😐A single person spends $2,155 per month in Lyon vs $1,959 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,300 per month in Lyon vs $3,057 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,445 per month in Lyon vs $4,155 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, rent included.
😐Lyon costs about 10% more than Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Lyon and Saint-Maur-des-Fossés sit above the global median – Lyon by 61%, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés by 46%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.60€15.01
$17.48€14.91
0.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2€65.0
$71.2€60.7
7.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.57€10.72
$14.00€11.94
-10.21%
Cappuccino
$3.85€3.29
$4.60€3.92
-16.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.49
$3.98€3.40
-26.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.52
$3.37€2.88
-47.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.00€6.83
$7.88€6.72
1.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87€5.86
$7.91€6.75
-13.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49€1.27
$1.57€1.34
-5.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.51€2.14
$2.00€1.71
25.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.68€2.29
$2.83€2.41
-5.30%
Eggs
$4.15€3.54
$5.19€4.43
-20.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.90€21.24
$25.90€22.09
-3.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.08€13.71
$13.99€11.94
14.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.53€21.78
$19.63€16.74
30.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83€2.42
$3.49€2.97
-18.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52€2.15
$2.39€2.04
5.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.62€3.09
$3.55€3.03
1.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.92€3.34
$3.94€3.36
-0.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81€2.39
$2.72€2.32
3.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.75€2.34
$3.06€2.61
-10.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.25
$1.91€1.63
-23.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$0.87€0.74
4.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.81€11.78
$15.28€13.03
-9.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.80€7.50
$9.29€7.93
-5.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.74
$2.83€2.42
13.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.74
$4.18€3.57
-23.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.41€2.06
$2.02€1.72
19.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.8€72.3
$48.65€41.50
74.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.70€4.86
$4.70€4.01
21.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82€1.55
$1.99€1.70
-8.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$58.1€49.59
$55.4€47.26
4.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.70
$2.15€1.84
-6.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K€31.8K
$35.9K€30.6K
3.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K€31.4K
$36.1K€30.8K
2.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$289€246
$251€214
15.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.27€18.99
$17.13€14.62
30.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.85€31.43
$36.25€30.92
1.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.82€38.23
$36.99€31.55
21.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.37€19.93
$18.18€15.51
28.55%
Cinema Ticket
$13.66€11.65
$15.41€13.14
-11.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731€623
$879€750
-16.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8K€10.0K
$8,560€7,302
37.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113€96.1
$115€98.1
-2.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3€43.78
$46.63€39.78
10.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123€105
$126€108
-2.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163€139
$157€134
3.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$983€839
$783€668
25.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709€605
$626€534
13.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,677
$1,397€1,192
40.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216€1,038
$1,106€943
10.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,903€5,888
$4,556€3,886
51.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,115€3,510
$3,002€2,561
37.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,148€2,685
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.76
3.55
5.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lyon: April 20, 2026
Last update for Saint-Maur-des-Fossés: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $983 in Lyon versus $783 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Lyon versus $71 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 vs $413 – making Saint-Maur-des-Fossés 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 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lyon or Saint-Maur-des-Fossés?
Lyon costs about 10% more than Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,232 per month in Lyon and $2,938 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lyon or Saint-Maur-des-Fossés?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, 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 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,155 in Lyon and $1,959 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Lyon vs Saint-Maur-des-Fossés?
Public transport costs about 74% less in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lyon or Saint-Maur-des-Fossés?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, where all-in costs run around $1,959, than in Lyon at $2,155. In Saint-Maur-des-Fossés 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 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saint-Maur-des-Fossés costs $1,959 versus $2,155 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 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés?
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 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés?
If budget matters most, go with Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. 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.