Should you visit Nantes or Lyon?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nantes or Lyon, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, 31 miles from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with almost 600,000 inhabitants within the Urban area. Together with Saint-Nazaire, a seaport located on the Loire estuary, Nantes forms the main metropolis of north-western France. The city has a unique architectural heritage with its magnificent Chateau des ducs de Bretagne - a Renaissance-style castle nestled in a fortress, a medieval quarter and one of the highest cathedrals of France. It has been transformed in the last 20 years probably more than any other city in France. It is not only a vibrant and young metropolis often rewarded for its top-quality of life, but a city where art has literally been integrated in all possible aspects, making it a true example of how artists can turn a city upside down.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Lyon or Nantes?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nantes is €87, while the average daily cost in Lyon is €100. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Nantes and Lyon in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Nantes can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €48, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €96.
A hotel room in Lyon is about €84 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
In Nantes travelers spend around €22 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
On average, meal and food prices in Lyon cost around €33 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €13.
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Food
Meals for one day
Nantes €22
Lyon €33
Typical Food prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lyon.
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Lyon Old Town Walking Guided Food Tour:
$68
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Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise:
$74
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Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch:
$93
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Lyon Old Town Five Tasting Stops Walking Food Tour with Lunch:
$108
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Lyon Quais Saint Antoine Private Gastronomic Food Tour:
$111
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Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Lyon:
$137
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Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse Food Tour:
$217
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Food tour in Lyon:
$258
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Secret Food Tours Lyon w/ Private Tour Option:
$296
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Lyon Food Tour:
$880
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Lyon Food Tour:
$880
Local Transportation
Nantes's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €29 per person, per day on transportation in Nantes.
The average price of local transportation around Lyon is €14 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nantes
Also for Nantes, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Airport Transfer: from Nantes to Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE):
$50
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Nantes Private Transfer from Nantes city centre to Nantes Airport:
$75
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Nantes Atlantique Airport to Nantes City - One Way:
$78
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lyon
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:
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Superior Private Transfer From Lyon City to Geneva City:
$156
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Shared Departure Transfer: Lyon Hotel to Lyon-Saint Exupery:
$128
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Shared Departure Transfer: Lyon Hotel to Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry:
$128
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport to Lyon Hotel:
$128
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupery to Lyon Hotel:
$128
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Round Trip Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) Transfer to Lyon City Center:
$115
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Private transfer: Lyon–Bron Airport (LYN) to Meribel:
$765
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Private transfer: Lyon–Bron Airport (LYN) to Les Deux Alpes:
$744
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Private transfer: Lyon–Bron Airport (LYN) to Chamrousse:
$532
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Private arrival OR departure transfer in Lyon (hotel OR airport pick-up):
$75
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Private Transfer: Lyon to Lyon–Bron Airport (LYN):
$622
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Private Departure Transfer: Lyon Hotel to Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport:
$91
Is it cheaper to fly into Nantes or Lyon?
Prices for flights to both Lyon and Nantes 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Nantes can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €11 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Lyon's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €16 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Nantes
For Nantes, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Welcome to Private Tour with a Local:
$34
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Between the Walls: 1-Hour Segway Tour:
$36
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Segway: "Inside the Historical Center of Nantes" - city tour Nantes - 1H00:
$37
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Nantes Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$40
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Segway: "Nantes's Patrimony" City tour Nantes - 1H30:
$56
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2-Hour Segway Tour:
$65
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Segway: "The Great Escape" - city tour Nantes - 2H00:
$68
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Segway: "The Wide Angle" city tour Nantes - 2H30:
$81
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Nantes Private Walking Tour:
$230
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Private 3-hour Walking Tour of Nantes with official tour guide:
$231
Typical Entertainment prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Lyon
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lyon are as follows:
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1 or 2-Hour Pedicab tour of Lyon:
$31
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Beaujolais & Perouges Medieval Town - Full Day - Small Group Tour from Lyon:
$134
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Beaujolais & Perouges Medieval Town - Private Day Tour:
$858
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Beaujolais Crus Wines & Castles - Afternoon - Small Group Tour from Lyon:
$114
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Beaujolais Crus Wines & Castles - Morning - Small Group Tour from Lyon:
$114
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Beaujolais Wine Discovery - Morning - Small Group Tours from Lyon:
$108
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Beaujolais Wine Discovery - Private Tour - Half Day:
$280
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Beaujolais Wine Route Private Tour:
$641
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Beaujolais Wine Route Small-Group Tour with Tasting from Lyon:
$123
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Beaujolais Wines & Castles - Private Tour - Half Day:
$299
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Beaujolais half day private tour:
$280
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Best Intro Tour of Lyon with a Local:
$61
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Nantes spend on average €5.14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about €19 on alcoholic beverages in Lyon per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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
€6.80
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Bottle of Wine
€15
Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon
Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Northern Rhône Valley Cheese & Wine Tasting Half Day Tour from Lyon:
$111
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Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais:
$112
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The Original Syrah Wine Tour - Afternoon - Small Group Tour from Lyon:
$114
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The Original Syrah Wine Tour - Morning - Small Group Tours from Lyon:
$114
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Beaujolais Gourmet Wine Tour with Tastings from Lyon:
$123
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Macon & Beaujolais Wine Tour - Full Day - Small Group Tour from Lyon:
$147
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Cotes du Rhone Wine Tour - Full Day - Small Group Tour from Lyon:
$153
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Northern Rhône Valley Day Tour with Wine Tasting from Lyon:
$160
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Burgundy South of Region Small Group Day Tour with Local Wine Tasting from Lyon:
$160
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Beaujolais Region Vineyard Day Tour with Wine Tasting from Lyon:
$160
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Côte-Rôtie & Vienne Region Roman History with Wine Tasting from Lyon:
$243
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Rhône Valley Terroir Private Tour with Local Cheese & Wine Tasting from Lyon:
$280
When comparing the travel costs between Nantes and Lyon, we can see that Lyon 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.
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