Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Zurich Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Zurich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,361 per month in Arbon vs $4,270 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,221 per month in Arbon vs $6,491 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,082 per month in Arbon vs $8,712 in Zurich, rent included.

Arbon is about 21% cheaper than Zurich, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arbon and Zurich sit above the global median – Arbon by 152%, Zurich by 220%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.53 CHF 24.63

$30.84 CHF 24.88

-1.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$139 CHF 112

$147 CHF 119

-5.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.34 CHF 14.00

$20.72 CHF 16.72

-16.31%

Cappuccino

$6.16 CHF 4.97

$6.94 CHF 5.60

-11.24%

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

$5.35 CHF 4.32

$6.04 CHF 4.88

-11.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 CHF 3.51

$5.24 CHF 4.23

-16.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.72 CHF 6.23

$9.83 CHF 7.94

-21.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 CHF 5.81

$8.52 CHF 6.87

-15.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 CHF 1.84

$2.18 CHF 1.76

4.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 CHF 2.08

$3.25 CHF 2.62

-20.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 CHF 2.93

$4.12 CHF 3.32

-11.89%

Eggs

$7.91 CHF 6.38

$7.26 CHF 5.85

8.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.75 CHF 22.39

$30.00 CHF 24.21

-7.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.72 CHF 26.40

$34.06 CHF 27.49

-3.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.18 CHF 33.23

$50.2 CHF 40.48

-17.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 CHF 2.57

$4.09 CHF 3.30

-22.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 CHF 1.47

$2.91 CHF 2.34

-37.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 2.01

$3.02 CHF 2.44

-17.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.36 CHF 5.13

$4.98 CHF 4.02

27.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 2.01

$2.75 CHF 2.22

-9.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 CHF 1.92

$2.34 CHF 1.89

1.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 CHF 2.09

$2.54 CHF 2.05

1.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 CHF 0.93

$1.72 CHF 1.39

-33.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.80 CHF 8.72

$11.29 CHF 9.11

-4.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.17 CHF 9.01

$13.58 CHF 10.96

-17.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CHF 1.81

$2.63 CHF 2.12

-14.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 CHF 1.88

$3.23 CHF 2.60

-27.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.89 CHF 3.14

$5.02 CHF 4.05

-22.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 CHF 78.3

$107 CHF 86.4

-9.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.71 CHF 5.41

$7.81 CHF 6.30

-14.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.24 CHF 3.42

$4.31 CHF 3.48

-1.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$78.8 CHF 63.6

$86.9 CHF 70.1

-9.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.17 CHF 1.75

$2.24 CHF 1.80

-3.13%

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

$39.8K CHF 32.1K

$39.7K CHF 32.0K

0.09%

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

$42.9K CHF 34.6K

$39.8K CHF 32.1K

7.87%

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

$251 CHF 202

$258 CHF 208

-2.78%

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

$59.3 CHF 47.88

$36.31 CHF 29.30

63.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.0 CHF 43.60

$59.4 CHF 47.92

-9.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.4 CHF 72.1

$89.5 CHF 72.2

-0.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.1 CHF 40.41

Cinema Ticket

$22.30 CHF 18.00

$24.81 CHF 20.02

-10.12%

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

$2,789 CHF 2,251

$3,344 CHF 2,698

-16.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.8K CHF 34.6K

$39.1K CHF 31.6K

9.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 CHF 110

$138 CHF 111

-0.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.4 CHF 52.0

$61.7 CHF 49.80

4.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 CHF 105

$147 CHF 119

-11.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$161 CHF 130

$200 CHF 161

-19.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,702 CHF 1,373

$2,721 CHF 2,195

-37.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,445 CHF 1,166

$2,227 CHF 1,797

-35.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,874 CHF 2,319

$5,054 CHF 4,078

-43.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,437 CHF 1,967

$3,797 CHF 3,064

-35.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.8K CHF 12.0K

$27.3K CHF 22.0K

-45.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.6K CHF 8,570

$16.4K CHF 13.2K

-35.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$11.3K CHF 9,131

$8,287 CHF 6,687

36.56%

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 Arbon: July 11, 2026

Last update for Zurich: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,702 in Arbon 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.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Arbon, 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 $139 in Arbon versus $147 in Zurich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $608 vs $676 – making Arbon 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

Arbon vs Zurich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,361 in Arbon, $4,270 in Zurich – roughly 27% apart. Zurich costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,041 per month in Arbon 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 Arbon, 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 $3,361 in Arbon 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 10% less in Arbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,361 in Arbon and $4,270 in Zurich. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Zurich has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,361 in Arbon to $4,270 in Zurich. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Arbon. 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.