I moved to Lyon as an international student — here's what nobody tells you

After two semesters in Lyon, I can tell you the things the official guides leave out — the good surprises and the frustrating ones.

The city looks perfect on paper. It mostly is.

I chose Lyon because every ranking put it in the top three French cities for students. France's second city, gastronomic capital, two hours from the Alps, growing tech scene. The data looked great. What data doesn't tell you is what it actually *feels* like to arrive alone with two suitcases in a city where you don't know a single person.

The short answer: Lyon is genuinely great. But there are a few things I wish someone had told me before I landed.

Housing will stress you out more than your coursework

Start looking for accommodation at least three months before you arrive. I cannot stress this enough. I found my apartment five weeks before moving and I was considered lucky by my classmates. The rental market in Lyon is competitive, and landlords often require a French guarantor — someone with a French bank account who co-signs your lease.

If you don't have a French guarantor (most of us don't), use Visale — a free government guarantor scheme for students under 30. Most people don't know it exists. It takes about a week to get your Visale certificate online, and it genuinely opens doors that would otherwise be closed.

My studio near Croix-Rousse cost €820/month. After CAF (the housing benefit — apply the same day you sign your lease), I got €185/month back. Net cost: €635. Manageable.

The food is the best thing about living here

Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France, and you feel it immediately. The Halles Paul Bocuse market has intimidating prices, but the neighbourhood markets on Saturday mornings — particularly in Croix-Rousse and Guillotière — are affordable and extraordinary. I spent €40–50/week on groceries and ate better than I ever had.

The CROUS student restaurants serve full hot meals for €3.30 with a student card. There are about ten of them across the city. I ate there three or four times a week and saved a significant amount over the year.

The language barrier is real, then it isn't

My French was B1 when I arrived. I struggled in shops, at the prefecture, on the phone. Lyon is not as English-friendly as Paris. After three months, something clicked and I stopped noticing. The city rewards effort — locals are noticeably warmer once you try in French, even imperfectly.

If you're coming for English-taught programmes, EM Lyon and INSA Lyon run fully bilingual tracks. But if you're studying at the public university, expect lectures entirely in French.

The things nobody tells you

The bureaucracy is exhausting. Between the ANEF portal (residence permit), CAF (housing benefit), CPAM (health insurance), and your bank, you will spend the first month in queues and on hold. It is infuriating. Everyone goes through it. It does end.

Winters are grey and cold. The Alps are beautiful from a distance but Lyon itself sits in a valley and gets cold, foggy winters. The famous canuts neighbourhoods on the slopes of Croix-Rousse can be brutal in January.

The social life takes time to build. French university culture is less campus-focused than in the UK or US. You have to be proactive. Join a student association (BDE) early, say yes to things, be the one who suggests meeting for coffee.

The transport pass for under-26s is €34/month for unlimited trams, buses and metro. It's genuinely one of the cheapest in France for a city of this size.

Would I do it again?

Without question. Lyon gave me a rigorous academic experience, a network I still use, and a standard of living that would cost three times as much in London or Zurich. The bureaucratic friction is real but temporary. The quality of life is not.

If you're deciding between Lyon and other French cities, compare the full picture — housing, universities, and job market — across all 12 cities on our cities page. And if you're weighing it against other options, our city quiz might help you figure out where you actually belong.