Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Paterson, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Paterson, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,163 per month in Lyon vs $2,648 in Paterson, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,334 per month in Lyon vs $4,467 in Paterson, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,505 per month in Lyon vs $6,286 in Paterson, NJ, rent included.

Lyon is about 18% cheaper than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Lyon and Paterson, NJ sit above the global median – Lyon by 61%, Paterson, NJ by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.46 €15.04

$17.13 $17.13

1.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.9 €65.3

$98.6 $98.6

-23.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.52 €10.78

$12.17 $12.17

2.88%

Cappuccino

$4.02 €3.46

$5.78 $5.78

-30.45%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 €2.45

$2.28 $2.28

24.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 €1.58

$1.61 $1.61

13.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 €6.86

$6.89 $6.89

15.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.11 €6.12

$6.95 $6.95

2.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 €1.27

$1.27 $1.27

16.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 €2.28

$4.36 $4.36

-39.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.66 €2.29

$5.78 $5.78

-53.98%

Eggs

$4.34 €3.73

$6.47 $6.47

-32.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.03 €21.55

$15.25 $15.25

64.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.90 €13.69

$10.21 $10.21

55.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.06 €22.44

$19.59 $19.59

33.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 €2.32

$7.60 $7.60

-64.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 €2.24

$2.44 $2.44

6.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.44 €2.96

$4.45 $4.45

-22.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 €3.36

$4.17 $4.17

-6.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 €2.46

$2.97 $2.97

-4.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 €2.41

$2.62 $2.62

6.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 €1.23

$2.87 $2.87

-50.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 €0.79

$2.48 $2.48

-63.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.10 €12.14

$17.52 $17.52

-19.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.53 €7.35

$15.05 $15.05

-43.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.20 €2.75

$1.80 $1.80

77.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 €2.67

$4.50 $4.50

-31.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 €2.04

$1.97 $1.97

19.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.3 €72.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.68 €4.89

$5.03 $5.03

12.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 €1.63

$2.14 $2.14

-11.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$58.5 €50.4

$42.72 $42.72

36.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.10 €1.81

$0.91 $0.91

130.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.2K €32.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

55.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.8K €32.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

49.68%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$283 €243

$184 $184

53.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.15 €19.08

$54.4 $54.4

-59.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.37 €32.18

$63.0 $63.0

-40.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.01 €37.90

$43.75 $43.75

0.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.14 €19.92

Cinema Ticket

$13.87 €11.94

$19.69 $19.69

-29.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$730 €628

$1,774 $1,774

-58.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K €10.2K

$15.9K $15.9K

-25.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$110 €94.6

$67.1 $67.1

63.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.5 €43.52

$47.25 $47.25

6.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 €106

$107 $107

15.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$168 €144

$173 $173

-3.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$984 €847

$2,793 $2,793

-64.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$713 €614

$1,349 $1,349

-47.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,909 €1,644

$2,612 $2,612

-26.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,242 €1,069

$3,101 $3,101

-59.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,714 €5,781

$2,518 $2,518

166.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,089 €3,521

$2,150 $2,150

90.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,282 €2,827

$3,228 $3,228

1.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.76

6.44

-41.61%

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

Last update for Lyon: May 31, 2026

Last update for Paterson, NJ: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $984 in Lyon versus $2,793 in Paterson, NJ. 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 2% higher in Lyon, 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 $99.0 in Paterson, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $434 vs $456 – making Lyon 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 Paterson, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Paterson, NJ costs about 22% more than Lyon, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,244 per month in Lyon and $3,972 in Paterson, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,163 in Lyon and $2,648 in Paterson, NJ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $730 per month in Lyon and $1,774 in Paterson, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lyon, where all-in costs run around $2,163, than in Paterson, NJ at $2,648. In Lyon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paterson, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lyon costs $2,163 versus $2,648 in Paterson, NJ. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Lyon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Paterson, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.