Cost of Living Comparison Between Aarau and Lausanne Cost of Living Comparison Between Aarau and Lausanne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,999 per month in Aarau vs $3,619 in Lausanne, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,746 per month in Aarau vs $5,781 in Lausanne, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,493 per month in Aarau vs $7,944 in Lausanne, rent included.

Aarau is about 17% cheaper than Lausanne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Aarau and Lausanne sit above the global median – Aarau by 124%, Lausanne by 171%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.41 CHF 23.78

$32.44 CHF 26.23

-9.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$108 CHF 86.9

$148 CHF 119

-27.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.71 CHF 15.13

$19.05 CHF 15.40

-1.78%

Cappuccino

$6.23 CHF 5.04

$5.90 CHF 4.77

5.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 CHF 2.72

$5.41 CHF 4.38

-37.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 CHF 4.01

$4.92 CHF 3.97

0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.04 CHF 6.50

$10.12 CHF 8.18

-20.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.33 CHF 5.92

$8.85 CHF 7.16

-17.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 CHF 1.69

$2.24 CHF 1.81

-6.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CHF 2.60

$4.09 CHF 3.31

-21.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 CHF 2.03

$4.37 CHF 3.53

-42.56%

Eggs

$6.79 CHF 5.49

$7.37 CHF 5.96

-7.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.96 CHF 23.41

$26.35 CHF 21.31

9.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$36.04 CHF 29.14

$28.58 CHF 23.11

26.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$44.72 CHF 36.16

$53.2 CHF 42.99

-15.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 CHF 2.26

$3.80 CHF 3.07

-26.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 CHF 1.69

$2.15 CHF 1.74

-2.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 CHF 2.25

$2.89 CHF 2.34

-3.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.89 CHF 4.76

$6.62 CHF 5.35

-11.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 CHF 1.83

$2.43 CHF 1.97

-7.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 CHF 1.69

$2.41 CHF 1.95

-13.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 CHF 2.04

$2.53 CHF 2.04

-0.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 CHF 1.17

$1.40 CHF 1.14

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.39 CHF 8.40

$11.03 CHF 8.92

-5.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.41 CHF 8.42

$15.39 CHF 12.44

-32.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 CHF 1.88

$2.10 CHF 1.69

10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 CHF 1.76

$3.27 CHF 2.64

-33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.39 CHF 3.55

$4.83 CHF 3.90

-9.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$148 CHF 120

$96.1 CHF 77.7

54.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.57 CHF 6.93

$7.67 CHF 6.20

11.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.52 CHF 4.46

$3.42 CHF 2.77

61.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$88.5 CHF 71.5

$66.1 CHF 53.5

33.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.80

$2.18 CHF 1.76

2.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$41.2K CHF 33.3K

$39.6K CHF 32.0K

4.01%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$42.9K CHF 34.7K

$40.6K CHF 32.9K

5.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$250 CHF 202

$331 CHF 267

-24.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$43.25 CHF 34.97

$50.0 CHF 40.44

-13.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.2 CHF 47.04

$57.7 CHF 46.68

0.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.4 CHF 54.5

$78.4 CHF 63.4

-14.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.92 CHF 33.89

$48.46 CHF 39.18

-13.50%

Cinema Ticket

$23.86 CHF 19.29

$26.35 CHF 21.31

-9.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,189 CHF 2,578

$2,843 CHF 2,298

12.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K CHF 20.4K

$34.6K CHF 28.0K

-27.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.1 CHF 74.5

$110 CHF 89.0

-16.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 CHF 43.85

$69.2 CHF 55.9

-21.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 CHF 88.1

$153 CHF 124

-28.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 CHF 139

$184 CHF 149

-6.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 CHF 1,049

$1,834 CHF 1,483

-29.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 CHF 855

$1,476 CHF 1,193

-28.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,490 CHF 2,013

$3,654 CHF 2,954

-31.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,075 CHF 1,677

$2,979 CHF 2,408

-30.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K CHF 8,286

$18.6K CHF 15.0K

-44.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.1K CHF 9,744

$14.2K CHF 11.5K

-15.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,069 CHF 5,716

$6,512 CHF 5,265

8.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aarau: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lausanne: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,298 in Aarau versus $1,834 in Lausanne. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Aarau, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $108 in Aarau versus $148 in Lausanne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $634 vs $655 – making Aarau the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Aarau vs Lausanne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lausanne costs about 21% more than Aarau, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,498 per month in Aarau and $5,429 in Lausanne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aarau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 55% less in Aarau. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,189 per month in Aarau and $2,843 in Lausanne. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,999 in Aarau and $3,619 in Lausanne. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aarau costs $2,999 versus $3,619 in Lausanne. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Aarau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lausanne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.