Lyonvs
SingaporeLyon vs Singapore: cost, size & quality of life compared
Trying to decide between Lyon and Singapore? Here's the honest bottom line first — then the full, sourced breakdown on cost of living, salary, safety and quality of life.
Lyon comes out ahead overall — by a clear margin.
But the "winner" depends on what you care about. Here's who takes each dimension:
LyonLyonSingaporeSingaporeComposite scores
Overall: Lyon wins by 0.9 points
Population & size
Is Lyon bigger than Singapore?
Singapore is the bigger city: about 5.9M people versus Lyon's 520k — roughly 11× larger.
City-proper / metro population estimates. Size is one input — scroll on for cost of living, salary equivalence and quality-of-life scoring.
National income
Is Lyon richer than Singapore?
The two sit on different measures, so we are not ranking them: France is reported as average annual wage ($60,608), Singapore as income per capita (GNI, PPP) ($126,190). A full-time wage and a whole-population income per head are not the same quantity.
Country-level figures — Lyon is not France and Singapore is not Singapore, and both cities typically pay above their national average. Gross, before tax: see take-home pay by country for what lands in the account.
Distance
How far is Lyon from Singapore?
Lyon is about 10,590 km (6,580 mi) from Singapore in a straight line — roughly 13 h 15 m of nonstop flight time.
Great-circle distance, not a routed itinerary; flight estimate assumes ~850 km/h cruise plus 45 minutes of taxi, climb and descent.
Climate
Is Lyon warmer than Singapore?
Singapore is the warmer city: January highs average 30°C vs 7°C, and July 31°C vs 28°C. Annual sunshine is comparable between the two.
| Month | Lyon | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| January (high / low) | 7° / 1°C | 30° / 24°C |
| July (high / low) | 28° / 17°C | 31° / 25°C |
Semi-continental with Mediterranean influence. Warmer than Paris, four distinct seasons, sunnier than most French northern cities.
Equatorial — hot and humid every day. Annual temperature variation is tiny; daily afternoon thunderstorms are routine.
Lyon edges Singapore despite both scoring below 6.5, suggesting European livability metrics align better with this particular evaluation framework than Asia's dense urban model.
Singapore typically outranks Lyon on business ease and infrastructure indices, yet scores lower here, indicating this assessment weighs different priorities.
Examine which specific categories Lyon won on—housing affordability, cultural access, or work-life balance—to understand if this ranking matches your personal decision criteria.
Data signals
What separates Lyon and Singapore
How decisive
Lyon comes out ahead by 0.9 composite points — a clear edge.
Biggest difference
The widest gap is affordability, where Lyon leads by 3.9 points.
Where they match
They're most evenly matched on remote-work friendliness — within 0.1 points of each other.
Overall cost gap
Total monthly costs in Singapore run about 104% higher than in Lyon.
Where budgets split most
Housing is the line item that diverges most: roughly 237% pricier in Singapore than Lyon.
Size difference
Singapore is the larger metro — about 11.4× the population of the other, which shapes commute times, housing supply and how "big-city" daily life feels.
Safety
Singapore scores higher on safety (88 vs 60 / 100) — a common deciding factor for families.
Score-by-score, side-by-side
Each axis is scored independently with disclosed weights and a calculation string.
The exact scores and winners:
| Axis | Lyon | Singapore | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability | 7.3 | 3.4 | Lyon +3.9 |
| Quality of life | 6.8 | 7.8 | Singapore +1.0 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 7.5 | 7.6 | Singapore +0.1 |
| Healthcare | 8.4 | 7.5 | Lyon +0.9 |
Each axis is a weighted aggregate of underlying indicators normalized to a 0–10 scale. Weights are explicit and disclosed per axis. The composite is the unweighted mean of the four axes — axes are not collapsed further because the underlying trade-offs (e.g. low cost vs poor air quality) are user-dependent.
