Lyon vs Lagos
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Lyon is approximately 30% less expensive than Lagos based on cost of living including rent. This makes Lyon a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Lyon has a FIRE Score of 70/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 40.47, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Lyon is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Lyon
Portugal
Lagos
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Lyon
Lyon is the rare French city where a single adult can live comfortably on a mid-range budget of $1,497/mo while pulling down an average net salary of $3,058/mo, and the 68/100 cost of living index against NYC confirms you are not being fleeced. Rent outside the center drops to $673/mo for a one-bedroom, which is the move if you want to bank real savings without sacrificing the Croix-Rousse or Presqu'île lifestyle. The digital nomad score of 85/100 and 300 Mbps internet make it a serious remote-work contender, though the $5,000/mo income floor on the France Digital Nomad Visa will price out plenty of freelancers. Come for the healthcare and safety, stay because your money actually goes somewhere.
About France
Retirees with steady income and no interest in remote-work loopholes fit best, since France offers both a retirement visa and a digital nomad option. A retirement income of USD 1,500/mo clears the bar easily for most Social Security checks. Progressive tax up to 45% and a complex citizenship path mean this is a long-term lease on French life, not an ownership deal.
Lagos costs roughly 2.5x less than Lyon. Lyon has significantly faster average internet speeds (300 Mbps vs 200 Mbps). Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Lyon is approximately 30% less expensive than Lagos based on cost of living including rent. This makes Lyon a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Lyon has a FIRE Score of 70/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 40.47, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Lyon is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Lyon
Lyon is the rare French city where a single adult can live comfortably on a mid-range budget of $1,497/mo while pulling down an average net salary of $3,058/mo, and the 68/100 cost of living index against NYC confirms you are not being fleeced. Rent outside the center drops to $673/mo for a one-bedroom, which is the move if you want to bank real savings without sacrificing the Croix-Rousse or Presqu'île lifestyle. The digital nomad score of 85/100 and 300 Mbps internet make it a serious remote-work contender, though the $5,000/mo income floor on the France Digital Nomad Visa will price out plenty of freelancers. Come for the healthcare and safety, stay because your money actually goes somewhere.
About France
Retirees with steady income and no interest in remote-work loopholes fit best, since France offers both a retirement visa and a digital nomad option. A retirement income of USD 1,500/mo clears the bar easily for most Social Security checks. Progressive tax up to 45% and a complex citizenship path mean this is a long-term lease on French life, not an ownership deal.
$1,413/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Lagos
Lagos is the rare small town that earns its hype: an overall expat score of 93/100 and a safety index of 82/100 back up the postcard, and 200 Mbps internet plus widely spoken English make it genuinely livable, not just photogenic. The catch is money. A local average net salary of $1,234/mo cannot touch $1,163/mo for a one-bedroom in the center, so this town runs on remote income, pensions, or savings, and the D8 visa's $3,900/mo threshold tells you exactly who Portugal expects to show up. If you clear that bar, few places at a 27/100 cost of living index deliver this much Mediterranean life for the price.
About Portugal
A one-bedroom in central Lisbon runs about $1,040/month, roughly a third of comparable Boston or DC rents. Combined with $776 in monthly living costs, a couple can live well under $2,500/month total, and the D7 visa only requires $1,031 income to qualify. The catch: Portuguese progressive tax hits 48% (top bracket), so this works best for retirees on fixed foreign income, not high earners staying tax resident.
$1,259/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Lyon | Lagos |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $892.33 | $1163.48 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $672.51 | $1093.39 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1802.77 | $2429.75 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1285.21 | $1990.53 |
| Safety Index | 40.47 | 82 |
| Internet Speed | 300Mbps | 200Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Lyon | Lagos |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,578/mo | $1,741/mo |
| Excluding rent | $905/mo | $648/mo |
| Rent | $673/mo | $1,093/mo |
| Groceries | $235/mo | $179/mo |
| Dining out | $168/mo | $123/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $122/mo | $100/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $297/mo | $212/mo |
| Transport | $83.00/mo | $34.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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