London vs Lyon Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for London vs Lyon: everyday costs favor Lyon (~16% CPI gap), housing index favors Lyon, wage stretch favors London. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Lyon
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (64% gap, Lyon ahead); Utilities (58% gap, Lyon ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $1,855 lower in Lyon than in London (~63% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $1,855 (favoring Lyon).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Lyon | CPI 65.8 vs 78.3 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Lyon | Rent index 28 vs 78 (lower is better) |
| Food | Lyon | Groceries index 65 vs 68 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Lyon | One-way ticket 1.47 vs 1.7 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Lyon | Utilities (85m²) 51.52 vs 121.68 (lower is better) |
| Internet | London | Internet 46.41 vs 50.23 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Lyon | Restaurant index 60 vs 80 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Lyon | Avg net salary 5247.68 vs 4594.2 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | London | PP index 95 vs 92 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Lyon leads with a 64% gap.
Rent index 28 vs 78 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Lyon — Lower housing / rent index (64% gap).
- Families: Lyon — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Lyon; purchasing power favors London.
- Remote Workers: Lyon — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Lyon (~16% gap).
- Budget Living: Lyon — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Lyon is the overall cost winner on CPI (~16% lower everyday-cost index than London).
- Housing: Lyon leads on rent index (64% gap).
- Food / groceries: Lyon is lower (4% gap).
- Purchasing power: London scores higher (3% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$1,855 cheaper in Lyon.
Analysis
London versus Lyon is not a single number. With a 16% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Lyon, while housing follows Lyon's rent index. Purchasing power (95 vs 92) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-11
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Real
On-page labels for this view: Real · Real.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.