Affordability
- Cost-of-living index (weight 60%)32
- Rent index (weight 40%)19
How this is calculated
Affordability = ((100 − costIndex)/100 × 0.6 + (100 − rentIndex)/100 × 0.4) × 10. For Lyon: ((100 − 32)/100 × 0.6 + (100 − 19)/100 × 0.4) × 10 = 7.3.
Lyon sits well below the New York baseline on both cost-of-living and rent. Budgets stretch further here than in benchmark Tier-1 cities.
Quality of life
- Safety index (weight 40%)60
- Healthcare index (weight 35%)80
- Air quality index (weight 25%)65
How this is calculated
QoL = (safety/100 × 0.4 + healthcare/100 × 0.35 + airQuality/100 × 0.25) × 10. For Lyon: (60/100 × 0.4 + 80/100 × 0.35 + 65/100 × 0.25) × 10 = 6.8.
Lyon has a mixed quality profile. Safety: good; healthcare: excellent; air: good. Weigh the weakest axis against your personal priorities.
Remote-work friendliness
- Internet (median Mbps) (weight 45%)220 Mbps
- Effective income tax (lower = better) (weight 30%)16.2%
- Cost-of-living (lower = better) (weight 25%)32
How this is calculated
RemoteWork = (min(Mbps/300, 1) × 0.45 + (1 − incomeTax) × 0.3 + (100 − costIndex)/100 × 0.25) × 10. For Lyon: (min(220/300, 1) × 0.45 + (1 − 0.1622) × 0.3 + (100 − 32)/100 × 0.25) × 10 = 7.5.
Lyon combines fast internet (220 Mbps median), a 16% effective income tax and cost index 32 — a strong configuration for remote workers earning in a stronger currency.
Healthcare
- Healthcare quality index (weight 70%)80
- Healthcare out-of-pocket / month (lower = better) (weight 30%)38
How this is calculated
Healthcare = (qualityIndex/100 × 0.7 + max(0, 1 − OOP/500) × 0.3) × 10. For Lyon: (80/100 × 0.7 + max(0, 1 − 38/500) × 0.3) × 10 = 8.4.
Lyon combines excellent system quality with a manageable out-of-pocket cost (~38 EUR/month). Travel insurance still recommended for non-residents.
Each axis is a weighted aggregate of underlying indicators normalized to a 0–10 scale. Weights are explicit and disclosed per axis. The composite is the unweighted mean of the four axes — axes are not collapsed further because the underlying trade-offs (e.g. low cost vs poor air quality) are user-dependent.
Affordability
- Cost-of-living index (weight 60%)66
- Rent index (weight 40%)65
How this is calculated
Affordability = ((100 − costIndex)/100 × 0.6 + (100 − rentIndex)/100 × 0.4) × 10. For Singapore: ((100 − 66)/100 × 0.6 + (100 − 65)/100 × 0.4) × 10 = 3.4.
Singapore is among the more expensive cities tracked. Salary expectations should be calibrated to the high cost base before relocating.
Quality of life
- Safety index (weight 40%)88
- Healthcare index (weight 35%)75
- Air quality index (weight 25%)65
How this is calculated
QoL = (safety/100 × 0.4 + healthcare/100 × 0.35 + airQuality/100 × 0.25) × 10. For Singapore: (88/100 × 0.4 + 75/100 × 0.35 + 65/100 × 0.25) × 10 = 7.8.
Singapore scores excellent on safety, good on healthcare and good on air. The composite quality-of-life signal is strong.
Remote-work friendliness
- Internet (median Mbps) (weight 45%)260 Mbps
- Effective income tax (lower = better) (weight 30%)6.0%
- Cost-of-living (lower = better) (weight 25%)66
How this is calculated
RemoteWork = (min(Mbps/300, 1) × 0.45 + (1 − incomeTax) × 0.3 + (100 − costIndex)/100 × 0.25) × 10. For Singapore: (min(260/300, 1) × 0.45 + (1 − 0.06) × 0.3 + (100 − 66)/100 × 0.25) × 10 = 7.6.
Singapore combines fast internet (260 Mbps median), a 6% effective income tax and cost index 66 — a strong configuration for remote workers earning in a stronger currency.
Healthcare
- Healthcare quality index (weight 70%)75
- Healthcare out-of-pocket / month (lower = better) (weight 30%)130
How this is calculated
Healthcare = (qualityIndex/100 × 0.7 + max(0, 1 − OOP/500) × 0.3) × 10. For Singapore: (75/100 × 0.7 + max(0, 1 − 130/500) × 0.3) × 10 = 7.5.
Singapore combines good system quality with a manageable out-of-pocket cost (~130 SGD/month). Travel insurance still recommended for non-residents.
Monthly cost delta: Lyon vs Singapore
Normalized to EUR at 1 SGD = 0.6961 EUR.
| Category | Lyon | Singapore | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| housing | €785 | SGD 3,804 | +237% |
| food | €376 | SGD 605 | +12% |
| transport | €74 | SGD 128 | +20% |
| utilities | €233 | SGD 209 | -38% |
| leisure | €301 | SGD 432 | -0% |
| healthcare | €38 | SGD 130 | +138% |
Where each city's money goes
Two cities can have the same monthly total but very different shapes — one might burn 50% on housing while the other splits more evenly. The composition matters as much as the headline.
The biggest shape difference is housing: Singapore spends 28.2 percentage points more of its budget on it (72% vs. 43%). If you're sensitive to that category, weight the per-axis scores accordingly.
Buying property
Apartment prices: Lyon vs Singapore
Approximate asking prices in EUR per square meter (as of 2025-01), central vs mid-distance neighborhoods.
Buying in central Lyon runs about 69% cheaper per square meter (€5,500/m² vs €18,000/m²).
Midpoints of public listing ranges — a scoping number for rent-vs-buy thinking, not a valuation. Renting comparisons live in the cost table above.
Getting around
Public transport: Lyon vs Singapore
Monthly pass and casual-ride pricing in EUR (as of 2025-01) plus the modes each network runs.
TCL pass; metro is compact (4 lines) but supplemented by frequent trams and the funicular up Fourvière hill.
Single ride: €2.2 · Modes: Metro, Tram, Bus, Cable car
EZ-Link adult monthly travel pass; MRT covers most of the island, taxi-grade reliability.
Single ride: €1.5 · Modes: Metro, Bus, Commuter rail
Salary equivalence: Lyon ↔ Singapore
What earning the same purchasing power costs in each city. Cost-adjusted using the local cost-of-living index (Lyon = 32, Singapore = 66); currency-converted at 1 SGD = 0.6961 EUR. Tax differences are not modeled.
| Lyon gross | Singapore equivalent |
|---|---|
| €40,000 | SGD 118,520 |
| €75,000 | SGD 222,224 |
| €120,000 | SGD 355,559 |
| Singapore gross | Lyon equivalent |
|---|---|
| SGD 40,000 | €13,500 |
| SGD 75,000 | €25,312 |
| SGD 120,000 | €40,500 |
Equivalence here means same cost-of-living purchasing power, not same net take-home. Effective tax rates differ between countries; a salary equivalent on cost can still net more or less depending on the destination's tax regime. Use the calculator for tax-adjusted figures at a specific lifestyle tier.
Pros and cons
Why pick Lyon
- Wins on affordability (+3.9 points vs Singapore).
- Wins on healthcare (+0.9 points vs Singapore).
Why pick Singapore
- Wins on quality of life (+1.0 points vs Lyon).
Lyon trade-offs
- Trails Singapore on quality of life by 1.0 points.
Singapore trade-offs
- Trails Lyon on affordability by 3.9 points.
- Trails Lyon on healthcare by 0.9 points.
Remote work logistics
Time zones and language: Lyon vs Singapore
Lyon (Europe/Paris) and Singapore (Asia/Singapore) sit 7 hours apart in standard time. A 9-to-5 in one overlaps the other's for 1 hour a day. Note: Lyon observes daylight saving while Singapore doesn't, so the gap shifts by an hour part of the year.
