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Lyon, France 🇫🇷
#330 ,

Nomad Score: 67%

💰 Cost & Affordability

💸 Cost of Living
41% Weight: 150
Lyon is moderately expensive compared to smaller French cities but cheaper than Paris; still, costs are high relative to many global digital nomad hubs.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
38% Weight: 80
Rental prices are relatively high, especially in central areas popular with expats and nomads.
🍎 Food & Groceries
55% Weight: 40
Good variety of fresh produce and groceries; eating out can be moderately expensive but offers excellent quality.
🚌 Transportation Cost
72% Weight: 20
Public transport is efficient and affordable with monthly passes; good value for money.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
50% Weight: 15
Moderate prices for cultural events, cinemas, and nightlife; more affordable than Paris but not cheap.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
63% Weight: 10
Average gym memberships cost around €30-50/month, competitive for a European city.
💱 Currency Stability
97% Weight: 30
Euro is a stable currency with low volatility.

💻 Digital Nomad Essentials

🚀 Internet Speed
86% Weight: 100
High-speed fiber internet widely available with speeds often exceeding 100 Mbps.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
79% Weight: 40
Several well-equipped coworking spaces catering to freelancers and startups.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
83% Weight: 30
Many cafes offer reliable WiFi and comfortable work environments.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
75% Weight: 30
Good selection of cafes welcoming to remote workers, though some can be busy during peak hours.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
54% Weight: 100
Growing but still less popular than Paris or other major European cities.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
89% Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.

🌟 Quality of Life

⚖️ Work-Life Balance
81% Weight: 30
French culture emphasizes work-life balance with reasonable working hours and ample leisure options.
🌳 Environmental Quality
70% Weight: 15
Generally good air and water quality, with ongoing efforts to improve urban green spaces.
🧼 Cleanliness
73% Weight: 10
City is relatively clean, though some areas can have litter and graffiti.
🗨️ Language Barrier
52% Weight: 30
French is dominant; English is spoken in tourist and business areas but limited outside these zones.
💨 Air Quality
64% Weight: 15
Occasional pollution spikes, but generally acceptable air quality for a city of its size.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Friendly
70% Weight: 25
Good schools, parks, and family activities; suitable for nomads with children.

🏥 Healthcare

🏥 Healthcare Quality
91% Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare system with excellent hospitals and clinics.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
78% Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable with insurance; private care is more expensive but accessible.
🏥 Healthcare
90% Weight: 20
Comprehensive healthcare services with good access for residents and expats.

🌿 Climate & Environment

☀️ Weather
60% Weight: 80
Temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters; some rainy days but generally mild.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
85% Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
74% Weight: 10
Several parks and green areas, including the large Parc de la Tête d'Or.
❄️ Air Conditioning
42% Weight: 15
Limited air conditioning in many older buildings; summers can be warm but not extreme.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
71% Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with mild winters and warm summers, offering variety without extremes.
🔊 Noise Pollution
55% Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels in central areas; quieter in residential neighborhoods.

🎭 Culture & Entertainment

🎭 Culture
93% Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with museums, theaters, festivals, and historic architecture.
🌃 Nightlife
70% Weight: 15
Vibrant nightlife with bars, clubs, and live music, though quieter than Paris.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
76% Weight: 15
Access to nearby natural areas and hiking spots; good urban parks.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
78% Weight: 10
Many language schools and cultural centers offering French classes.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
80% Weight: 10
Wide range of local tours, wine tasting, and culinary experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
72% Weight: 10
Museums, galleries, cinemas, and theaters provide indoor entertainment options.

🍎 Food & Fitness

🍽️ Food Scene
90% Weight: 25
Renowned gastronomy with diverse restaurants, markets, and traditional French cuisine.
🧠 Yoga Studios
65% Weight: 10
Several yoga studios available, though not as abundant as in larger cities.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
70% Weight: 15
Good range of gyms, fitness centers, and sports clubs.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
82% Weight: 15
Organic markets and health-focused eateries are common.

💼 Work Environment

🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
75% Weight: 20
Central European Time is convenient for working with most European and some American clients.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
71% Weight: 25
Active startup and expat communities provide networking events and meetups.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
60% Weight: 20
Moderate availability of remote jobs; more opportunities in tech and creative sectors.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
68% Weight: 20
Growing freelance community supported by coworking spaces and local networks.
🏢 Coworking Quality
77% Weight: 30
Modern coworking spaces with good amenities and community events.

📈 Business & Economy

🚀 Startup Scene
70% Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem with support from local incubators and accelerators.
💳 Local Payment Services
79% Weight: 10
Widely accepted card payments and mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
55% Weight: 15
Moderate adoption; some local meetups and startups but not a major hub.

🚆 Transportation

✈️ Airport Connectivity
74% Weight: 30
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport offers good European and some intercontinental connections.
🚇 Public Transit
83% Weight: 20
Efficient metro, tram, and bus network covering most of the city.
🚶 Walkability
80% Weight: 20
Compact city center with pedestrian-friendly streets.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
76% Weight: 15
Uber and local ride-sharing apps widely available.
🚲 Cycling
71% Weight: 10
Bike lanes and bike-sharing programs exist but infrastructure can be improved.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
85% Weight: 15
High-speed trains connect Lyon to Paris, Geneva, and other major cities efficiently.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
73% Weight: 10
Electric scooter and bike rentals are common and easy to use.

📡 Connectivity

📱 Mobile Network Coverage
87% Weight: 20
Strong 4G and growing 5G coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
90% Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with no known restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
92% Weight: 15
Stable and reliable electricity supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
68% Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in many public spaces but can be inconsistent.

⚖️ Legal & Administrative

🛂 Visa Ease
45% Weight: 40
Schengen visa rules apply; no specific digital nomad visa, making long stays more complex.
📊 Tax Friendliness
39% Weight: 30
High tax rates and complex tax system for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
95% Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech and expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
88% Weight: 20
Stable democratic government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
50% Weight: 15
Can be bureaucratic and requires proof of residence; easier with local support.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
62% Weight: 10
Moderate complexity; online options exist but paperwork can be time-consuming.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0% Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa available in France as of May 2025.

🌍 Digital Nomad Community

🌍 Nomad Friendly
65% Weight: 50
Moderately friendly with good infrastructure but limited visa options.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
60% Weight: 25
Some meetups and events but smaller scale compared to major nomad hubs.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
67% Weight: 20
Active online groups for Lyon-based digital nomads and expats.

🛡️ Safety & Tolerance

🛡️ Safety
79% Weight: 100
Generally safe with typical urban crime levels; some caution advised in certain neighborhoods.
♀️ Female Friendly
78% Weight: 50
Safe and welcoming for women; good support networks.
✊ Racial Tolerance
65% Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; occasional reports of discrimination but generally diverse and inclusive.

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