Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Lille Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Lille

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,163 per month in Lyon vs $1,915 in Lille, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,334 per month in Lyon vs $2,912 in Lille, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,505 per month in Lyon vs $3,910 in Lille, rent included.

Lyon costs about 13% more than Lille, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lyon and Lille sit above the global median – Lyon by 61%, Lille by 43%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Lille
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.46 €15.15
$18.28 €15.86
-4.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.9 €65.8
$68.5 €59.4
10.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.52 €10.87
$13.76 €11.94
-9.01%
Cappuccino
$4.02 €3.49
$3.69 €3.20
8.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 €2.47
$3.24 €2.81
-12.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 €1.59
$2.17 €1.88
-15.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.97 €6.91
$8.07 €7.00
-1.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 €6.17
$5.83 €5.06
21.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Lille
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.28
$1.47 €1.28
0.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 €2.29
$1.82 €1.58
45.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 €2.30
$2.96 €2.57
-10.14%
Eggs
$4.34 €3.76
$4.02 €3.49
7.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.03 €21.72
$22.13 €19.20
13.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.90 €13.79
$13.34 €11.58
19.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.06 €22.61
$24.04 €20.86
8.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 €2.33
$3.80 €3.29
-29.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.60 €2.25
$2.19 €1.90
18.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.44 €2.99
$2.42 €2.10
42.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 €3.38
$3.25 €2.82
20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.48
$1.99 €1.72
43.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.80 €2.43
$2.11 €1.83
32.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 €1.24
$1.51 €1.31
-5.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.79
$0.64 €0.56
42.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.10 €12.23
$13.34 €11.58
5.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.53 €7.40
$8.96 €7.78
-4.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.20 €2.77
$2.40 €2.08
33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 €2.69
$4.27 €3.70
-27.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Lille
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$2.34 €2.03
0.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.3 €73.1
$68.7 €59.6
22.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.68 €4.93
$4.59 €3.98
23.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 €1.65
$1.88 €1.63
1.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$58.5 €50.8
$32.93 €28.57
77.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 €1.82
$1.99 €1.72
5.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K €32.2K
$37.2K €32.3K
-0.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K €32.8K
$38.0K €32.9K
-0.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Lille
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$283 €245
$200 €173
41.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 €19.22
$23.37 €20.28
-5.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.37 €32.42
$28.96 €25.13
29.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Lille
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.01 €38.18
$39.87 €34.59
10.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.14 €20.07
$18.24 €15.83
26.86%
Cinema Ticket
$13.87 €12.03
$14.30 €12.40
-3.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Lille
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$730 €633
$579 €502
26.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K €10.2K
$8,540 €7,409
38.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Lille
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 €95.3
$88.8 €77.0
23.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 €43.85
$37.17 €32.25
35.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 €107
$84.8 €73.6
45.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168 €146
$104 €89.9
61.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Lille
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$984 €854
$833 €723
18.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$713 €618
$687 €596
3.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,909 €1,656
$1,619 €1,404
17.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 €1,077
$1,200 €1,041
3.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,714 €5,825
$4,507 €3,910
48.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,089 €3,547
$3,198 €2,774
27.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Lille
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,282 €2,848
$3,145 €2,729
4.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.76
3.69
1.90%

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

Last update for Lyon: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lille: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $984 in Lyon versus $833 in Lille. 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 4% 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 $76.0 in Lyon versus $68.0 in Lille. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $434 vs $387 – making Lille 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 Lille: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lyon and Lille compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,163 in Lyon, $1,915 in Lille – roughly 13% apart. Lyon costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lyon compared to Lille?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,244 per month in Lyon and $2,872 in Lille. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lyon and Lille?
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: Lyon or Lille?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,163 in Lyon and $1,915 in Lille. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Lyon and Lille?
Public transport costs about 23% 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 $1,915, than in Lyon at $2,163. 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 Lyon and Lille?
It depends on your priorities. Lyon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,915 in Lille to $2,163 in Lyon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lyon or Lille 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 Lyon and Lille?
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.

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