Which place is cheaper, Lyon or Akureyri?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Akureyri or Lyon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Akureyri or Lyon, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Akureyri or Lyon?
Akureyri
Akureyri is the largest town in the northern region of Iceland, and is often considered the unofficial capital of the north. The town is a popular fishing port and is often used as a basecamp for visiting the more rural surrounding area. Akureyri is known for their great art scene, beautiful architecture, and stunning natural scenery.
Lyon
Lyon, located within the region of Southeastern France, is France's third largest city in terms of population, with just over 500,000 inhabitants. This makes the city large, yet still small and personable enough to be explored properly in a short visit. Known as the gastronomic capital of Europe, your culinary needs are exceptionally well catered to here, and for those with historical and cultural interests, you will never be at a loss for new things to do and see.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAkureyri $138Lyon $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Akureyri is $138, while the average daily cost in Lyon is $136. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Akureyri and Lyon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAkureyri $89Lyon $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAkureyri $178Lyon $114
Compare Hotels in Akureyri and Lyon
Looking for a hotel in Akureyri or Lyon? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Akureyri Hotel Prices and Lyon Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Akureyri $20Lyon $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Akureyri
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Akureyri:
- Akureyri Airport (AEY): Transfer to/from Akureyri City: $27
- Private Transfer to/from Akureyri Airport: $32
- From Godafoss Waterfall Guided Trip with Transfers: $114
- From Private Diamond Circle Nature Tour & Transfer: $1,336
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:
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Funiculaire$5.63
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Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus$21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City by Business Car: $78
- Arrival Private Transfer from Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City by Luxury Van: $92
- Arrival Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City in Business Car: $86
- Departure Private Transfer Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS by Business Car: $79
- Departure Private Transfer Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS by Luxury Van: $93
- Departure Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Business Car: $86
- Departure Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Luxury Van: $94
- Excellecar Private Driver - Stations & Airports Transfers: $82
- Group transfer from Lyon airport to City Center: $118
- Lyon Airport (LYS) to Val d'Isere/Espace Killy: Arrival Transfer: $76
- Lyon City Card with Airport Transfer: $52
- Lyon Exupery Airport to Les Deux La Clusaz Round Trip Transfer: $142
Is it cheaper to fly into Akureyri or Lyon?
Prices for flights to both Lyon and Akureyri change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAkureyri $35Lyon $45
Typical Food Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:
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Pastry$1.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lyon.
- Street Food Tour: $64
- Croix-Rousse District Vegan Food Tour with Tastings: $64
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $66
- Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $76
- Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise: $80
- Cultural Walking Food Tour in the Vieux Lyon District: $86
- Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch: $93
- Old Town Food Tour: $96
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings and Wine: $102
- Guided Evening Food Tour: $102
- Lyon Evening Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Food Tour in Lyon - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Akureyri $16Lyon $22
Tours and Activities in Akureyri
Here are a few actual costs in Akureyri for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Geothermal Sea-baths admission ticket: $47
- Snowshoeing Experience and Storytelling in Héðinsfjörður: $71
- Boat Tours from Siglufjörður: $80
- Whale Watching Tour from Akureyri City Central: $80
- Whale Watching and Sea Angling Tour : $83
- Traditional Whale Watching Tour from Húsavík: $86
- 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour: $89
- Zipline Tour: $90
- Waterfall Godafoss Tour: $91
- Zipline Adventure Through Glerárgil River Canyon in Akureyri Town: $92
- The Viking Horse Riding Experience in North Iceland: $93
- Whale Watching Tour from Akureyri City Central: $94
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:
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Lunch for 2$49
Tours and Activities in Lyon
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lyon are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
- Hop-On Hop-Off City Cruise: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Lyon Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $6.42
- Lyon Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.54
- Private Self-Guided Tour of the Curse Quest of Old Lyon: $8.72
- Access to a Self-Guided Tour of the archaeological site of Lyon: $8.72
- Access to a Self-Guided Tour to Traboules de Croix-Rousse: $8.72
- Lyon Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- French Resistance Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $9.61
- Old Lyon Walking In App Audio Tour: $9.77
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAkureyri $13Lyon $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Akureyri
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Akureyri:
- Local taste, handcraft & micro brewery tour: $143
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:
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Drinks for 2$7.37
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Bottle of Wine$16
Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon
Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Lyon : Music & Wine tasting tour: $96
- Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $98
- Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $98
- Lyon Music & Wine tasting: $104
- Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon: $106
- Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour: $106
- From Wine tasting and visits of the Beaujolais: $106
- Half-Day Côte-Rotie Wine Tasting Tour: $106
- From Beaujolais Region Wine Tour with Tastings: $106
- Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $108
- Beaujolais 100% wine tour Small-Group Tour with Tasting from Lyon: $108
- Guided tour and wine tasting Northern Rhône Valley: $108
When comparing the travel costs between Akureyri and Lyon, we can see that Akureyri is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Akureyri Expensive? and Is Lyon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Akureyri or Lyon?
Lyon has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Akureyri. When comparing the sizes of Akureyri and Lyon, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Akureyri or Lyon?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Akureyri or Lyon in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Akureyri and Lyon. Furthermore, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lyon this time of year.
In the summer, Akureyri is much colder than Lyon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Akureyri in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Lyon averages at about 22°C (71°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lyon this time of the year. Akureyri usually receives less sunshine than Lyon during summer. Akureyri gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Akureyri usually receives less rain than Lyon. Akureyri gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAkureyri 11°C (52°F)Lyon 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Akureyri or Lyon in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Akureyri as well as Lyon. Additionally, many travelers come to Lyon for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
It's quite cold in Akureyri in the autumn. In October, Akureyri is generally much colder than Lyon. Daily temperatures in Akureyri average around 3°C (38°F), and Lyon fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
In the autumn, Akureyri often gets less sunshine than Lyon. Akureyri gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 127 hours of full sun.
Akureyri usually gets less rain in October than Lyon. Akureyri gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAkureyri 3°C (38°F)Lyon 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Akureyri or Lyon in the Winter?
Both Lyon and Akureyri are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Lyon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Lyon can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Akureyri. Akureyri is much colder than Lyon in the winter. The daily temperature in Akureyri averages around -2°C (28°F) in January, and Lyon fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
Akureyri usually receives less sunshine than Lyon during winter. Akureyri gets 7 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Akureyri usually receives around the same amount of rain as Lyon. Akureyri gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAkureyri -2°C (28°F)Lyon 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Akureyri or Lyon in the Spring?
Both Lyon and Akureyri during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Lyon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Akureyri can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Akureyri is much colder than Lyon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Akureyri in April average around 2°C (36°F), and Lyon averages at about 11°C (53°F).
In the spring, Akureyri often gets less sunshine than Lyon. Akureyri gets 130 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 174 hours of full sun.
Akureyri usually gets less rain in April than Lyon. Akureyri gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAkureyri 2°C (36°F)Lyon 11°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Lyon and Akureyri
| Akureyri | Lyon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (28°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | -1°C (31°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 2°C (36°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (51°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 7°C (44°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | -0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (29°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.