Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Stamford, CT and Lyon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lyon: $2,025 a month against $3,688 in Stamford, CT, rent and utilities included – about $20,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Stamford, CT
🇺🇸 United States
$3,688
/mo nomad
Lyon
🇫🇷 France
$2,025
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,688 per month in Stamford, CT vs $2,025 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Stamford, CT $3,688
  • Lyon $2,025

A couple spends around $5,615 per month in Stamford, CT vs $3,130 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Stamford, CT $5,615
  • Lyon $3,130

A family of three spends $7,542 per month in Stamford, CT vs $4,236 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Stamford, CT $7,542
  • Lyon $4,236

Stamford, CT costs about 82% more than Lyon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Stamford, CT and Lyon sit above the global median – Stamford, CT by 173%, Lyon by 50%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stamford, CT
Lyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.31 $20.31
$16.87 €15.00
20.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8 $75.8
$67.0 €59.6
13.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.22 $10.22
$13.32 €11.85
-23.27%
Cappuccino
$4.15 $4.15
$4.11 €3.66
0.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$2.87 €2.55
-9.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.73 €1.54
21.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.63 $7.63
$8.00 €7.12
-4.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$6.31 €5.61
25.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stamford, CT
Lyon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.51 €1.34
1.99%
White Bread (500g)
$5.07 $5.07
$1.72 €1.53
194.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.69 $6.69
$2.49 €2.21
168.67%
Eggs
$5.21 $5.21
$4.63 €4.12
12.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.46 $15.46
$22.54 €20.05
-31.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.54 $10.54
$12.38 €11.01
-14.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.29 $17.29
$23.55 €20.95
-26.58%
Apples (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.40 €2.13
87.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.41 €2.14
-6.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.54 €3.15
-4.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$3.07 €2.73
2.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.54 €2.26
-15.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$3.08 €2.74
-19.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.35 €1.20
102.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.06 €0.94
166.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.49 $13.49
$13.90 €12.36
-2.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.10 $17.10
$8.04 €7.15
112.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.75 €2.45
-36.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.32 €2.95
-17.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Stamford, CT
Lyon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.90 $3.90
$2.29 €2.03
70.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.43 $29.43
$83.6 €74.4
-64.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.80 $7.80
$7.92 €7.04
-1.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.17 €1.93
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$41.68 €37.08
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$2.23 €1.99
-52.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K $32.3K
$34.8K €31.0K
-7.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$34.9K €31.0K
-26.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stamford, CT
Lyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$270 €240
-34.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.5 $55.5
$14.35 €12.76
286.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.7 $57.7
$28.64 €25.48
101.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stamford, CT
Lyon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$107 $107
$39.31 €34.96
172.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.70 $21.70
$27.36 €24.34
-20.69%
Cinema Ticket
$19.90 $19.90
$14.64 €13.02
35.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stamford, CT
Lyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,011 $2,011
$619 €550
225.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.5K $39.5K
$11.3K €10.0K
250.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stamford, CT
Lyon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.26 $38.26
$109 €96.8
-64.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.26 $16.26
$43.48 €38.67
-62.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.3 $85.3
$123 €109
-30.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 $157
$124 €111
26.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stamford, CT
Lyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,895 $2,895
$886 €788
226.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,314 $2,314
$672 €598
244.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,056 $5,056
$1,804 €1,604
180.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,469 $4,469
$1,285 €1,143
247.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,141 $5,141
$6,364 €5,661
-19.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,864 $3,864
$3,953 €3,516
-2.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stamford, CT
Lyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,291 $5,291
$3,062 €2,723
72.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.12
3.68
66.30%

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

Last update for Stamford, CT: October 10, 2026

Last update for Lyon: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Stamford, CT
$2.3K
Lyon
$672 71% $1.6K
Groceries & Markets
Stamford, CT
$435
Lyon
$385 11.4% $49
Eating Out
Stamford, CT
$316
Lyon
$295 6.5% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stamford, CT
$290
Lyon
$313 7.9% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Stamford, CT
$147
Lyon
$69 53.3% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Stamford, CT
$134
Lyon
$180 34.6% $46
Getting Around
Stamford, CT
$53 *
Lyon
$112 111% $59

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,895 in Stamford, CT 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 73% higher in Stamford, CT, 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 $76.0 in Stamford, CT versus $67.0 in Lyon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $435 vs $385 – making Lyon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Stamford, CT
🇫🇷 Lyon
🕒 Local time
20:15 8:15 PM
02:15 2:15 AM
6 h ahead of Stamford, CT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
129,000
522,250
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Stamford, CT Lyon 6,090 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Stamford, CT
  • 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
Stamford, CT vs Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stamford, CT or Lyon?
Stamford, CT costs about 82% more than Lyon, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. 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 Stamford, CT and in Lyon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,532 per month in Stamford, CT 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, Stamford, CT or Lyon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lyon, 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 Stamford, CT compared to Lyon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,688 in Stamford, CT and $2,025 in Lyon. That's a gap of about 82%.
How expensive is transport in Stamford, CT compared to Lyon?
Public transport costs about 184% less in Lyon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Stamford, CT or in Lyon?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lyon, where all-in costs run around $2,025, than in Stamford, CT at $3,688. In Lyon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stamford, CT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stamford, CT or Lyon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lyon costs $2,025 versus $3,688 in Stamford, CT. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Stamford, CT 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 Stamford, CT or to Lyon?
If budget matters most, go with Lyon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stamford, CT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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