Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Metz and Lyon

For one person, living is cheaper in Metz: $1,859 a month against $2,022 in Lyon, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Metz, France
Lyon, France
Metz
🇫🇷 France
$1,859
/mo nomad
Lyon
🇫🇷 France
$2,022
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Metz and in Lyon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Metz and in Lyon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,859 per month in Metz vs $2,022 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Metz $1,859
  • Lyon $2,022

A couple spends around $2,783 per month in Metz vs $3,156 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Metz $2,783
  • Lyon $3,156

A family of three spends $3,707 per month in Metz vs $4,290 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Metz $3,707
  • Lyon $4,290

Metz is about 8% cheaper than Lyon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Metz and Lyon sit above the global median – Metz by 37%, Lyon by 50%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Metz
Lyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.70 €14.88
$17.07 €15.21
-2.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.7 €60.3
$68.0 €60.5
-0.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.31 €10.07
$13.52 €12.04
-16.35%
Cappuccino
$3.45 €3.08
$4.00 €3.56
-13.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 €3.45
$2.74 €2.44
41.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.13
$1.73 €1.54
38.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.09 €4.54
$7.76 €6.91
-34.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57 €4.96
$6.18 €5.51
-9.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Metz
Lyon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.51 €1.35
-28.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 €2.24
$1.71 €1.52
47.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.77 €2.47
$2.60 €2.31
6.54%
Eggs
$4.47 €3.98
$4.60 €4.10
-2.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.94 €19.55
$22.55 €20.09
-2.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.30 €11.85
$12.44 €11.08
6.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.48 €20.03
$23.01 €20.50
-2.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.35 €2.98
$2.40 €2.14
39.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 €2.06
$2.49 €2.22
-7.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 €2.60
$3.52 €3.14
-17.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.43 €3.94
$3.03 €2.70
46.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$2.46 €2.19
-24.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 €2.28
$2.95 €2.63
-13.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 €1.61
$1.30 €1.16
39.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.74
$1.12 €1.00
-25.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.49 €12.91
$13.81 €12.30
4.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.94 €7.96
$7.84 €6.99
14.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 €2.37
$2.73 €2.43
-2.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 €3.22
$3.34 €2.98
8.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Metz
Lyon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.20 €1.96
$2.30 €2.05
-4.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.9 €50.7
$81.7 €72.8
-30.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 €5.59
$3.37 €3.00
86.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.32
$2.26 €2.01
-34.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$45.35 €40.40
$46.12 €41.09
-1.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 €1.89
$2.28 €2.03
-7.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K €31.0K
$34.9K €31.1K
-0.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K €33.2K
$37.5K €33.4K
-0.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Metz
Lyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$153 €136
$263 €234
-41.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.43 €13.74
$14.04 €12.51
9.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.56 €20.10
$29.06 €25.88
-22.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Metz
Lyon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.66 €17.52
$37.96 €33.81
-48.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.28 €10.05
$28.03 €24.97
-59.76%
Cinema Ticket
$11.02 €9.82
$14.92 €13.29
-26.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Metz
Lyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,776 €1,582
$629 €561
182.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.7K €26.5K
$12.3K €11.0K
141.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Metz
Lyon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.3 €83.1
$108 €96.4
-13.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.30 €19.87
$43.76 €38.98
-49.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.7 €84.3
$121 €108
-21.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 €138
$128 €114
21.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Metz
Lyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$753 €671
$922 €821
-18.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 €638
$684 €609
4.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,134 €1,010
$1,910 €1,702
-40.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,068 €952
$1,358 €1,209
-21.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,579 €3,188
$6,450 €5,745
-44.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,920 €2,601
$4,230 €3,768
-30.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Metz
Lyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,320 €2,957
$3,268 €2,911
1.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.45
3.68
-6.25%

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

Last update for Metz: November 2, 2026

Last update for Lyon: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Metz
$716
Lyon
$684 4.5% $32
Groceries & Markets
Metz
$395
Lyon
$384 2.9% $11
Eating Out
Metz
$271
Lyon
$294 8.7% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Metz
$191
Lyon
$306 60.4% $115
Clothing & Footwear
Metz
$164
Lyon
$180 9.6% $16
Getting Around
Metz
$79
Lyon
$106 33% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Metz
$42
Lyon
$68 62.6% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $753 in Metz versus $922 in Lyon. 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 $68 in Metz versus $68 in Lyon. Groceries tell a different story – $395 in Metz vs $384 in Lyon – so Lyon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Metz
🇫🇷 Lyon
🕒 Local time
03:33 3:33 AM
03:33 3:33 AM
Same time as Metz
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
120,874
522,250
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Metz Lyon 390 km
From you
  • Metz
  • Lyon

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
Metz vs Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Metz or Lyon?
Lyon costs about 9% more than Metz, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Metz and in Lyon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,788 per month in Metz and $3,033 in Lyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Metz or Lyon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Metz, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $753 there versus $922 in Lyon.
How much does it cost to live in Metz compared to Lyon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,859 in Metz and $2,022 in Lyon. That makes Metz about 8% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Metz and in Lyon?
Kindergarten costs $1,776 per month in Metz and $629 in Lyon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Metz or in Lyon?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,859 in Metz and $2,022 in Lyon, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Metz or Lyon?
It depends on your priorities. Lyon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,859 in Metz to $2,022 in Lyon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Metz compared to Lyon?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Metz vs other spots: cost of living compared

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