Cost of Living: Bali vs Lyon (2026)

Indonesia vs France — relocation comparison

TL;DRLyon is 10% cheaper on rent ($972/mo vs $1082/mo). Bali is safer — homicide rate 0.3 vs 1.6 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
65
Livability Score
🇮🇩 Bali
Indonesia
Full profile
75
Livability Score
🇫🇷 Lyon
France
Full profile
Lyon scores 75 to Bali's 65 on livability — the gap is real. Bali has its charms, but the numbers favor Lyon.
💰
Cost of Living
Lyon
$110/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Bali
0.3 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Lyon
8.1/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
29°C vs 26°C summers
🗣️
English
Lyon
higher proficiency score
Bali
Metric
Lyon
$1082/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$972/mo
$268/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$823/mo
$2,914
🧳
Cost to land
$4,220
0.3 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.6 / 100k
51 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
59 / 100
29°C
☀️
Summer high
26°C
25°C
❄️
Winter low
1°C
36 Mbps
Internet speed
146 Mbps
6.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.1 / 10
Moderate (41/100)
🗣️
English ease
High (60/100)
$16k
💼
GDP per capita
$63k
2.2%
📈
Inflation
2.0%
65 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
75 / 100
60/100 — Patchy
Grid reliability
93/100 — Reliable
56/100
🗽
Freedom House
90/100
5 years
📋
Time to PR
5 years

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

369
PISA
country avg
478
15
Intl schools
1
Yes, but limited for foreigners (Indonesian)
Public school
Yes (French)
Pediatric care
Extensive pediatric network; PMI clinics free for children under 6
Specialist wait
2–6 weeks
$498/mo
Childcare
full-day
$661/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
tourismhospitalitydigital-nomadsurfing-culture
Industries
life-sciencesbiotechfinancemanufacturing
nascent
Startup ecosystem
active
60/100
Grid reliability
93/100
5 yrs
Time to PR
5 yrs
Easy
EU visa
Easy
Easy
RU visa
Complex
Easy
UA visa
Easy
Your partner gets to watch you work
Spouse works
Your partner can also work

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 10% cheaper in Lyon ($972/mo vs $1082/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Bali (29°C vs 26°C).
  • Bali is safer by homicide rate (0.3 vs 1.6 per 100k).
  • Lyon scores higher on democracy (8.1 vs 6.8 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Lyon (60/100 vs 41/100 English proficiency).

Bali vs Lyon — Common Questions

Is Bali cheaper than Lyon?

Lyon is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $972/month in Lyon vs $1082/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Bali or Lyon?

Bali is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Bali has a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 and Lyon has 1.56 per 100,000.

Should I move to Bali or Lyon?

Lyon scores 75 to Bali's 65 on livability — the gap is real. Bali has its charms, but the numbers favor Lyon. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Bali or Lyon?

Bali: Indonesia Second Home Visa (complex process, 5 or 10 years). Lyon: France Talent Passport (complex process, Up to 4 years). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Bali or Lyon?

Bali is warmer in summer (29°C vs 26°C). Lyon has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Bali or Lyon without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Lyon (EF EPI score: 60/100) than in Bali (41/100). In Lyon, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Bali, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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