Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Roskilde Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Roskilde

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,163 per month in Lyon vs $2,463 in Roskilde, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,334 per month in Lyon vs $3,950 in Roskilde, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,505 per month in Lyon vs $5,436 in Roskilde, rent included.

Lyon is about 12% cheaper than Roskilde, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lyon and Roskilde sit above the global median – Lyon by 61%, Roskilde by 84%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Roskilde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.46 €15.02
$18.44 DKK 119
-5.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.9 €65.3
$117 DKK 752
-35.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.52 €10.77
$13.88 DKK 89.3
-9.80%
Cappuccino
$4.02 €3.46
$6.81 DKK 43.77
-40.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 €2.44
$4.69 DKK 30.15
-39.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 €1.57
$3.07 DKK 19.76
-40.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.97 €6.85
$9.20 DKK 59.2
-13.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 €6.11
$7.59 DKK 48.80
-6.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Roskilde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.27
$1.96 DKK 12.61
-24.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 €2.27
$3.26 DKK 20.97
-19.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 €2.28
$2.43 DKK 15.63
9.47%
Eggs
$4.34 €3.73
$4.89 DKK 31.41
-11.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.03 €21.53
$13.52 DKK 86.9
85.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.90 €13.68
$10.90 DKK 70.1
45.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.06 €22.41
$16.11 DKK 104
61.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 €2.31
$2.78 DKK 17.90
-3.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.60 €2.23
$2.93 DKK 18.85
-11.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.44 €2.96
$2.11 DKK 13.56
63.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 €3.36
$4.09 DKK 26.31
-4.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.46
$1.82 DKK 11.71
56.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.80 €2.41
$1.54 DKK 9.91
81.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 €1.23
$1.63 DKK 10.46
-12.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.79
$0.75 DKK 4.83
21.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.10 €12.13
$8.74 DKK 56.2
61.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.53 €7.34
$7.72 DKK 49.65
10.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.20 €2.75
$1.96 DKK 12.61
63.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 €2.66
$2.16 DKK 13.86
43.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Roskilde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.03
$3.79 DKK 24.35
-37.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.3 €72.5
$78.0 DKK 501
8.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.68 €4.89
$6.34 DKK 40.77
-10.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 €1.63
$1.38 DKK 8.87
37.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$58.5 €50.3
$60.5 DKK 389
-3.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 €1.81
$2.11 DKK 13.56
-0.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K €32.0K
$49.2K DKK 316.4K
-24.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K €32.5K
$47.8K DKK 307.6K
-21.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Roskilde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$283 €243
$205 DKK 1,317
37.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 €19.06
$20.15 DKK 130
9.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.37 €32.14
$40.16 DKK 258
-6.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Roskilde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.01 €37.86
$53.9 DKK 347
-18.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.14 €19.90
$30.15 DKK 194
-23.25%
Cinema Ticket
$13.87 €11.93
$16.99 DKK 109
-18.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Roskilde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$730 €628
$395 DKK 2,541
84.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K €10.2K
$5,857 DKK 37.7K
101.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Roskilde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 €94.5
$105 DKK 673
4.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 €43.47
$36.35 DKK 234
39.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 €106
$121 DKK 775
2.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168 €144
$201 DKK 1,293
-16.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Roskilde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$984 €846
$1,324 DKK 8,514
-25.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$713 €613
$1,144 DKK 7,354
-37.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,909 €1,642
$2,634 DKK 16.9K
-27.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 €1,068
$2,103 DKK 13.5K
-40.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,714 €5,775
$6,977 DKK 44.9K
-3.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,089 €3,517
$6,208 DKK 39.9K
-34.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Roskilde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,282 €2,824
$4,306 DKK 27.7K
-23.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.76
3.93
-4.33%

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

Last update for Lyon: May 31, 2026

Last update for Roskilde: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $984 in Lyon versus $1,324 in Roskilde. 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 31% higher in Roskilde, 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 $117 in Roskilde. Groceries tell a different story – $434 in Lyon vs $339 in Roskilde – so Roskilde wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Roskilde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lyon or Roskilde?
Roskilde costs about 14% more than Lyon, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Roskilde?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,244 per month in Lyon and $3,695 in Roskilde. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lyon or Roskilde?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Lyon compared to Roskilde?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,163 in Lyon and $2,463 in Roskilde. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Lyon vs Roskilde?
Public transport costs about 8% less in Lyon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lyon or Roskilde?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lyon, where all-in costs run around $2,163, than in Roskilde at $2,463. In Lyon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roskilde it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lyon or Roskilde?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lyon costs $2,163 versus $2,463 in Roskilde. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lyon compared to Roskilde?
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 Roskilde?
If budget matters most, go with Lyon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roskilde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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