2026 comparison
Grenoble vs Strasbourg: 2026 comparison
Strasbourg has more inhabitants than Grenoble: 296,552 versus 158,303, or 87% more. Strasbourg covers a larger area (78.3 km² versus 18.1 km²), but Grenoble is more densely populated: 8,732 inhabitants per km² versus 3,789.
The median standard of living is higher in Grenoble (€24,270 a year versus €21,980).
The two cities are 407 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
Strasbourg
City in Bas-Rhin
- Population
- 296,552 inhab.
- 8th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 78.3 km²
- Density
- 3,789 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
GrenobleStrasbourg
| Criterion | Grenoble | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Strasbourg+87% | 158,303 | 296,552 | More populous: Strasbourg+87% |
| Change over 5 yearsStronger growth: Strasbourg+4.2 pts | −1.0% | +3.2% | Stronger growth: Strasbourg+4.2 pts |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Strasbourg+9.1 pts | −2.5% | +6.5% | Stronger growth: Strasbourg+9.1 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Grenoble2.3 times as high | 8,732 | 3,789 | Denser: Grenoble2.3 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Strasbourg+2.1 pts | 14.4% | 16.5% | More young people: Strasbourg+2.1 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Grenoble+0.5 pt | 15.3% | 14.8% | More seniors: Grenoble+0.5 pt |
| People per householdLarger households: Strasbourg+0.18 | 1.82 | 2.00 | Larger households: Strasbourg+0.18 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Grenoble | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,595 | not covered | |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,497 | not covered | |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Strasbourg+16% | 13.4 | 15.6 | More expensive: Strasbourg+16% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Strasbourg+25% | 12.6 | 15.7 | More expensive: Strasbourg+25% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Grenoble+9.3 pts | 36.1% | 26.8% | More homeowners: Grenoble+9.3 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Strasbourg+3.2 pts | 2.8% | 6.1% | More houses: Strasbourg+3.2 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Strasbourg+8.6 pts | 24.9% | 33.5% | More social housing: Strasbourg+8.6 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Strasbourg+0.6 pt | 4.2% | 4.9% | More second homes: Strasbourg+0.6 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Grenoble+4.9 pts | 13.5% | 8.6% | More vacant homes: Grenoble+4.9 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Grenoble+26 pts | 68.00% | 42.25% | Higher rate: Grenoble+26 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 | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Grenoble+10% | 24,270 | 21,980 | Higher: Grenoble+10% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Strasbourg+6.0 pts | 23.6% | 29.6% | Higher: Strasbourg+6.0 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Strasbourg+5% | €27,758 | €29,242 | Higher: Strasbourg+5% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Grenoble+5.5 pts | 48% | 42% | More taxpaying households: Grenoble+5.5 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Grenoble+2.3 pts | 71.3% | 69.0% | Higher: Grenoble+2.3 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Strasbourg+2.4 pts | 13.2% | 15.5% | Higher: Strasbourg+2.4 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Grenoble | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Laurence Ruffin | Catherine Trautmann | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | union of the left | miscellaneous left | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Grenoble+3.3 pts | 96% | 93% | Better covered: Grenoble+3.3 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Grenoble | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Grenoble+26% | 76.91,218 in total | 61.31,817 in total | More shops per capita: Grenoble+26% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+42% | 27.9442 in total | 19.7583 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+42% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+28% | 64.61,023 in total | 50.31,492 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+28% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+5% | 14.0221 in total | 13.3395 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+5% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+50% | 2.336 in total | 1.545 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+50% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+58% | 1.829 in total | 2.986 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+58% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Strasbourg+1 | 1 | 2 | More stations: Strasbourg+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Grenoble | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Strasbourg+65% | 4.0 | 6.5 | Better access: Strasbourg+65% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+57% | 9.9157 in total | 15.6463 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+57% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+13% | 31.7502 in total | 35.81,062 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+13% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Strasbourg+30% | 8.5134 in total | 11.0327 in total | More per capita: Strasbourg+30% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Grenoble+42% | 3.759 in total | 2.678 in total | More per capita: Grenoble+42% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Strasbourg+17 | 7 | 24 | More facilities: Strasbourg+17 |
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 | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Strasbourg+65 | 62 | 127 | More schools: Strasbourg+65 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Strasbourg+26 | 18 | 44 | More middle schools: Strasbourg+26 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Strasbourg+21 | 18 | 39 | More high schools: Strasbourg+21 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Strasbourg+67 | 32 | 99 | More facilities: Strasbourg+67 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Grenoble | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Grenoble+63% | 7.0 | 4.3 | Higher rate: Grenoble+63% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+4% | 26.8 | 25.8 | Higher rate: Grenoble+4% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+23% | 6.1 | 4.9 | Higher rate: Grenoble+23% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble3.5 times as high | 3.5 | 1.0 | Higher rate: Grenoble3.5 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Grenoble+60% | 18.0 | 11.3 | Higher rate: Grenoble+60% |
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 | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Grenoble+1.2 °C | 12.6°C | 11.4°C | Warmer: Grenoble+1.2 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,747 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Grenoble+54% | 981 | 636 | Wetter: Grenoble+54% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Strasbourg+4 days/year | 108 | 112 | More rainy days: Strasbourg+4 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Grenoble+8 days/year | 67 | 60 | More frost days: Grenoble+8 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Grenoble+17 days/year | 35 | 18 | More hot days: Grenoble+17 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 | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Strasbourg+12 | 5 | 17 | More declarations: Strasbourg+12 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Grenoble+1 | 2 | 1 | More plans: Grenoble+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Grenoble | Strasbourg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Strasbourg4.3 times as high | 18.1 | 78.3 | Larger: Strasbourg4.3 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Grenoble+71 m | 213 m | 141 m | Higher: Grenoble+71 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Large urban centre | Large urban centre | Same |
| Department | Isère (38) | Bas-Rhin (67) | |
| Intercommunality | Grenoble-Alpes-Métropole | Eurométropole de Strasbourg | |
| Urban unit | Grenoble | Strasbourg (partie française) | |
| Functional area | Grenoble | Strasbourg (partie française) |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Grenoble vs Strasbourg at a glance
| Criterion | Grenoble | Strasbourg |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 158,303 | 296,552 |
| Change over 10 years | −2.5% | +6.5% |
| Density per km² | 8,732 | 3,789 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,595 | not covered |
| Median house price €/m² | 3,497 | not covered |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 13.4 | 15.6 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 68.00% | 42.25% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 24,270 | 21,980 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 13.2% | 15.5% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 93% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.0 | 6.5 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 7.0 | 4.3 |
| Average temperature | 12.6°C | 11.4°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,747 |
| Area km² | 18.1 | 78.3 |
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FAQ
Grenoble vs Strasbourg: your questions
Which is the larger city, Grenoble or Strasbourg?
By population, Strasbourg: 296,552 inhabitants versus 158,303 for Grenoble (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Strasbourg is the 8th largest city in France, Grenoble the 19th. By area, Strasbourg is also the larger (78.3 km²).
How far is Grenoble from Strasbourg?
Grenoble and Strasbourg are 407 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is the standard of living higher, in Grenoble or Strasbourg?
In Grenoble, half of the residents have a standard of living above €24,270 a year, versus €21,980 in Strasbourg (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Grenoble and Strasbourg in the same department?
No: Grenoble is in Isère (38), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and Strasbourg in Bas-Rhin (67), in the Grand Est region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures