2026 comparison
Grenoble vs Lyon: 2026 comparison
Lyon has more inhabitants than Grenoble: 525,314 versus 158,303, or 3.3 times as many. Lyon is both larger (47.9 km² versus 18.1 km²) and more densely populated (10,974 inhabitants per km² versus 8,732).
The median apartment price is higher in Lyon: €4,768 per m² versus €2,595. The median standard of living is higher in Lyon (€28,290 a year versus €24,270).
The two cities are 94 km apart as the crow flies.
Grenoble
City in Isère
- Population
- 158,303 inhab.
- 19th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 18.1 km²
- Density
- 8,732 per km²
Lyon
City in Rhône
- Population
- 525,314 inhab.
- 3rd in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 47.9 km²
- Density
- 10,974 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
GrenobleLyon
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Lyon3.3 times as high | 158,303 | 525,314 | More populous: Lyon3.3 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Lyon+1.1 pt | −1.0% | +0.1% | Stronger growth: Lyon+1.1 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Lyon+6.2 pts | −2.5% | +3.7% | Stronger growth: Lyon+6.2 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Lyon+26% | 8,732 | 10,974 | Denser: Lyon+26% |
| Under 15More young people: Lyon+0.0 pt | 14.4% | 14.5% | More young people: Lyon+0.0 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Grenoble+0.4 pt | 15.3% | 14.9% | More seniors: Grenoble+0.4 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Lyon+0.05 | 1.82 | 1.87 | Larger households: Lyon+0.05 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Lyon+84% | 2,595 | 4,768 | More expensive: Lyon+84% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Lyon+70% | 3,497 | 5,954 | More expensive: Lyon+70% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Lyon+24% | 13.4 | 16.6 | More expensive: Lyon+24% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Lyon+31% | 12.6 | 16.5 | More expensive: Lyon+31% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Grenoble+2.7 pts | 36.1% | 33.4% | More homeowners: Grenoble+2.7 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Grenoble+0.4 pt | 2.8% | 2.4% | More houses: Grenoble+0.4 pt |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Grenoble+0.3 pt | 24.9% | 24.6% | More social housing: Grenoble+0.3 pt |
| Second homesMore second homes: Lyon+1.8 pt | 4.2% | 6.0% | More second homes: Lyon+1.8 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Grenoble+4.2 pts | 13.5% | 9.3% | More vacant homes: Grenoble+4.2 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Grenoble+35 pts | 68.00% | 32.82% | Higher rate: Grenoble+35 pts |
Sources: DGFiP (DVF), Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, Ministry for the Ecological Transition (SRU), DGFiP, local taxation
Income and jobs
Residents’ income and jobs
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Lyon+17% | 24,270 | 28,290 | Higher: Lyon+17% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Grenoble+5.6 pts | 23.6% | 18.0% | Higher: Grenoble+5.6 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Lyon+33% | €27,758 | €36,799 | Higher: Lyon+33% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Lyon+7.1 pts | 48% | 55% | More taxpaying households: Lyon+7.1 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Lyon+4.0 pts | 71.3% | 75.3% | Higher: Lyon+4.0 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Grenoble+2.1 pts | 13.2% | 11.1% | Higher: Grenoble+2.1 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Laurence Ruffin | Grégory Doucet | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Lyon+1.9 pt | 96% | 98% | Better covered: Lyon+1.9 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Lyon+5% | 76.91,218 in total | 81.04,256 in total | More shops per capita: Lyon+5% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+7% | 27.9442 in total | 26.11,369 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+7% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+3% | 64.61,023 in total | 62.53,284 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+3% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+20% | 14.0221 in total | 11.6611 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+20% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+51% | 2.336 in total | 1.579 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+51% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lyon+23% | 1.829 in total | 2.2118 in total | More per capita: Lyon+23% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Lyon+5 | 1 | 6 | More stations: Lyon+5 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Lyon+16% | 4.0 | 4.6 | Better access: Lyon+16% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lyon+36% | 9.9157 in total | 13.5709 in total | More per capita: Lyon+36% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lyon+18% | 31.7502 in total | 37.51,972 in total | More per capita: Lyon+18% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Lyon+27% | 8.5134 in total | 10.8565 in total | More per capita: Lyon+27% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+26% | 3.759 in total | 3.0155 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+26% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Lyon+26 | 7 | 33 | More facilities: Lyon+26 |
Practitioners and facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print); access to doctors includes those in neighboring communes. Sources: Ministry of Health (DREES), APL, INSEE, facilities database (BPE), Ministry of Health (Finess)
Education
Schools and colleges
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Lyon+152 | 62 | 214 | More schools: Lyon+152 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Lyon+41 | 18 | 59 | More middle schools: Lyon+41 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Lyon+56 | 18 | 74 | More high schools: Lyon+56 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Lyon+169 | 32 | 201 | More facilities: Lyon+169 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Grenoble+1% | 7.0 | 6.9 | Higher rate: Grenoble+1% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Lyon+47% | 26.8 | 39.3 | Higher rate: Lyon+47% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+14% | 6.1 | 5.3 | Higher rate: Grenoble+14% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+21% | 3.5 | 2.9 | Higher rate: Grenoble+21% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+61% | 18.0 | 11.2 | Higher rate: Grenoble+61% |
Offenses recorded in the commune by the police and gendarmerie, per 1,000 inhabitants (per 1,000 homes for burglaries); this is not the actual crime level. Rates for the latest published year. Source: Ministry of the Interior (SSMSI)
Climate
Temperature, sunshine and rain
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Lyon+0.2 °C | 12.6°C | 12.8°C | Warmer: Lyon+0.2 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,050 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Grenoble+25% | 981 | 783 | Wetter: Grenoble+25% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Grenoble+8 days/year | 108 | 100 | More rainy days: Grenoble+8 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Grenoble+24 days/year | 67 | 44 | More frost days: Grenoble+24 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Grenoble+3 days/year | 35 | 33 | More hot days: Grenoble+3 days/year |
Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals
Natural hazards
Natural disasters and prevention
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Lyon+19 | 5 | 24 | More declarations: Lyon+19 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Grenoble+1 | 2 | 1 | More plans: Grenoble+1 |
| Radon potential | Low | Significant |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Lyon2.6 times as high | 18.1 | 47.9 | Larger: Lyon2.6 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Grenoble+43 m | 213 m | 169 m | Higher: Grenoble+43 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Isère (38) | Rhône (69) | |
| Intercommunality | Grenoble-Alpes-Métropole | Métropole de Lyon | |
| Urban unit | Grenoble | Lyon | |
| Functional area | Grenoble | Lyon |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Grenoble vs Lyon at a glance
| Criterion | Grenoble | Lyon |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 158,303 | 525,314 |
| Change over 10 years | −2.5% | +3.7% |
| Density per km² | 8,732 | 10,974 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,595 | 4,768 |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,497 | 5,954 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.4 | 16.6 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 68.00% | 32.82% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 24,270 | 28,290 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 13.2% | 11.1% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 98% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.0 | 4.6 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 7.0 | 6.9 |
| Average temperature | 12.6°C | 12.8°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 2,050 |
| Area km² | 18.1 | 47.9 |
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FAQ
Grenoble vs Lyon: your questions
Which is the larger city, Grenoble or Lyon?
By population, Lyon: 525,314 inhabitants versus 158,303 for Grenoble (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Lyon is the 3rd largest city in France, Grenoble the 19th. By area, Lyon is also the larger (47.9 km²).
How far is Grenoble from Lyon?
Grenoble and Lyon are 94 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Grenoble or Lyon?
To buy an apartment, Lyon is more expensive: €4,768 per m² (median price), versus €2,595 in Grenoble (+84%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Grenoble or Lyon?
In Lyon, half of the residents have a standard of living above €28,290 a year, versus €24,270 in Grenoble (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Grenoble and Lyon in the same department?
No: Grenoble is in Isère (38), and Lyon in Rhône (69), both in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures