Lyon vs Toulouse
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Lyon leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Toulouse where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Toulouse's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Lyon | Toulouse |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 60 | 62 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 11 | 11 |
| Climate | 94 | 99 |
| Safety | 80 | 80 |
| Summer °C | 20.7 | 21.2 |
| Winter °C | 3.1 | 5.4 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
Lyon vs Toulouse: the short answer
Toulouse comes out ahead on overall livability (62/100), only marginally above Lyon (60/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Toulouse is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Lyon 11 vs Toulouse 11, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Toulouse runs warmer in summer (about 21.2°C peak vs 20.7°C in Lyon), while winter lows sit near 3.1°C in Lyon and 5.4°C in Toulouse. On natural-disaster exposure Toulouse is the safer choice (safety 80/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Lyon and flooding for Toulouse.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Toulouse — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Toulouse — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Toulouse — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Toulouse — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Lyon or Toulouse better to live in?
Toulouse scores higher overall — 62 vs 60 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Lyon or Toulouse?
Toulouse has the lower cost of living (cost index 11 vs 11; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Lyon or Toulouse?
Toulouse — summer highs reach about 21.2°C versus 20.7°C in Lyon.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Lyon or Toulouse?
Toulouse (disaster-safety 80/100). Main hazard: flooding in Lyon, flooding in Toulouse.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Lyon?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Lyon on our risk index.
How is the Lyon vs Toulouse comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.