.09 €39.60
160.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.99 €42.96
$44.20 €37.98
13.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 €108
$96.9 €83.3
29.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 €113
$117 €100
13.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$903 €776
$1,626 €1,397
-44.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 €602
$1,337 €1,149
-47.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,836 €1,577
$2,805 €2,410
-34.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,322 €1,136
$2,848 €2,447
-53.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,584 €5,658
$4,304 €3,698
52.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,063 €3,491
$5,804 €4,988
-30.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,177 €2,730
$4,117 €3,538
-22.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.68
3.65
0.82%

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

Last update for Lyon: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ferney-Voltaire: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $903 in Lyon versus $1,626 in Ferney-Voltaire. 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 $71.0 in Lyon versus $82.0 in Ferney-Voltaire. Groceries tell a different story – $424 in Lyon vs $322 in Ferney-Voltaire – 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
Lyon vs Ferney-Voltaire: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ferney-Voltaire cheaper than Lyon?
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 $3,210 per month in Lyon and $4,004 in Ferney-Voltaire. 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 $663 per month in Lyon and $2,588 in Ferney-Voltaire. 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 Ferney-Voltaire?
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 Lyon or in Ferney-Voltaire?
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 Lyon or Ferney-Voltaire 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, Lyon or Ferney-Voltaire?
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.

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