Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sète and Lyon

For one person, living is cheaper in Sète: $1,757 a month against $2,028 in Lyon, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sète, France
Lyon, France
Sète
🇫🇷 France
$1,757
/mo nomad
Lyon
🇫🇷 France
$2,028
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,757 per month in Sète vs $2,028 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Sète $1,757
  • Lyon $2,028

A couple spends around $2,697 per month in Sète vs $3,130 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Sète $2,697
  • Lyon $3,130

A family of three spends $3,638 per month in Sète vs $4,232 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Sète $3,638
  • Lyon $4,232

Sète is about 13% cheaper than Lyon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Sète and Lyon sit above the global median – Sète by 30%, Lyon by 50%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sète
Lyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.85 €15.02
$16.52 €14.73
2.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8 €50.6
$68.2 €60.8
-16.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.21 €11.78
$13.22 €11.78
-0.08%
Cappuccino
$3.37 €3.00
$4.02 €3.58
-16.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 €2.06
$2.66 €2.37
-13.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 €1.42
$1.73 €1.54
-8.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.43 €4.84
$7.62 €6.79
-28.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 €3.86
$6.33 €5.64
-31.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sète
Lyon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.15
$1.56 €1.39
-17.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 €1.50
$1.72 €1.53
-2.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 €2.23
$2.48 €2.21
1.21%
Eggs
$3.72 €3.31
$4.73 €4.22
-21.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.68 €16.65
$22.97 €20.47
-18.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.79 €9.62
$12.54 €11.18
-13.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.54 €16.53
$23.68 €21.11
-21.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 €2.48
$2.42 €2.16
14.88%
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 €1.92
$2.44 €2.17
-11.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 €2.64
$3.49 €3.11
-15.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.27
$3.17 €2.82
-19.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.17
$2.51 €2.24
-3.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 €2.17
$3.09 €2.75
-21.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.29
$1.35 €1.20
6.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 €0.57
$1.12 €0.99
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.85 €12.34
$13.89 €12.38
-0.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.64 €6.81
$8.16 €7.28
-6.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.63 €3.24
$2.66 €2.37
36.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 €2.43
$3.27 €2.91
-16.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Sète
Lyon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.84 €1.64
$2.32 €2.07
-20.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.28 €42.14
$82.7 €73.7
-42.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 €2.77
$8.38 €7.47
-63.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 €1.51
$2.17 €1.93
-21.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.83 €26.59
$42.11 €37.53
-29.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$2.32 €2.07
-5.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €30.7K
$35.3K €31.5K
-2.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K €31.4K
$37.5K €33.5K
-6.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sète
Lyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 €198
$267 €238
-16.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.66 €13.07
$14.02 €12.49
4.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.55 €29.01
$29.85 €26.61
9.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sète
Lyon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.90 €31.11
$38.65 €34.45
-9.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.56 €24.56
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.17 €12.63
$15.29 €13.63
-7.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sète
Lyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$594 €529
$637 €568
-6.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,384 €6,582
$11.6K €10.3K
-36.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sète
Lyon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4 €78.8
$109 €97.2
-18.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.37 €37.77
$44.77 €39.91
-5.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.1 €81.2
$123 €110
-26.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €114
$127 €113
0.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sète
Lyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$743 €662
$901 €803
-17.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$598 €533
$676 €603
-11.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 €1,254
$1,819 €1,621
-22.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,137 €1,014
$1,274 €1,135
-10.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 €3,514
$6,353 €5,662
-37.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,937 €2,617
$3,982 €3,549
-26.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sète
Lyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,066 €2,733
-
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 Sète: October 18, 2026

Last update for Lyon: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sète
$598
Lyon
$676 13.1% $78
Groceries & Markets
Sète
$336
Lyon
$389 15.8% $53
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sète
$270
Lyon
$311 15.3% $41
Eating Out
Sète
$266
Lyon
$288 8.3% $22
Clothing & Footwear
Sète
$157
Lyon
$182 15.6% $25
Getting Around
Sète
$66
Lyon
$111 67.9% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Sète
$63
Lyon
$69 9.5% $6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $743 in Sète 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57 in Sète versus $68 in Lyon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $389 – making Sète the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Sète
🇫🇷 Lyon
🕒 Local time
07:17 7:17 AM
07:17 7:17 AM
Same time as Sète
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
44,712
522,250
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sète Lyon 280 km
From you
  • Sète
  • 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
Sète vs Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sète or Lyon?
Lyon costs about 15% more than Sète, 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 Sète and in Lyon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,636 per month in Sète 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, Sète or Lyon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sète, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $743 there versus $901 in Lyon.
How much does it cost to live in Sète compared to Lyon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,757 in Sète and $2,028 in Lyon. That’s a gap of about 15%.
How expensive is transport in Sète compared to Lyon?
Public transport costs about 43% less in Sète. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Sète or in Lyon?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,757 in Sète and $2,028 in Lyon, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Sète – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Sète 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Sète is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 15% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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