Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,567 a month against $2,025 in Lyon, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Lyon
🇫🇷 France
$2,025
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lyon and in Mexico City

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 Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,025 per month in Lyon vs $1,567 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Lyon $2,025
  • Mexico City $1,567

A couple spends around $3,130 per month in Lyon vs $2,450 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Lyon $3,130
  • Mexico City $2,450

A family of three spends $4,236 per month in Lyon vs $3,333 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Lyon $4,236
  • Mexico City $3,333

Lyon costs about 29% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Lyon and Mexico City sit above the global median – Lyon by 50%, Mexico City by 16%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.87 €15.00
$10.75 MX$199
56.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.0 €59.6
$50.3 MX$929
33.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.32 €11.85
$11.10 MX$205
20.00%
Cappuccino
$4.11 €3.66
$3.68 MX$68.1
11.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 €2.55
$1.65 MX$30.42
73.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$1.30 MX$24.08
33.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.00 €7.12
$3.32 MX$61.3
140.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.31 €5.61
$5.54 MX$102
13.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 €1.34
$1.77 MX$32.68
-14.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 €1.53
$3.05 MX$56.4
-43.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 €2.21
$2.01 MX$37.20
23.88%
Eggs
$4.63 €4.12
$2.77 MX$51.1
67.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.54 €20.05
$11.91 MX$220
89.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.38 €11.01
$9.33 MX$172
32.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.55 €20.95
$15.02 MX$278
56.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 €2.13
$3.08 MX$56.8
-22.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.41 €2.14
$1.95 MX$35.97
23.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.54 €3.15
$2.03 MX$37.54
74.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 €2.73
$2.21 MX$40.92
38.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.26
$2.02 MX$37.41
25.74%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 €2.74
$1.82 MX$33.67
69.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 €1.20
$1.52 MX$28.07
-11.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 €0.94
$1.28 MX$23.65
-17.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.90 €12.36
$5.27 MX$97.4
163.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.04 €7.15
$16.12 MX$298
-50.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 €2.45
$1.95 MX$36.05
41.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 €2.95
$4.25 MX$78.6
-21.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 €2.03
$0.31 MX$5.82
638.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.6 €74.4
$19.85 MX$367
321.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.92 €7.04
$2.00 MX$36.93
296.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 €1.93
$0.53 MX$9.86
309.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.68 €37.08
$5.62 MX$104
641.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 €1.99
$1.52 MX$28.07
46.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K €31.0K
$21.0K MX$388.7K
65.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K €31.0K
$25.2K MX$465.3K
38.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$270 €240
$62.5 MX$1,155
331.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.35 €12.76
$28.77 MX$532
-50.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.64 €25.48
$34.45 MX$637
-16.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.31 €34.96
$57.1 MX$1,055
-31.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.36 €24.34
$24.81 MX$458
10.28%
Cinema Ticket
$14.64 €13.02
$6.67 MX$123
119.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$619 €550
$431 MX$7,964
43.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K €10.0K
$11.7K MX$216.9K
-3.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109 €96.8
$70.8 MX$1,308
53.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 €38.67
$51.8 MX$958
-16.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 €109
$109 MX$2,011
12.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$112 MX$2,076
10.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$886 €788
$1,051 MX$19.4K
-15.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 €598
$665 MX$12.3K
1.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,804 €1,604
$2,346 MX$43.3K
-23.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,285 €1,143
$1,227 MX$22.7K
4.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,364 €5,661
$3,554 MX$65.7K
79.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,953 €3,516
$1,977 MX$36.5K
99.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,062 €2,723
$975 MX$18.0K
214.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.68
11.3
-67.43%

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

Last update for Lyon: October 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lyon
$672
Mexico City
$665 1% $7.1
Groceries & Markets
Lyon
$385
Mexico City
$323 16.2% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
$313
Mexico City
$126 59.8% $187
Eating Out
Lyon
$295
Mexico City
$203 31.3% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
$180
Mexico City
$155 14% $25
Getting Around
Lyon
$112
Mexico City
$26 76.9% $86
Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
$69
Mexico City
$70 2.7% $1.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $886 in Lyon versus $1,051 in Mexico City. 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 214% 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 $67.0 in Lyon versus $50.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $323 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Lyon
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
20:10 8:10 PM
12:10 12:10 PM
8 h behind Lyon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
522,250
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.78 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lyon Mexico City 9,500 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lyon
  • Mexico City

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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lyon or Mexico City?
Lyon costs about 29% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,038 per month in Lyon and $2,351 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lyon or Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Lyon compared to Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,025 in Lyon and $1,567 in Mexico City. That's a gap of about 29%.
How expensive is transport in Lyon compared to Mexico City?
Public transport costs about 321% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lyon or in Mexico City?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,567, than in Lyon at $2,025. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lyon or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,567 versus $2,025 in Lyon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lyon compared to Mexico City?
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 Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. 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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