Cost of Living Comparison Between Altstätten and Zurich Cost of Living Comparison Between Altstätten and Zurich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,519 per month in Altstätten vs $4,270 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,382 per month in Altstätten vs $6,491 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,245 per month in Altstätten vs $8,712 in Zurich, rent included.

Altstätten is about 18% cheaper than Zurich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Altstätten and Zurich sit above the global median – Altstätten by 163%, Zurich by 220%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.29 CHF 24.44

$30.84 CHF 24.88

-1.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 CHF 116

$147 CHF 119

-2.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.49 CHF 14.92

$20.72 CHF 16.72

-10.76%

Cappuccino

$6.01 CHF 4.85

$6.94 CHF 5.60

-13.40%

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

$5.36 CHF 4.33

$6.04 CHF 4.88

-11.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 CHF 3.83

$5.24 CHF 4.23

-9.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.42 CHF 6.80

$9.83 CHF 7.94

-14.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.45 CHF 6.02

$8.52 CHF 6.87

-12.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 CHF 1.73

$2.18 CHF 1.76

-1.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 CHF 2.82

$3.25 CHF 2.62

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 CHF 3.28

$4.12 CHF 3.32

-1.46%

Eggs

$7.56 CHF 6.10

$7.26 CHF 5.85

4.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.70 CHF 23.16

$30.00 CHF 24.21

-4.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$34.14 CHF 27.55

$34.06 CHF 27.49

0.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$48.05 CHF 38.77

$50.2 CHF 40.48

-4.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 CHF 3.05

$4.09 CHF 3.30

-7.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 CHF 1.86

$2.91 CHF 2.34

-20.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 CHF 2.35

$3.02 CHF 2.44

-3.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.15 CHF 4.96

$4.98 CHF 4.02

23.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 CHF 2.05

$2.75 CHF 2.22

-7.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 CHF 1.96

$2.34 CHF 1.89

3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 CHF 2.04

$2.54 CHF 2.05

-0.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 CHF 1.07

$1.72 CHF 1.39

-23.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.24 CHF 9.07

$11.29 CHF 9.11

-0.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.09 CHF 10.56

$13.58 CHF 10.96

-3.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 CHF 1.96

$2.63 CHF 2.12

-7.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 CHF 2.66

$3.23 CHF 2.60

2.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.82 CHF 3.08

$5.02 CHF 4.05

-23.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 CHF 79.8

$107 CHF 86.4

-7.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 CHF 6.27

$7.81 CHF 6.30

-0.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.11 CHF 3.32

$4.31 CHF 3.48

-4.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$81.2 CHF 65.5

$86.9 CHF 70.1

-6.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.80

$2.24 CHF 1.80

-0.45%

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

$39.7K CHF 32.0K

-0.03%

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

$41.3K CHF 33.3K

$39.8K CHF 32.1K

3.67%

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

$262 CHF 211

$258 CHF 208

1.43%

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

$49.27 CHF 39.75

$36.31 CHF 29.30

35.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 CHF 48.04

$59.4 CHF 47.92

0.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.1 CHF 71.9

$89.5 CHF 72.2

-0.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.1 CHF 40.41

Cinema Ticket

$22.57 CHF 18.21

$24.81 CHF 20.02

-9.03%

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

$2,867 CHF 2,313

$3,344 CHF 2,698

-14.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.1K CHF 27.5K

$39.1K CHF 31.6K

-12.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 CHF 111

-0.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.6 CHF 54.5

$61.7 CHF 49.80

9.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 CHF 117

$147 CHF 119

-1.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$184 CHF 149

$200 CHF 161

-7.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 CHF 1,363

$2,721 CHF 2,195

-37.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 CHF 1,188

$2,227 CHF 1,797

-33.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,877 CHF 2,321

$5,054 CHF 4,078

-43.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,434 CHF 1,964

$3,797 CHF 3,064

-35.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.7K CHF 12.7K

$27.3K CHF 22.0K

-42.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.7K CHF 10.2K

$16.4K CHF 13.2K

-22.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,287 CHF 6,687

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

2.09

19.62%

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

Last update for Altstätten: July 13, 2026

Last update for Zurich: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,689 in Altstätten versus $2,721 in Zurich. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in Altstätten versus $147 in Zurich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $662 vs $676 – making Altstätten 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

Altstätten vs Zurich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Zurich is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,279 per month in Altstätten and $6,406 in Zurich. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,519 in Altstätten and $4,270 in Zurich. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Altstätten. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,519 in Altstätten and $4,270 in Zurich. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Altstätten – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Altstätten. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zurich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.