Clive B. Says:
My wife and I are interested in moving to Lyon France. We are looking for an opportunity where we can live on our fixed income of $5k month.
IL France Correspondent Tuula Rampont Says:
Hello Clive, and thank you for your question.
Lyon is an absolutely amazing city and one of the best expat destinations in France. I think you could live quite well on $5k a month. If you don’t plan to buy a place outright, you can either think about renting an apartment in the Presqu’île neighborhood or just outside its parameters.
The rents on the Presqu’île—a three-mile long peninsula bordered by the Rhône and Soane Rivers—will be quite the highest in the city, but not out of reach. Count on spending around €1590 ($1736) a month for a furnished, two-bedroom, one-bath apartment.
If you’d like to go lower in price, but still centrally located, try searching in some of the Presqu’île’s adjacent neighborhoods like the Croix Rousse or the 3rd district (arrondissement) known as Part Dieu. For real budget value, you’ll find deals outside the city center in the 7th and 8th arrondissements. Two-bedroom, furnished rentals start at €995 ($1,086).
A good first step is to get in contact with the American Club of Lyon. The group puts out a monthly newsletter, as well as tips for getting set up in the city. The club’s members have a wealth of knowledge concerning living costs and securing long-term rentals in the city. Among other fun events, they meet every Tuesday for a coffee morning in the Croix Rousse neighborhood.
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