For one person, living is cheaper in Vichy: $1,468 a month against $2,025 in Lyon, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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 Vichy actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,025 per month in Lyon vs $1,468 in Vichy, rent included.
Lyon $2,025
Vichy $1,468
A couple spends around $3,130 per month in Lyon vs $2,201 in Vichy, rent included.
Lyon $3,130
Vichy $2,201
A family of three spends $4,236 per month in Lyon vs $2,933 in Vichy, rent included.
Lyon $4,236
Vichy $2,933
😐
Lyon costs about 38% more than Vichy, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Lyon and Vichy sit above the global median – Lyon by 50%, Vichy by 9%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Vichy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.87€15.00
$7.76€6.90
117.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.0€59.6
$54.6€48.58
22.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.32€11.85
$7.29€6.49
82.72%
Cappuccino
$4.11€3.66
$2.74€2.44
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87€2.55
$2.77€2.47
3.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.54
$1.35€1.20
28.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.00€7.12
$5.55€4.93
44.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.31€5.61
$4.52€4.02
39.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Vichy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51€1.34
$0.94€0.83
60.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72€1.53
$1.88€1.67
-8.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.49€2.21
$1.75€1.55
42.29%
Eggs
$4.63€4.12
$1.96€1.74
136.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.54€20.05
$23.90€21.26
-5.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.38€11.01
$5.67€5.04
118.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.55€20.95
$7.40€6.58
218.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.13
$1.27€1.13
88.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41€2.14
$1.86€1.66
29.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.54€3.15
$2.82€2.51
25.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.07€2.73
$1.95€1.74
57.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.54€2.26
$1.36€1.21
86.76%
Onion(1kg)
$3.08€2.74
$1.12€0.99
175.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.20
$1.11€0.99
21.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06€0.94
$0.37€0.33
186.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.90€12.36
$10.94€9.74
27.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.04€7.15
$3.47€3.08
131.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.45
$2.32€2.06
18.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32€2.95
$2.41€2.14
37.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Vichy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€2.03
$1.86€1.65
23.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.6€74.4
$48.01€42.70
74.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.92€7.04
$5.36€4.77
47.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17€1.93
$2.04€1.81
6.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.68€37.08
$33.63€29.92
23.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23€1.99
$2.16€1.92
3.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K€31.0K
$36.2K€32.2K
-3.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K€31.0K
$32.1K€28.6K
8.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Vichy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$270€240
$134€119
101.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.35€12.76
$13.43€11.95
6.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.64€25.48
$32.74€29.12
-12.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Vichy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.31€34.96
$38.27€34.04
2.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.36€24.34
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.64€13.02
$8.77€7.80
66.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Vichy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$619€550
$790€703
-21.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€10.0K
$10.7K€9,559
4.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Vichy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109€96.8
$65.9€58.7
65.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48€38.67
$27.99€24.89
55.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123€109
$61.8€54.9
99.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€111
$46.78€41.61
165.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Vichy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$886€788
$746€664
18.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$672€598
$658€585
2.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,804€1,604
$1,355€1,205
33.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,285€1,143
$1,118€994
14.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,364€5,661
$3,410€3,033
86.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,953€3,516
$3,172€2,821
24.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Vichy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,062€2,723
$1,635€1,455
87.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.68
3.79
-2.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lyon: October 12, 2026
Last update for Vichy: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lyon
$672 33.2%
Vichy
$658 44.8% ↓ 2.1%$14
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lyon
$385 19%
Vichy
$242 16.5% ↓ 37.1%$143
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
$313 15.5%
Vichy
$180 12.3% ↓ 42.5%$133
🍽Eating Out
Lyon
$295 14.6%
Vichy
$170 11.6% ↓ 42.4%$125
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
$180 8.9%
Vichy
$91 6.2% ↓ 49.3%$89
🚌Getting Around
Lyon
$112 5.5%
Vichy
$71 4.8% ↓ 36.4%$41
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
$69 3.4%
Vichy
$56 3.8% ↓ 18.6%$13
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lyon
$1.3K 30.3%
Vichy
$1.1K 38.1% ↓ 13%$167
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lyon
$911 21.5%
Vichy
$560 19.1% ↓ 38.5%$351
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
$327 7.7%
Vichy
$193 6.6% ↓ 40.9%$134
🍽Eating Out
Lyon
$921 21.7%
Vichy
$602 20.5% ↓ 34.6%$319
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
$400 9.4%
Vichy
$202 6.9% ↓ 49.3%$197
🚌Getting Around
Lyon
$228 5.4%
Vichy
$146 5% ↓ 36%$82
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
$165 3.9%
Vichy
$112 * 3.8% ↓ 32.1%$53
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $886 in Lyon versus $746 in Vichy. 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 87% higher in Lyon, 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 $67.0 in Lyon versus $55.0 in Vichy. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $242 – making Vichy the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Vichy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lyon or Vichy?
Lyon costs about 38% more than Vichy, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Vichy?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,038 per month in Lyon and $2,202 in Vichy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lyon or Vichy?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Vichy, 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 Vichy?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,025 in Lyon and $1,468 in Vichy. That's a gap of about 38%.
How expensive is transport in Lyon compared to Vichy?
Public transport costs about 74% less in Vichy. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Lyon or in Vichy?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Vichy, where all-in costs run around $1,468, than in Lyon at $2,025. In Vichy 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 Vichy?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vichy costs $1,468 versus $2,025 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 Vichy?
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 to Vichy?
If budget matters most, go with Vichy. 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.