Side-by-side city decision # Lyon vs Graz. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link LyonFrance3 VS GrazAustria3 $1,515Lyon monthly budget $1,410Graz monthly budget 250 MbpsLyon internet 80 MbpsGraz internet Decision summary No universal winner The result is balanced. Your priorities should decide the better fit. Cost Best budget Graz Speed Fastest internet Lyon Vibe Best nomad vibe Lyon Safety Highest safety Graz Air Cleanest air Graz Walk Most walkable Lyon Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Lyon](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/france/lyon.md) France 3/6 Budget$1,515 Internet250 Mbps Vibe8/10 [Graz](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/austria/graz.md) Austria 3/6 Budget$1,410 Internet80 Mbps Vibe7/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals Total estimated budget $1,515 $1,410 1-bed center rent $850 $750 Coworking desk $250 $220 Local meal $18 $13 Cappuccino $3.5 $3.8 Gym membership $40 $44 Transport budget $65 $60 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals Internet speed 250 Mbps 80 Mbps Nomad vibe 8/10 7/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals Safety index 75/100 80/100 Air quality 65/100 85/100 Walkability 9/10 8/10 Female safety 8/10 8/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 8/10 8/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals Healthcare quality Excellent Excellent English proficiency Average Good Climate type Semi-continental Continental Best time to visit Apr - Oct May - Sep Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [Lyon](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/france/lyon.md) France → ### Strengths * Excellent healthcare system * Rich gastronomy and food scene * Great public transport network * Walkable city center * Vibrant cultural and nightlife * Proximity to the Alps and Mediterranean ### Trade-offs * High taxes and social charges * Cold winters with little sunlight * Bureaucracy can be slow * Limited English in daily interactions * Expensive housing in central areas * Crowded during peak tourist season ### Common visa routes * Long-stay visa (VLS-TS) * French Tech Visa * Freelancer visa (Auto-entrepreneur) [Graz](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/austria/graz.md) Austria → ### Strengths * Excellent quality of life * Affordable compared to Vienna * Rich history and architecture * Surrounded by nature and vineyards * Very safe city * Efficient public transport ### Trade-offs * Cold, dark winters * Limited nightlife compared to Vienna * Language barrier without German * Bureaucratic processes can be slow * Not a 24/7 city * Fewer coworking spaces than larger hubs ### Common visa routes * Schengen Tourist (90 days) * Freelancer Visa (Rot-Weiß-Rot) * Student Visa Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.