Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Nancy

For one person, living is cheaper in Nancy: $1,711 a month against $2,050 in Lyon, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lyon, France
Nancy, France
Lyon
🇫🇷 France
$2,050
/mo nomad
Nancy
🇫🇷 France
$1,711
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lyon and in Nancy

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

A single person spends $2,050 per month in Lyon vs $1,711 in Nancy, rent included.

  • Lyon $2,050
  • Nancy $1,711

A couple spends around $3,182 per month in Lyon vs $2,703 in Nancy, rent included.

  • Lyon $3,182
  • Nancy $2,703

A family of three spends $4,315 per month in Lyon vs $3,695 in Nancy, rent included.

  • Lyon $4,315
  • Nancy $3,695

Lyon costs about 20% more than Nancy, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Lyon and Nancy sit above the global median – Lyon by 51%, Nancy by 26%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Nancy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.86 €15.10
$15.85 €14.19
6.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.5
$67.7 €60.6
-0.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.67 €12.25
$13.37 €11.97
2.24%
Cappuccino
$4.12 €3.69
$4.31 €3.86
-4.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 €2.47
$3.30 €2.95
-16.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 €1.48
$2.07 €1.85
-20.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.60 €6.80
$7.84 €7.02
-3.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 €5.44
$5.47 €4.89
11.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Nancy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 €1.41
$1.06 €0.95
48.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 €1.54
$1.28 €1.14
34.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 €2.20
$1.73 €1.55
41.62%
Eggs
$4.74 €4.25
$3.41 €3.06
39.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.95 €20.55
$14.74 €13.20
55.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.21 €10.93
$16.62 €14.88
-26.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.99 €20.59
$21.15 €18.94
8.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 €2.16
$2.48 €2.22
-2.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 €2.24
$2.46 €2.20
2.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.43 €3.07
$2.20 €1.97
55.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.19 €2.85
$3.69 €3.30
-13.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 €2.24
$1.35 €1.21
85.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 €2.64
$2.31 €2.07
27.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 €1.27
$1.31 €1.17
7.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 €0.96
$0.69 €0.62
55.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.89 €12.44
$13.50 €12.09
2.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.77 €6.96
$8.53 €7.64
-8.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 €2.38
$2.21 €1.98
20.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 €2.91
$4.60 €4.12
-29.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Nancy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 €2.16
$1.73 €1.55
39.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.3 €73.7
$51.9 €46.46
58.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.39 €7.52
$3.30 €2.96
154.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 €1.97
$2.11 €1.89
4.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.20 €36.89
$26.87 €24.07
53.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.21 €1.98
$2.11 €1.89
4.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K €30.8K
$34.2K €30.6K
0.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K €33.6K
$36.3K €32.5K
3.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Nancy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$268 €240
$273 €245
-2.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01 €12.55
$12.91 €11.56
8.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.09 €26.06
$27.58 €24.70
5.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Nancy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.88 €33.03
$28.13 €25.20
31.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.38 €25.41
$17.59 €15.75
61.34%
Cinema Ticket
$15.33 €13.73
$13.21 €11.83
16.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Nancy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 €563
$560 €501
12.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.2K €10.0K
$15.6K €13.9K
-28.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Nancy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108 €96.5
$93.7 €84.0
14.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.36 €38.84
$40.64 €36.40
6.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 €109
$103 €92.0
19.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 €114
$145 €129
-12.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Nancy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 €798
$679 €609
31.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$702 €629
$459 €411
52.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,879 €1,683
$1,254 €1,123
49.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,369 €1,226
$976 €874
40.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,425 €5,755
$2,602 €2,330
146.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,317 €3,866
$2,273 €2,035
89.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Nancy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,069 €2,748
$2,286 €2,047
34.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.68
3.76
-2.13%

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

Last update for Lyon: October 25, 2026

Last update for Nancy: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lyon
$702
Nancy
$459 34.6% $243
Groceries & Markets
Lyon
$385
Nancy
$349 9.4% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
$311
Nancy
$314 0.9% $2.9
Eating Out
Lyon
$293
Nancy
$290 1% $3
Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
$180
Nancy
$172 4.6% $8.4
Getting Around
Lyon
$111
Nancy
$73 34.8% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
$68
Nancy
$55 19.2% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $891 in Lyon versus $679 in Nancy. 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 34% 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 Nancy. Groceries tell a different story – $385 in Lyon vs $349 in Nancy – so Nancy wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Lyon
🇫🇷 Nancy
🕒 Local time
12:50 12:50 PM
12:50 12:50 PM
Same time as Lyon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
522,250
104,260
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lyon Nancy 340 km
From you
  • Lyon
  • Nancy

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 Nancy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lyon or Nancy?
Lyon costs about 20% more than Nancy, 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 Nancy?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,075 per month in Lyon and $2,566 in Nancy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lyon or Nancy?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nancy, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $679 there versus $891 in Lyon.
How much does it cost to live in Lyon compared to Nancy?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,050 in Lyon and $1,711 in Nancy. That makes Nancy about 17% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Lyon and in Nancy?
Kindergarten costs $628 per month in Lyon and $560 in Nancy. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lyon or in Nancy?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nancy, where all-in costs run around $1,711, than in Lyon at $2,050. In Nancy it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Nancy – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Lyon compared to Nancy?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Lyon or to Nancy?
If budget matters most, go with Nancy. If higher salaries 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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