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 $2,128 per month in Lyon vs $2,722 in Paterson, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,264 per month in Lyon vs $4,101 in Paterson, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,400 per month in Lyon vs $5,480 in Paterson, NJ, rent included.

Lyon is about 22% cheaper than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Lyon and Paterson, NJ sit above the global median – Lyon by 55%, Paterson, NJ by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.57 €15.16

$19.16 $19.16

-8.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 €60.6

$79.9 $79.9

-12.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.08 €12.15

$14.04 $14.04

0.28%

Cappuccino

$4.25 €3.67

$6.20 $6.20

-31.45%

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

$2.98 €2.57

$2.96 $2.96

0.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 €1.59

$2.92 $2.92

-36.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 €6.98

$8.17 $8.17

-0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.32 €5.46

$6.81 $6.81

-7.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 €1.40

$1.32 $1.32

22.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.09 €1.80

$4.39 $4.39

-52.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 €2.40

$6.16 $6.16

-54.87%

Eggs

$4.72 €4.07

$5.80 $5.80

-18.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.38 €20.18

$14.03 $14.03

66.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.72 €11.84

$10.21 $10.21

34.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.43 €23.67

$18.84 $18.84

45.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 €2.10

$6.08 $6.08

-59.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 €2.07

$2.24 $2.24

7.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 €2.94

$4.39 $4.39

-22.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.28 €2.83

$5.44 $5.44

-39.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 €2.52

$3.12 $3.12

-6.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 €2.65

$3.68 $3.68

-16.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 €1.30

$2.78 $2.78

-46.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 €1.06

$2.54 $2.54

-51.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.55 €12.56

$17.68 $17.68

-17.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.93 €7.71

$14.80 $14.80

-39.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 €2.52

$1.85 $1.85

57.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 €3.08

$3.64 $3.64

-1.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.50 €2.16

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.2 €75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.63 €7.45

$2.95 $2.95

192.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 €1.95

$2.11 $2.11

7.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.74 €37.75

$42.62 $42.62

2.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €1.99

$1.08 $1.08

113.89%

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

$35.2K €30.4K

$36.0K $36.0K

-2.33%

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

$36.3K €31.3K

$25.2K $25.2K

43.93%

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

$275 €237

$173 $173

58.97%

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

$15.34 €13.24

$51.5 $51.5

-70.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.34 €28.77

$50.9 $50.9

-34.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.40 €37.45

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.48 €25.43

Cinema Ticket

$15.35 €13.25

$20.48 $20.48

-25.05%

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

$652 €563

$1,755 $1,755

-62.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K €10.2K

$15.9K $15.9K

-25.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$121 €105

$50.5 $50.5

140.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.93 €42.22

$56.2 $56.2

-12.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 €112

$108 $108

20.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 €112

$103 $103

25.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 €764

$2,550 $2,550

-65.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$703 €606

$1,483 $1,483

-52.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,841 €1,588

$3,540 $3,540

-48.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,302 €1,123

$2,667 $2,667

-51.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,580 €5,678

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,128 €3,562

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,196 €2,758

$3,231 $3,231

-1.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.68

6.3

-41.59%

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

Last update for Lyon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Paterson, NJ: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $886 in Lyon versus $2,550 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 1% higher in Paterson, NJ, 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 $70.0 in Lyon versus $80.0 in Paterson, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $420 vs $448 – 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 28% 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 $3,192 per month in Lyon and $4,082 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 $2,128 in Lyon and $2,722 in Paterson, NJ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $652 per month in Lyon and $1,755 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 $2,128, than in Paterson, NJ at $2,722. 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 $2,128 versus $2,722 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.