City comparison
Bordeaux vs Lyon: which is better to live in?
Quick verdict
The two cities cost about the same by our estimates. Bordeaux has the milder winter (about 11°C vs 8°C average highs in Dec to Feb). Both are in France, so the visa rules, taxes and healthcare system are the same: the choice comes down to cost, climate and lifestyle.
Choose Bordeaux for
- Beach life
- Nature & green space
- Calm, slower pace
Choose Lyon for
- Mountains nearby
- Public transport
- Nightlife
- Flights home
Bordeaux vs Lyon at a glance
| Bordeaux | Lyon | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | France |
| Single budget / month | €1,900 | €1,900 |
| Couple budget / month | €2,900 | €3,000 |
| 1-bed rent, center | €800 | €850 |
| Winter highs (Dec to Feb) | 11°C / 52°F | 8°C / 46°F |
| Summer highs (Jun to Aug) | 27°C / 80°F | 27°C / 81°F |
| Sunshine (hours/yr) | 2,070 | 2,050 |
| City size | Mid-size city | Large city |
| Coastal | No | No |
| Direct flights to the US | No | No |
| Affordability | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Sunny, warm climate | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| English-friendliness | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Safety | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Walkability | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Public transport | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Nature & green space | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Beach life | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Mountains nearby | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Culture | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Nightlife | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Family life | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Remote-work scene | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Expat community | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Flights home | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Calm, slower pace | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
Cost of living: Bordeaux or Lyon?
By our estimates, a comfortable mid-range life costs about €1,900 a month for one person in Bordeaux and €1,900 in Lyon, rent included. For a couple it’s €2,900 vs €3,000, and for a family of four €3,800 vs €4,000.
Rent drives most of the gap: a one-bedroom in the center runs about €800 in Bordeaux against €850 in Lyon, while a monthly transit pass costs - vs €76. Want to plug in your own lifestyle? Use the cost of living calculator.
Climate and weather
Winters average highs of about 11°C (52°F) in Bordeaux and 8°C (46°F) in Lyon. In summer it’s roughly 27°C vs 27°C. Bordeaux gets about 2,070 hours of sunshine a year and Lyon about 2,050.
2,070 hours of sunshine a year · 925 mm of rain a year · Source: Bordeaux-Mérignac station, 1991-2020 normals (Météo-France), as tabulated on Wikipedia (Bordeaux)
Monthly temperatures in °C and °F
| Month | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11°C / 51°F | 4°C / 39°F |
| Feb | 12°C / 54°F | 4°C / 38°F |
| Mar | 16°C / 60°F | 6°C / 42°F |
| Apr | 18°C / 64°F | 8°C / 46°F |
| May | 22°C / 71°F | 11°C / 53°F |
| Jun | 25°C / 77°F | 15°C / 58°F |
| Jul | 27°C / 81°F | 16°C / 61°F |
| Aug | 28°C / 82°F | 16°C / 61°F |
| Sep | 24°C / 76°F | 13°C / 56°F |
| Oct | 20°C / 67°F | 11°C / 51°F |
| Nov | 14°C / 57°F | 7°C / 44°F |
| Dec | 11°C / 52°F | 4°C / 40°F |
2,050 hours of sunshine a year · 821 mm of rain a year · Source: Lyon-Bron station, 1991-2020 normals, as tabulated on Wikipedia (Lyon), citing Météo-France/NOAA
Monthly temperatures in °C and °F
| Month | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7°C / 45°F | 1°C / 34°F |
| Feb | 9°C / 48°F | 1°C / 35°F |
| Mar | 14°C / 57°F | 4°C / 40°F |
| Apr | 17°C / 63°F | 7°C / 45°F |
| May | 22°C / 71°F | 11°C / 52°F |
| Jun | 26°C / 78°F | 15°C / 59°F |
| Jul | 28°C / 83°F | 17°C / 63°F |
| Aug | 28°C / 82°F | 17°C / 62°F |
| Sep | 23°C / 74°F | 13°C / 55°F |
| Oct | 18°C / 64°F | 10°C / 49°F |
| Nov | 11°C / 53°F | 5°C / 41°F |
| Dec | 8°C / 46°F | 2°C / 36°F |
Daily life
Bordeaux is a mid-size city; Lyon is a large city. Bordeaux is a calm, wine-country city with a restored riverfront, Paris in about two hours by TGV, and Atlantic beaches an hour away. A center one-bed costs about €800 a month and a comfortable single budget about €1,900. It suits families and remote workers who want smaller-city France with good schools. Lyon is France's easy second city: real food culture, cheaper rent than Paris, and Paris in about two hours by TGV. A center one-bed costs about €850 a month and a comfortable single budget about €1,900. It suits families, couples and remote workers who want French life without Paris prices.
Living in Bordeaux: the upsides and downsides
- Fast TGV to Paris and a growing remote-worker and start-up community
- Beautiful riverfront, UNESCO-listed center and walkable streets
- Atlantic beaches at Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat within about an hour
- Downside: No direct North America flights; connect via Paris or elsewhere
- Downside: Wet winters, with about 925 mm of rain a year at the airport station
Living in Lyon: the upsides and downsides
- Rents far below Paris and Nice for similar quality
- Two rivers, hills, Alps and the Beaujolais all within reach
- Good metro, tram and bus network (monthly pass about €76)
- Downside: Hot summers and cold, gray winters
- Downside: No direct North America flights; connect via Paris or elsewhere
Visas and residency
Both cities are in France, so you’d use the same residence routes either way:
- France Freelance and Entrepreneur Visa (Profession Libérale) - Freelance visa, open, €1,867/mo income
- France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) - Retirement visa, open, €1,478/mo income
- France Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) - Work permit, open, €3,299/mo income
Read the full guides: living in Bordeaux and living in Lyon.
Related comparisons
Costs are our estimates for a comfortable mid-range lifestyle; scores are editorial, relative to the 40 cities we cover. Methodology.