Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rueil-Malmaison and Lyon

For one person, living is cheaper in Rueil-Malmaison: $1,778 a month against $2,028 in Lyon, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rueil-Malmaison
🇫🇷 France
$1,778
/mo nomad
Lyon
🇫🇷 France
$2,028
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,778 per month in Rueil-Malmaison vs $2,028 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Rueil-Malmaison $1,778
  • Lyon $2,028

A couple spends around $2,710 per month in Rueil-Malmaison vs $3,130 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Rueil-Malmaison $2,710
  • Lyon $3,130

A family of three spends $3,641 per month in Rueil-Malmaison vs $4,232 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Rueil-Malmaison $3,641
  • Lyon $4,232

Rueil-Malmaison is about 12% cheaper than Lyon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Rueil-Malmaison and Lyon sit above the global median – Rueil-Malmaison by 31%, Lyon by 50%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rueil-Malmaison
Lyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.01 €15.13
$16.52 €14.70
2.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.25 €40.25
$68.2 €60.7
-33.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.77 €6.91
$13.22 €11.76
-41.23%
Cappuccino
$1.68 €1.50
$4.02 €3.57
-58.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 €2.71
$2.66 €2.37
14.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.83
$1.73 €1.54
19.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.46 €7.53
$7.62 €6.78
11.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 €2.89
$6.33 €5.63
-48.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rueil-Malmaison
Lyon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.14
$1.56 €1.39
-17.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.57
$1.72 €1.53
2.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.46 €2.19
$2.48 €2.20
-0.81%
Eggs
$3.91 €3.48
$4.73 €4.21
-17.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.11 €8.99
$22.97 €20.43
-55.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.77 €10.47
$12.54 €11.16
-6.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.79 €14.05
$23.68 €21.07
-33.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 €2.67
$2.42 €2.15
23.97%
Banana (1kg)
$3.07 €2.73
$2.44 €2.17
25.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 €1.34
$3.49 €3.11
-56.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 €3.74
$3.17 €2.82
32.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$2.51 €2.23
-25.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$3.09 €2.75
-32.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.64 €1.46
$1.35 €1.20
21.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.14 €0.12
$1.12 €0.99
-87.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.69 €11.29
$13.89 €12.35
-8.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.73 €5.10
$8.16 €7.26
-29.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 €1.27
$2.66 €2.37
-46.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 €1.43
$3.27 €2.91
-50.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Rueil-Malmaison
Lyon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.91 €1.70
$2.32 €2.07
-17.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.0 €87.2
$82.7 €73.6
18.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 €1.99
$8.38 €7.46
-73.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.12 €1.00
$2.17 €1.93
-48.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.32 €28.75
$42.11 €37.46
-23.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.15 €1.91
$2.32 €2.06
-7.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K €30.8K
$35.3K €31.4K
-2.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K €26.9K
$37.5K €33.4K
-19.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rueil-Malmaison
Lyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 €183
$267 €238
-23.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.00 €28.46
$14.02 €12.47
128.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.80 €28.28
$29.85 €26.55
6.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rueil-Malmaison
Lyon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.12 €31.24
$38.65 €34.38
-9.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 €20.22
$27.56 €24.51
-17.49%
Cinema Ticket
$15.92 €14.16
$15.29 €13.60
4.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rueil-Malmaison
Lyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$894 €795
$637 €566
40.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K €10.1K
$11.6K €10.3K
-2.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rueil-Malmaison
Lyon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127 €113
$109 €97.0
16.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.99 €40.91
$44.77 €39.83
2.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 €87.9
$123 €110
-19.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 €142
$127 €113
25.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rueil-Malmaison
Lyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 €935
$901 €802
16.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$592 €527
$676 €602
-12.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,405 €1,250
$1,819 €1,618
-22.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,097 €976
$1,274 €1,133
-13.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,654 €5,919
$6,353 €5,651
4.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,025 €2,691
$3,982 €3,542
-24.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rueil-Malmaison
Lyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,226 €2,869
$3,066 €2,727
5.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.9
3.68
5.98%

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

Last update for Rueil-Malmaison: October 19, 2026

Last update for Lyon: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rueil-Malmaison
$592
Lyon
$676 14.2% $84
Groceries & Markets
Rueil-Malmaison
$293
Lyon
$389 33% $97
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rueil-Malmaison
$269
Lyon
$311 15.6% $42
Eating Out
Rueil-Malmaison
$249
Lyon
$288 15.9% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Rueil-Malmaison
$194
Lyon
$182 6.2% $12
Getting Around
Rueil-Malmaison
$114
Lyon
$111 2% $2.3
Sport & Entertainment
Rueil-Malmaison
$67
Lyon
$69 3.4% $2.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,051 in Rueil-Malmaison versus $901 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 5% higher in Rueil-Malmaison, 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 $45.00 in Rueil-Malmaison versus $68.0 in Lyon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $389 – making Rueil-Malmaison the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Rueil-Malmaison
🇫🇷 Lyon
🕒 Local time
13:42 1:42 PM
13:42 1:42 PM
Same time as Rueil-Malmaison
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
78,186
522,250
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rueil-Malmaison Lyon 400 km
From you
  • Rueil-Malmaison
  • 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
Rueil-Malmaison vs Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rueil-Malmaison or Lyon?
Lyon costs about 14% more than Rueil-Malmaison, 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 Rueil-Malmaison and in Lyon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,667 per month in Rueil-Malmaison and $3,042 in Lyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rueil-Malmaison or Lyon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rueil-Malmaison, 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 Rueil-Malmaison compared to Lyon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,778 in Rueil-Malmaison and $2,028 in Lyon. That's a gap of about 14%.
How expensive is transport in Rueil-Malmaison compared to Lyon?
Public transport costs about 19% less in Rueil-Malmaison. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Rueil-Malmaison or in Lyon?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rueil-Malmaison, where all-in costs run around $1,778, than in Lyon at $2,028. In Rueil-Malmaison it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rueil-Malmaison or Lyon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rueil-Malmaison costs $1,778 versus $2,028 in Lyon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Rueil-Malmaison 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 Rueil-Malmaison or to Lyon?
If budget matters most, go with Rueil-Malmaison. 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.

Rueil-Malmaison vs other spots: cost of living compared

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