Paris vs Lyon
The short answer
Lyon is the cheaper trip, by roughly 21% a day — $100–160 against $130–200 mid-range per person. Meals run the other way, though: a cheap plate is $7–12 in Paris against $8–14 in Lyon. Both are at their best in Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way — see how we work these out.
| 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇫🇷 Lyon | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $130–200 | $100–160cheaper |
| Cheap meallocal staple | $7–12cheaper | $8–14 |
| Mid-range hotelper night | $160–280 | $110–190cheaper |
| Transit ridesingle trip | $2.70 | $2.30cheaper |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $3,000 | ≈ $2,750 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇫🇷 Paris
Compact, walkable, and exactly as beautiful as advertised. The clichés are true; so are the pickpockets. Say bonjour first and the whole city softens.
- Harry's New York Bar$$Nightlife
- Bouillon Chartier$Restaurants
- Moulin Rouge$$$Theater & shows
- Little Red Door$$$Nightlife
- Le Comptoir du Relais$$Restaurants
🇫🇷 Lyon
France's actual food capital, whether Paris admits it or not — a Renaissance old town, hidden passageways called traboules, and bouchons where three courses arrive like a small ceremony. Two rivers, one serious obsession with eating well.
- Le Sucre$$Nightlife
- Café des Fédérations$$Restaurants
- Institut Lumière$Culture & landmarks
- Ninkasi Gerland$Nightlife
- Daniel et Denise (Saint-Jean)$$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Paris | Lyon | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | French. English works in tourist areas — but open every interaction with 'Bonjour'. | French. Menus lean on local Lyonnais dish names — don't be shy about asking a waiter to translate. |
| Tap water | Safe — ask for 'une carafe d'eau' (free) in restaurants | Safe to drink |
The same in both:
- Currency
- Euro (€). US$1 ≈ €0.92
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer)
- Power
- Type C/E plugs, 230V
- Emergency
- 112 general · 17 police · 15 medical