A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nairobi vs. Lyon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nairobi or Lyon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Lyon can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Nairobi or Lyon?

Nairobi

Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.

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 Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.


Which place is cheaper, Lyon or Nairobi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $61, 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 Nairobi and Lyon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nairobi $11
    Lyon $57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nairobi $22
    Lyon $114
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Lyon

Looking for a hotel in Nairobi 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.

Hotels in Nairobi


Hotels in Lyon


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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Lyon Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nairobi $10
    Lyon $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:


  • Taxi from Airport
    $9.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi

Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $20
  • Nairobi Airport Transfer, Hotel Pick up and Drop Off: $20
  • Private Airport Transfer and Service in Nairobi: $20
  • Private Transfer from Airport to Accommodation: $22
  • NAIROBI AIRPORT TRANSFER: $23
  • Nairobi Airport Transfers to City Hotels or Wilson Airport: $24
  • Nairobi Airport One Way Private Transfer: $24
  • Nairobi Airport One-Way Transfers: $25
  • Nairobi NBO Airport One-Way Transfers: $25
  • Private One-Way Transfer from Nairobi: $27
  • Nairobi Airport Transfer: $29
  • Nairobi Airport Transfers: $30

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:


  • Funiculaire
    $5.57
  • Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus
    $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:

  • Transfer Privé Lyon saint exupery airport to lyon : $120
  • Superior Private Transfer From Lyon City to Geneva City: $297
  • Private transfer from or to Lyon train stations - Lyon city by car or luxury van: $47
  • Private Transfer: Saint Exupéry Airport(LYS) to Lyon City Center: $52
  • Private Transfer: Port of LYON to Lyon Airport LYS in Sedan Car: $98
  • Private Transfer: Port of LYON to Lyon Airport LYS in Luxury Van: $103
  • Private Transfer: Lyon to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS): $125
  • Private Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Luxury Van: $103
  • Private Transfer: Lyon City Center to Saint Exupéry Airport(LYS): $52
  • Private Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City in Luxury Van: $103
  • Private Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City in Business Car: $98
  • Private Transfer: (LYS) Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport to Lyon: $124

Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Lyon?

Prices for flights to both Lyon and Nairobi 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Nairobi $7.35
    Lyon $44
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi

For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner for Two
    $4.92

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi

For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
  • Carnivore Restaurant Dinner Experience.: $32
  • Nairobi:Carnivore Restaurant Dinner and Pub Crawling.: $47
  • Local Market Tour and Traditional Meal Cooking Class: $48
  • Enjoy Traditional Kenyan Food Cooking Class With a Host.: $54
  • Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $55
  • Nairobi Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch: $55
  • Nairobi Cooking and Food Tasting Activity: $60
  • Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
  • Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
  • Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience : $68
  • Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience: $80

Typical Food Prices in Lyon

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:


  • 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: $65
  • Croix-Rousse District Vegan Food Tour with Tastings: $65
  • Lyon Street Food Tour : $66
  • 3h Lyon Vegan Food Tour: $66
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $67
  • Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $77
  • Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise: $81
  • 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: $97
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings and Wine: $102
  • Guided Evening Food Tour: $102

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nairobi $45
    Lyon $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Village Visit
    $15

Tours and Activities in Nairobi

For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Ebike adventure Hire Nairobi (Electric mountain bike hire): $15
  • Nairobi cultural shopping experience: $18
  • Nairobi City Walking and Historic Tours: $19
  • Nairobi City;culture and historical guided tour: $19
  • Nairobi;Downtown walking tour: $20
  • vibrant kibera slum tour: $24
  • Private Guided Nairobi City and Cultural Walking Tour: $25
  • Kibera slums half day tour from nairobi: $25
  • Memorable Daily KIBERA Slums/Toi Market Tour with Locals (2 hours): $25
  • Elephant orphanage, Giraffe center, kobe beads tour: $25
  • From Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center Tour: $25
  • Half-Day Tour Giraffe Center and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: $25

Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:


  • Lunch for 2
    $48

Tours and Activities in Lyon

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lyon are as follows:

  • 1 or 2-Hour Pedicab tour of Lyon: $27
  • 1-hour tourist walk with guide: $38
  • Access to a Self-Guided Tour to Traboules de Croix-Rousse: $8.77
  • Alternative Tour: Murals and Hidden Frescoes of Lyon: $46
  • An unusual city tour with sketches: $65
  • Audio-Guided Tour of the United States Quarter and Painted Walls: $11
  • Audio-guided tour of Old Lyon: $11
  • Audio-guided tour of the Fourvière and the Sacred Hill: $11
  • Beaujolais Wine Discovery - Private Tour - Half Day: $253
  • Beaujolais Wines & Castles - Private Tour - Half Day: $269
  • Best Intro Tour of Lyon with a Local: $142
  • Cheese and Wine Accord Tour at Château de Champ-Renard: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nairobi $15
    Lyon $25

Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:


  • Drinks for 2
    $7.29
  • 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:

  • Beaujolais Segway Tour with Wine Tasting: $65
  • Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $98
  • Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $99
  • Lyon Music & Wine tasting: $104
  • From Beaujolais Region Wine Tour with Tastings: $107
  • Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon: $107
  • Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour: $107
  • From Wine tasting and visits of the Beaujolais: $107
  • Half-Day Côte-Rotie Wine Tasting Tour: $107
  • Lyon : Music & Wine tasting tour: $108
  • Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $109
  • Golden stones Beaujolais Wine Tour with Tastings from Lyon: $109


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Lyon, we can see that Lyon is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and Lyon is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 Nairobi.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Lyon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Lyon?

Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Lyon. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi 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.