Lyon
France's second economic hub, Lyon combines industrial and service-sector strength, a recognised quality of life and a rental market driven by 175,000 students. A mature market that Covesta is exploring for its next deals.
1.4 M
Metropolitan population
2nd urban area in France
175,000
Students in the metropolitan area
3rd student city in France
€4,200
Average price per m²
existing homes, all districts
4 lines +
Tram and metro
dense network, Part-Dieu and Perrache TGV stations
Lyon: economic strength and residential appeal
Understanding the fundamentals of the Lyon market to gauge the solidity of a buy-to-let investment in the capital of the Gauls.
France's second-largest job market
The Lyon metropolitan area has more than 55,000 companies and is Europe's leading pharmaceutical and chemical hub. The head offices of Sanofi Pasteur, Boiron, Renault Trucks, GL Events and hundreds of innovative SMEs are based there. The Part-Dieu district is France's second business district after La Défense, with 3,000 companies and 60,000 employees. This economic density generates a constant flow of mobile executives and professionals who feed sustained rental demand across the whole conurbation.
175,000 students in the metropolitan area
Lyon is France's third student city. Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, Sciences Po Lyon, EM Lyon, INSA, Centrale Lyon and dozens of other institutions attract students from all over France and abroad every year. The La Doua campus in Villeurbanne alone has more than 30,000 students. This massive population, renewed every year, ensures permanent rental demand for small furnished homes, particularly in districts well served by public transport.
A transport hub at the crossroads of southern Europe
Lyon is ideally located at the junction of Europe's north–south and east–west axes. Paris in 2 hours by TGV, Marseille in 1h40, Geneva in 1h45: this connectivity makes Lyon a hub for travelling professionals. Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport serves 130 destinations. The metropolitan public transport network (4 metro lines, 6 tram lines, 130 bus lines) is one of the densest in France after Paris, which strengthens the residential appeal of the accessible outer districts.
The Lyon property market
Lyon is a mature, deep market, with prices that vary greatly from one district to another. Covesta's approach is to identify the sectors where the ratio of purchase price to rental demand remains favourable.
Prices segmented by district
The average price per m² in Lyon stands at around €4,200 for existing homes, but with considerable differences. The Presqu'île and the 6th arrondissement exceed €5,500/m², while sectors such as Guillotière, the 8th arrondissement or Villeurbanne still offer entry points at around €3,000 to €3,800/m². It is in these changing districts, well served and close to the campuses, that the best buy-to-let opportunities are concentrated.
Part-Dieu 2030: a district in transformation
The Part-Dieu 2030 project is one of the largest urban renewal schemes in France: new office towers, redesigned public spaces, a modernised station. This transformation will mechanically add value to the adjacent districts (Brotteaux, Villette, Montchat) and create new pockets of rental demand. For the investor, positioning in these areas before the project completes allows them to benefit from the medium-term appreciation effect.
Diversified, constant rental demand
Lyon benefits from three complementary drivers of rental demand: students (175,000 in the metropolitan area), professionally mobile executives (Part-Dieu, Gerland, Confluence) and young professionals drawn by Lyon's quality of life. This diversity of profiles guarantees sustained demand throughout the year and reduces dependence on a single tenant segment.
Lyon at Covesta: coming soon
We are in the process of establishing ourselves in the Lyon market. Our teams are currently analysing the target districts and building our network of local tradespeople. The first deals will be offered shortly.
The districts we are studying
Our analyses focus on the sectors where rental demand is strongest and where the older housing stock offers renovation opportunities.
Guillotière / Jean Macé
Energy-inefficientA district in full transformation, very popular with students and young professionals thanks to its proximity to Part-Dieu station and the Gerland campus. The older housing stock is dense and offers many energy renovation opportunities.
Villeurbanne / Gratte-Ciel
Strong rental demandA neighbouring town integrated into Lyon's urban fabric, Villeurbanne hosts the La Doua campus (more than 30,000 students). Prices remain below those of inner Lyon with very strong rental demand.
Vieux Lyon / Saint-Jean
UNESCO heritageA UNESCO World Heritage site, Vieux Lyon attracts a premium clientele of executives and expatriates. Homes with character enjoy stable rental demand and rents among the highest in the city.
Part-Dieu / Brotteaux
Business districtFrance's leading business district after La Défense, Part-Dieu hosts thousands of professionally mobile executives. The “Part-Dieu 2030” redevelopment project is profoundly transforming the urban environment.
Interested in Lyon?
We are preparing our launch in the Lyon market. Sign up to be informed as soon as our first deals become available.
Be informed of the Lyon launch