Official: French · English: Moderate · Local language: Recommended
French is required for daily-life bureaucracy and most workplaces. English usable in Part-Dieu business district and at international firms; limited elsewhere.
Official: English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil · English: Native-equivalent · Local language: Not needed
English is the de facto everything — business, education, government. Singlish (Singaporean English) is the local register; standard English fully usable. Other official languages are heritage / community.
Who should choose which
The composite winner doesn't always match what matters to you. These four reader profiles weigh the axes differently — find the closest fit.
Single, salaried remote worker, 25-40, optimizing for runway + bandwidth.
Axes scored: affordability, remoteWork
Couple with school-age children, prioritizing safety, healthcare, and air quality.
Axes scored: qualityOfLife, healthcare
Fixed income, healthcare-sensitive, prefers low cost and stable infrastructure.
Axes scored: healthcare, qualityOfLife, affordability
Salary stretch matters most. Cuts everything else if it lowers the burn rate.
Axes scored: affordability
Profiles use simple axis averaging — for a deeper read with your own weights, use the per-axis breakdown above.
Going deeper
Visa landscape for both countries — and case studies that touch this corridor.
Tools that work for either choice
Some links below are affiliate links — if you sign up we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
How this page is calculated
Data sources
- Mundevo per-city dataset. Cost basket, rent index, safety, healthcare, air quality and median internet for both cities. Reference date: 2026-05-28 (Lyon) and 2026-05-27 (Singapore).
- FX rate. 1 SGD = 0.6961 EUR, used to normalize cost baskets.
- CityScoreCalculator. Four axes (Affordability, Quality of life, Remote work, Healthcare) computed with explicit weights and explanations. See per-axis calculation strings rendered on this page.
- ComparisonService. Per-category cost deltas (housing, food, transport, utilities, leisure, healthcare) normalized to the origin currency.
Update cadence
Data as of . Last reviewed .
Calculation
For each of the four axes we compute an independent 0–10 score using the formulas printed beside each axis. The composite is the unweighted mean of the four axes. The overall winner is the city with the higher composite, unless the margin is under 0.05 points — in which case Lyon is shown first as a tiebreaker to keep results stable.
Limitations
- Climate is not scored — we don't yet hold a maintained climate dataset, so weather-driven preferences are not modeled.
- Tax differences between cities in the same country are not modeled (Spain and Germany don't have material regional differences for this dataset).
- Indices are population-level. Personal cost varies with neighborhood, employer benefits and family status.
- Quality-of-life axis weights (safety 0.4 / healthcare 0.35 / air 0.25) are editorial defaults — readers with strong preferences should re-weight manually.
Frequently asked questions
Lyon vs Singapore: which is cheaper?
Lyon is roughly 104% cheaper than Singapore on the monthly cost basket (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). Lyon has cost index 32 vs Singapore at 66 (both with New York = 100).
Which city has better quality of life?
Lyon scores 7.5/10 on the Mundevo composite versus Singapore at 6.6/10. The composite weights safety (40%), healthcare (35%) and air quality (25%). Lyon wins overall by 0.9 points.
Is Lyon or Singapore better for remote work?
Lyon has 220 Mbps median internet vs Singapore at 260 Mbps. The four-axis decision rubric on this page (affordability, quality of life, remote work, healthcare) gives a per-dimension breakdown rather than a single answer.
Is Lyon bigger than Singapore?
Singapore is larger — about 5.9M people versus Lyon's 520k, roughly 11.4× the size.
Is Lyon safer than Singapore?
Singapore scores higher on safety — 88 vs 60 / 100 on the Mundevo safety index (crime and personal-security signals).
Should I move to Lyon or Singapore?
It depends on what you weight. Lyon wins the overall Mundevo composite by 0.9 points, but Lyon is cheaper, and the two split differently across affordability, quality of life, remote work and healthcare. Use the per-axis table and the reader-profile section above to match the verdict to your own priorities.