Lyon vs Bern Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Lyon leads on CPI (65.8 vs 97.5, NYC=100), Lyon leads on rent index, and Bern leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Lyon
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (161% gap, Lyon ahead); Utilities (156% gap, Lyon ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $1,690 lower in Lyon than in Bern (~155% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $1,690 (favoring Lyon).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Lyon | CPI 65.8 vs 97.5 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Lyon | Rent index 28 vs 73.2 (lower is better) |
| Food | Lyon | Groceries index 65 vs 113.4 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Lyon | One-way ticket 1.47 vs 2.2 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Lyon | Utilities (85m²) 51.52 vs 131.76 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Lyon | Internet 50.23 vs 64.64 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Lyon | Restaurant index 60 vs 92 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Bern | Avg net salary 7376.76 vs 5247.68 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Bern | PP index 132.2 vs 92 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Lyon leads with a 161% gap.
Rent index 28 vs 73.2 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Lyon — Lower housing / rent index (161% gap).
- Families: Lyon — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Lyon; purchasing power favors Bern.
- Remote Workers: Lyon — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Lyon (~48% gap).
- Budget Living: Lyon — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Lyon is the overall cost winner on CPI (~48% lower everyday-cost index than Bern).
- Housing: Lyon leads on rent index (161% gap).
- Food / groceries: Lyon is lower (74% gap).
- Purchasing power: Bern scores higher (44% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$1,690 cheaper in Lyon.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 65.8/97.5, rent 28/73.2, purchasing power 92/132.2. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Real · Regional.
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.