Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lyon and Wageningen

For one person, living is cheaper in Lyon: $2,050 a month against $2,608 in Wageningen, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Wageningen outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Lyon, France
Wageningen, Netherlands
Lyon
🇫🇷 France
$2,050
/mo nomad
Wageningen
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lyon and in Wageningen

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 Wageningen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,050 per month in Lyon vs $2,608 in Wageningen, rent included.

  • Lyon $2,050
  • Wageningen $2,608

A couple spends around $3,182 per month in Lyon vs $4,037 in Wageningen, rent included.

  • Lyon $3,182
  • Wageningen $4,037

A family of three spends $4,315 per month in Lyon vs $5,466 in Wageningen, rent included.

  • Lyon $4,315
  • Wageningen $5,466

Lyon is about 21% cheaper than Wageningen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Lyon and Wageningen sit above the global median – Lyon by 51%, Wageningen by 92%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lyon
Wageningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.86 €15.11
$21.75 €19.49
-22.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.5
$91.0 €81.5
-25.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.67 €12.25
$13.31 €11.93
2.70%
Cappuccino
$4.12 €3.69
$4.28 €3.84
-3.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 €2.47
$3.86 €3.46
-28.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 €1.48
$2.59 €2.32
-36.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.60 €6.81
$5.44 €4.88
39.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 €5.45
$4.88 €4.37
24.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lyon
Wageningen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 €1.41
$1.31 €1.18
19.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 €1.54
$2.14 €1.92
-19.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 €2.20
$2.66 €2.39
-7.89%
Eggs
$4.74 €4.25
$4.80 €4.30
-1.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.95 €20.56
$13.13 €11.77
74.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.21 €10.94
$13.81 €12.38
-11.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.99 €20.60
$16.70 €14.97
37.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 €2.16
$2.67 €2.39
-9.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 €2.25
$2.38 €2.13
5.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.43 €3.07
$2.06 €1.85
66.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.19 €2.85
$4.69 €4.21
-31.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 €2.24
$1.81 €1.63
38.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 €2.64
$2.17 €1.95
35.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 €1.27
$1.20 €1.07
17.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 €0.96
$0.91 €0.82
17.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.89 €12.44
$13.77 €12.34
0.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.77 €6.96
$7.01 €6.28
10.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 €2.39
$1.26 €1.13
111.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 €2.91
$2.73 €2.44
19.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Lyon
Wageningen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 €2.16
$3.41 €3.06
-29.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.3 €73.7
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.39 €7.52
$3.99 €3.57
110.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 €1.97
$1.99 €1.78
10.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.20 €36.92
$22.65 €20.30
81.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.21 €1.98
$2.43 €2.18
-9.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K €30.8K
$40.7K €36.5K
-15.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K €33.7K
$39.6K €35.5K
-5.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
Wageningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$268 €240
$303 €272
-11.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01 €12.55
$24.41 €21.87
-42.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.09 €26.07
$45.66 €40.91
-36.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
Wageningen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.88 €33.05
$39.17 €35.10
-5.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.38 €25.43
$21.97 €19.69
29.18%
Cinema Ticket
$15.33 €13.74
$15.50 €13.89
-1.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lyon
Wageningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 €563
$2,595 €2,325
-75.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.2K €10.0K
$7,970 €7,142
40.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
Wageningen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108 €96.6
$95.8 €85.8
12.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.36 €38.86
$44.58 €39.94
-2.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 €110
$107 €96.0
14.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 €114
$104 €92.9
22.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lyon
Wageningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 €798
$1,186 €1,063
-24.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$702 €629
$1,318 €1,181
-46.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,879 €1,684
$2,748 €2,463
-31.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,369 €1,226
$2,583 €2,314
-47.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,425 €5,758
$4,369 €3,915
47.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,317 €3,869
$4,757 €4,262
-9.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lyon
Wageningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,069 €2,750
$3,387 €3,035
-9.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.68
4
-8.00%

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

Last update for Lyon: October 25, 2026

Last update for Wageningen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lyon
$702
Wageningen
$1.3K 87.7% $616
Groceries & Markets
Lyon
$385
Wageningen
$334 13.2% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lyon
$311
Wageningen
$373 20% $62
Eating Out
Lyon
$293
Wageningen
$328 11.9% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Lyon
$180
Wageningen
$158 12.3% $22
Getting Around
Lyon
$111
Wageningen
$28 * 75.2% $84
Sport & Entertainment
Lyon
$68
Wageningen
$70 3.9% $2.6

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $891 in Lyon versus $1,186 in Wageningen. 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 10% higher in Wageningen, 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 $68 in Lyon versus $91 in Wageningen. Groceries tell a different story – $385 in Lyon vs $334 in Wageningen – so Wageningen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Lyon
🇳🇱 Wageningen
🕒 Local time
09:50 9:50 AM
09:50 9:50 AM
Same time as Lyon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
522,250
39,664
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lyon Wageningen 690 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lyon
  • Wageningen

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 Wageningen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lyon or Wageningen?
Wageningen costs about 27% more than Lyon, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Wageningen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,075 per month in Lyon and $3,913 in Wageningen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lyon or Wageningen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lyon, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $891 there versus $1,186 in Wageningen.
How much does it cost to live in Lyon compared to Wageningen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,050 in Lyon and $2,608 in Wageningen. That makes Lyon about 21% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Lyon and in Wageningen?
Kindergarten costs $628 per month in Lyon and $2,595 in Wageningen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lyon or in Wageningen?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,050 in Lyon and $2,608 in Wageningen. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lyon or Wageningen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lyon costs $2,050 versus $2,608 in Wageningen. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lyon compared to Wageningen?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Lyon or to Wageningen?
If budget matters most, go with Lyon. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Wageningen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Lyon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?