Which place is cheaper, Lyon or Izmir?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Izmir or Lyon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Izmir and Lyon. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Izmir or Lyon?
Izmir
Izmir is a metropolitan city of Turkey and the second most populous city on the Aegean Sea after Athens, Greece. Known as Smyrna in antiquity, it was founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans, and rebuilt by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Most remnants of this past are gone; however, there are a few archaeological sites in addition to beaches, bustling city streets, and colorful markets.
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 G Adventures Tours to Turkey, The Best 3-Day Tours from Istanbul, 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 dayIzmir $105Lyon $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Izmir is $105, while the average daily cost in Lyon is $134. 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 Izmir and Lyon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIzmir $60Lyon $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIzmir $120Lyon $114
Compare Hotels in Izmir and Lyon
Looking for a hotel in Izmir 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: Izmir Hotel Prices and Lyon Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Izmir $30Lyon $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Izmir
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Izmir:
- Izmir Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer from/to Izmir City: $21
- Private Transfer from Izmir city Hotels to Izmir Cruise Port: $25
- Izmir Transfer: $25
- Private Transfer - Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport ADB to Izmir Port: $26
- Private Transfer - Izmir Port to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport ADB: $26
- Private Transfer from Izmir Hotels to Izmir Cruise Port: $28
- Private Airport Transfers: From Göcek to Dalaman Airport: $40
- Izmir Airport (ADB) to Çeşme, Alaçatı - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Arrival Transfer Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport ADB to Izmir by Van: $41
- Bodrum Airport Luxury Private Minivan By Meet Transfer : $42
- Izmir Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer from/to Cesme: $43
- Private Transfer: Izmir Airport (ADB) to Izmir : $44
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:
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Funiculaire$5.57
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Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus$20
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 Izmir or Lyon?
Prices for flights to both Lyon and Izmir 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 dayIzmir $24Lyon $44
Typical Food Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:
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Pastry$1.82
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.Izmir $21Lyon $22
Tours and Activities in Izmir
Here are a few actual costs in Izmir for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Olive Oil Tasting Experience in Turkey : $3.16
- Quick Tour, Essentials of Izmir With Audio Guide: $6.00
- Mini Group Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Tour (Max. 10 guests): $25
- Skip Line Private Ephesus- Temple Of Artemis-Virgin Mary Tour: $32
- PRIVATE PHOTO TOUR IN IZMIR - Photo & Video Experience in iZMiR: $49
- Half-Day Izmir City Tour: $55
- Ephesus Tour: $56
- "Ephesus tours" the "house of virgin mary tours" Tours from KUSADASI CRUİSE PORT: $67
- Deluxe Ephesus with Terrace Houses tour from Izmir Hotel , Cruise Ports, Airport: $69
- Ephesus and Virgin Mary's House from Izmir Hotels , Airport ,Cruise Port: $69
- Izmir City Tour: $70
- Best Seller Private Ephesus Tour for Cruisers : $70
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$48
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 dayIzmir $8.86Lyon $25
Sample the Local Flavors in Izmir
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Izmir:
- Wine Tasting Tour at Two Wineries in Urla Turkey: $98
- Wine Tour with Metropolis Ancient City: $114
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Mother's Mary House and visit to old village Sirince with wine tasting: $152
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$7.29
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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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Izmir and Lyon, we can see that Lyon is more expensive. And not only is Izmir much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Izmir would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Izmir and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Lyon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lyon than you might in Izmir.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Izmir Expensive? and Is Lyon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Izmir or Lyon?
Izmir has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Lyon. When comparing the sizes of Izmir 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 Izmir 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 Izmir or Lyon in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Izmir and Lyon. Also, most visitors come to Lyon for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Izmir is a little warmer than Lyon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Izmir in July average around 28°C (82°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. In Izmir, it's very sunny this time of the year. Izmir usually receives more sunshine than Lyon during summer. Izmir gets 378 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Izmir usually receives less rain than Lyon. Izmir gets 2 mm (0.1 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 JulyIzmir 28°C (82°F)Lyon 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Izmir or Lyon in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Izmir as well as Lyon. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Lyon because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Izmir is generally a little warmer than Lyon. Daily temperatures in Izmir average around 19°C (67°F), and Lyon fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Izmir this time of the year. In the autumn, Izmir often gets more sunshine than Lyon. Izmir gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 127 hours of full sun.
Izmir usually gets less rain in October than Lyon. Izmir gets 39 mm (1.5 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 OctoberIzmir 19°C (67°F)Lyon 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Izmir or Lyon in the Winter?
Both Lyon and Izmir are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Lyon this time of year.
It's quite cold in Lyon in the winter. Izmir is much warmer than Lyon in the winter. The daily temperature in Izmir averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Lyon fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
Izmir usually receives more sunshine than Lyon during winter. Izmir gets 131 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Izmir. In January, Izmir usually receives more rain than Lyon. Izmir gets 132 mm (5.2 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 JanuaryIzmir 9°C (48°F)Lyon 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Izmir or Lyon in the Spring?
Both Lyon and Izmir during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Lyon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Izmir is a little warmer than Lyon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Izmir in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Lyon averages at about 11°C (53°F).
It's quite sunny in Izmir. In the spring, Izmir often gets more sunshine than Lyon. Izmir gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 174 hours of full sun.
Izmir usually gets less rain in April than Lyon. Izmir gets 45 mm (1.8 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 AprilIzmir 16°C (61°F)Lyon 11°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Lyon and Izmir
| Izmir | Lyon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 153 mm (6 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.