The cost of living in Lyon relative to income can be understood using the Urban Stress Index (USI). In Lyon, housing absorbs about 23.8% of a typical monthly income, while essential food costs account for roughly 11.4%. After rent and food, a typical earner retains around 64.8% of income for other living expenses, savings, and discretionary spending.
| Item | Monthly | % of Income |
|---|---|---|
| Income | 3,410 | — |
| Rent (1BR) | 812 | 23.8% |
| Essential Food | 390 | 11.4% |
| Remaining | 2,208 | 64.8% |
The Urban Stress Index (USI) measures the share of a typical monthly income dispensed as essential housing and food costs for a single person with a local full time job. It combines two core components:
USI is defined as:
USI = Housing burden + Essential food share
All values are expressed as percentages of monthly income in local currency. The index is designed to provide a comparable indicator of cost-of-living pressure across cities, focusing on baseline expenses.
Food costs in Lyon account for around 11% of income, remaining moderate and comparable to Toulouse. Everyday expenses therefore do not significantly impact overall affordability.
Housing costs are moderate, with rent-to-income ratios significantly lower than in Paris. Combined with relatively stable wages, this results in a balanced affordability profile.
As a result, Lyon’s USI remains moderate, reflecting a well-balanced relationship between income and living costs.
Income figures are based on nationally reported typical or median monthly earnings. Rental data reflects prevailing market rates for one-bedroom apartments within the metropolitan area.
Food costs are derived from standardized essential grocery basket estimates designed to represent a lifestyle of occasional dining-out in the local area.
All data are compiled from publicly available national statistics agencies, rental market listings, and aggregated consumer price datasets.
For a full explanation of data construction and assumptions, please refer to the main Methodology and Sources pages.