Cost of Living Comparison Between Valenciennes and Lyon Cost of Living Comparison Between Valenciennes and Lyon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,557 per month in Valenciennes vs $2,173 in Lyon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,539 per month in Valenciennes vs $3,273 in Lyon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,521 per month in Valenciennes vs $4,373 in Lyon, rent included.

Valenciennes is about 28% cheaper than Lyon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Valenciennes and Lyon sit above the global median – Valenciennes by 16%, Lyon by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.43 €13.13

$17.20 €14.64

-10.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.5 €53.2

$76.5 €65.1

-18.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.83 €10.92

$12.89 €10.97

-0.47%

Cappuccino

$2.36 €2.01

$3.94 €3.35

-40.10%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 €1.44

$2.98 €2.53

-43.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 €0.96

$1.83 €1.55

-38.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.50 €3.83

$8.21 €6.98

-45.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 €3.02

$7.00 €5.96

-49.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 €1.12

$1.55 €1.32

-14.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 €1.43

$2.65 €2.25

-36.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 €1.53

$2.55 €2.17

-29.41%

Eggs

$3.42 €2.91

$4.21 €3.58

-18.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 €12.09

$25.06 €21.32

-43.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.37 €11.38

$15.78 €13.43

-15.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.63 €20.11

$25.24 €21.48

-6.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 €2.17

$2.84 €2.41

-10.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 €1.90

$2.58 €2.19

-13.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 €2.01

$3.62 €3.08

-34.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.14 €2.67

$3.90 €3.32

-19.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 €1.69

$2.89 €2.46

-31.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.64 €1.39

$2.70 €2.29

-39.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 €1.28

$1.43 €1.21

4.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 €0.19

$0.90 €0.77

-75.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.79 €10.89

$13.65 €11.61

-6.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.66 €3.97

$8.37 €7.12

-44.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 €1.97

$3.05 €2.59

-23.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 €2.60

$3.07 €2.61

-0.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.82 €1.55

$2.50 €2.13

-27.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.35 €42.00

$84.3 €71.7

-41.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 €2.22

$5.82 €4.96

-55.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 €0.83

$1.82 €1.55

-46.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.34 €23.26

$56.9 €48.38

-51.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.09 €1.78

$2.07 €1.76

0.97%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.2K €32.5K

$37.1K €31.6K

2.89%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.8K €31.3K

-0.01%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$193 €164

$288 €245

-32.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.85 €14.34

$22.60 €19.23

-25.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.22 €19.76

$36.86 €31.37

-37.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.05 €23.87

$43.66 €37.16

-35.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.42 €15.67

$22.69 €19.31

-18.82%

Cinema Ticket

$14.43 €12.28

$14.08 €11.99

2.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$346 €294

$735 €626

-52.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,568 €7,291

$12.0K €10.2K

-28.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 €75.6

$109 €92.9

-18.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.08 €29.00

$50.8 €43.25

-32.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 €73.3

$122 €104

-29.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 €89.9

$163 €139

-35.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 €390

$971 €826

-52.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 €429

$709 €604

-28.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,121 €954

$1,914 €1,629

-41.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 €913

$1,227 €1,044

-12.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,812 €2,393

$6,818 €5,802

-58.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,288 €1,947

$4,120 €3,506

-44.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,220 €2,740

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.69

3.76

-1.86%

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

Last update for Valenciennes: April 12, 2026

Last update for Lyon: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Valenciennes versus $971 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 $63 in Valenciennes versus $77 in Lyon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 vs $431 – making Valenciennes the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Valenciennes vs Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lyon costs about 40% more than Valenciennes, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,335 per month in Valenciennes and $3,260 in Lyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valenciennes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,557 in Valenciennes and $2,173 in Lyon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 71% less in Valenciennes. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Valenciennes, where all-in costs run around $1,557, than in Lyon at $2,173. In Valenciennes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Valenciennes costs $1,557 versus $2,173 in Lyon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Valenciennes. 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.