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Lyon vs Monterrey

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Lyon, FR vs Monterrey, MX at a glance — Monterrey, MX is 38% cheaper than Lyon, FR overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $650/mo versus $900/mo. Top income tax: 35% vs 45%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Monterrey, MX, you'd need

$46,461 / year

Monterrey, MX is 38% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Monterrey, MX vs Lyon, FR)

  • Housing-44%
  • Food & groceries-42%
  • Transport-38%
  • Utilities-27%
  • Healthcare-24%
  • Goods & services-36%

◎ How Lyon, FR and Monterrey, MX compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Lyon, FRMonterrey, MX

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Lyon, FRMonterrey, MX
Cost of living
Overall cost index9962
Housing9855
Food10762
Transport7848
Utilities11282
Healthcare8262
Goods & services10768
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$900/mo$650/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$680/mo—
Rent, 3-bed centre$1,800/mo—
Buy price / m² centre$6,000—
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$1,005$1,623
Inexpensive meal$15—
Monthly transit pass$70—
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)45%35%
VAT / sales tax20%16%
Social security (employee)22%—
Corporate tax25%30%
Capital gains30%—
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$2,600/mo$700/mo
Avg annual wage (OECD, PPP)$60,483✓$24,463✓
Minimum wage$2,164/mo✓$420/mo
GDP per capita$48,986✓$13,889✓
Inflation (annual)0.9%✓3.8%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoYes
English proficiencyModerate—
Coworking spaces30—
Time zoneUTC+1—
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)74—
Safety index66—
Healthcare index85—
Pollution index45—
Internet speed160 Mbps—
Walkability82—
Public transport80—
Family-friendly74—
Tap waterSafe to drink—
Life expectancy83 yr✓75 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighModerate
Climate
January avg+4 °C—
July avg+22 °C—
Sunny days / year200—
Rainfall / year830 mm—
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h—

Taxes & Economy & salaries: France vs Mexico. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (OECD (PPP), Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Lyon vs Monterrey — in your currency

LyonMonterrey
1-bed rent, city centre$900$650
1-bed rent, outside centre$680$488

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Lyon

A UNESCO-listed city where two rivers meet — France's food capital, a two-hour TGV from Paris at a fraction of its rents. Renaissance streets, a strong tech and biotech scene and easy weekend access to the Alps make it a favourite softer landing than the capital.

Currency
Euro (€ EUR)
Languages
French
Time zone
UTC+1
Internet
160 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
66/100
Climate
❄ 4°C · ☀ 22°C · 200 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
E · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Presqu'île · Croix-Rousse · Confluence · Vieux Lyon

Good to know before you move to Monterrey

Currency
Mexican peso ($ MXN)
Languages
Spanish
Power
A/B · 127V
Driving
Right-hand side

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Lyon to Monterrey: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Lyon to Monterrey, your cost of living will be roughly 38% cheaper. Monterrey’s cost-of-living index is 62 versus 99 for Lyon (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Lyon cheaper than Monterrey?

Monterrey is about 38% cheaper than Lyon overall — its cost-of-living index is 62 versus 99 for Lyon.

Which is more expensive, Lyon or Monterrey?

Lyon is more expensive than Monterrey. Its cost-of-living index is 99 vs 62 (US = 100) — about 60% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Lyon or Monterrey?

Rent is cheaper in Monterrey — about $650/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $900 in Lyon.

How much do you need to earn in Monterrey to live like in Lyon?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Lyon is worth about $46,461 in Monterrey. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Lyon or Monterrey?

Mexico has the lower top income-tax rate — 35% versus 45% in France.

◷ More comparisons from Lyon

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.