Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Orleans and Lyon

For one person, living is cheaper in Orleans: $1,583 a month against $2,025 in Lyon, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Orleans
🇫🇷 France
$1,583
/mo nomad
Lyon
🇫🇷 France
$2,025
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Orleans 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 Orleans and in Lyon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,583 per month in Orleans vs $2,025 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Orleans $1,583
  • Lyon $2,025

A couple spends around $2,398 per month in Orleans vs $3,130 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Orleans $2,398
  • Lyon $3,130

A family of three spends $3,214 per month in Orleans vs $4,236 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Orleans $3,214
  • Lyon $4,236

Orleans is about 22% cheaper than Lyon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Orleans and Lyon sit above the global median – Orleans by 17%, Lyon by 50%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Orleans
Lyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.98 €15.10
$16.87 €15.00
0.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.8 €48.76
$67.0 €59.6
-18.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 €9.94
$13.32 €11.85
-16.07%
Cappuccino
$2.86 €2.55
$4.11 €3.66
-30.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.65
$2.87 €2.55
3.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.26
$1.73 €1.54
-18.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.48 €4.88
$8.00 €7.12
-31.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.57 €5.85
$6.31 €5.61
4.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Orleans
Lyon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 €1.01
$1.51 €1.34
-25.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 €0.99
$1.72 €1.53
-34.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 €1.99
$2.49 €2.21
-10.44%
Eggs
$3.55 €3.15
$4.63 €4.12
-23.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.49 €11.11
$22.54 €20.05
-44.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.24 €8.22
$12.38 €11.01
-25.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.64 €17.47
$23.55 €20.95
-16.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$2.40 €2.13
-5.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 €2.03
$2.41 €2.14
-4.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 €2.20
$3.54 €3.15
-30.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$3.07 €2.73
-26.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 €0.97
$2.54 €2.26
-56.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 €0.98
$3.08 €2.74
-64.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 €0.97
$1.35 €1.20
-19.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 €0.99
$1.06 €0.94
4.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.63 €13.02
$13.90 €12.36
5.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.31 €5.61
$8.04 €7.15
-21.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 €2.03
$2.75 €2.45
-17.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 €2.91
$3.32 €2.95
-1.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Orleans
Lyon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 €1.77
$2.29 €2.03
-13.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 €47.82
$83.6 €74.4
-35.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.00 €8.00
$7.92 €7.04
13.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 €1.07
$2.17 €1.93
-44.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.07 €19.63
$41.68 €37.08
-47.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 €1.75
$2.23 €1.99
-11.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K €24.7K
$34.8K €31.0K
-20.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K €32.4K
$34.9K €31.0K
4.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Orleans
Lyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 €162
$270 €240
-32.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.24 €20.67
$14.35 €12.76
61.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.23 €25.11
$28.64 €25.48
-1.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Orleans
Lyon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.37 €27.90
$39.31 €34.96
-20.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.98 €7.10
$27.36 €24.34
-70.83%
Cinema Ticket
$13.79 €12.27
$14.64 €13.02
-5.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Orleans
Lyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$886 €788
$619 €550
43.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,491 €3,106
$11.3K €10.0K
-69.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Orleans
Lyon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.5 €70.7
$109 €96.8
-26.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.86 €36.34
$43.48 €38.67
-6.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.2 €82.9
$123 €109
-24.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 €92.0
$124 €111
-16.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Orleans
Lyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$764 €680
$886 €788
-13.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 €463
$672 €598
-22.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,057 €940
$1,804 €1,604
-41.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$878 €781
$1,285 €1,143
-31.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,701 €2,403
$6,364 €5,661
-57.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,062 €1,834
$3,953 €3,516
-47.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Orleans
Lyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,244 €2,886
$3,062 €2,723
5.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.68
3.53%

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

Last update for Orleans: October 11, 2026

Last update for Lyon: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Orleans
$521
Lyon
$672 29.1% $151
Groceries & Markets
Orleans
$288
Lyon
$385 33.6% $97
Eating Out
Orleans
$262
Lyon
$295 12.8% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Orleans
$234
Lyon
$313 33.9% $79
Clothing & Footwear
Orleans
$143
Lyon
$180 26% $37
Getting Around
Orleans
$77
Lyon
$112 45.4% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Orleans
$59
Lyon
$69 16.3% $9.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $764 in Orleans versus $886 in Lyon. 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 6% higher in Orleans, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Orleans versus $67.0 in Lyon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $385 – making Orleans the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Orleans
🇫🇷 Lyon
🕒 Local time
17:53 5:53 PM
17:53 5:53 PM
Same time as Orleans
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
116,617
522,250
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Orleans Lyon 330 km
From you
  • Orleans
  • 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
Orleans vs Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Orleans or Lyon?
Lyon costs about 28% more than Orleans, 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 Orleans and in Lyon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,374 per month in Orleans and $3,038 in Lyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Orleans or Lyon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Orleans, 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 Orleans compared to Lyon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,583 in Orleans and $2,025 in Lyon. That's a gap of about 28%.
How expensive is transport in Orleans compared to Lyon?
Public transport costs about 56% less in Orleans. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Orleans or in Lyon?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Orleans, where all-in costs run around $1,583, than in Lyon at $2,025. In Orleans it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Orleans or Lyon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Orleans costs $1,583 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 Orleans compared to Lyon?
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 Orleans or to Lyon?
If budget matters most, go with Orleans. 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.

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