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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,362 per month in Arbon vs $4,254 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,166 per month in Arbon vs $6,409 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,970 per month in Arbon vs $8,563 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 151%, Zurich by 217%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.71 CHF 24.21

$31.04 CHF 24.47

-1.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$140 CHF 110

$149 CHF 118

-6.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.11 CHF 13.49

$20.83 CHF 16.42

-17.86%

Cappuccino

$6.33 CHF 4.99

$6.72 CHF 5.29

-5.80%

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

$5.27 CHF 4.15

$5.90 CHF 4.65

-10.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 CHF 3.41

$5.35 CHF 4.22

-19.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.71 CHF 6.08

$9.85 CHF 7.76

-21.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.51 CHF 5.92

$8.82 CHF 6.95

-14.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 CHF 1.71

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-3.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 CHF 2.10

$3.29 CHF 2.60

-19.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 CHF 2.87

$4.12 CHF 3.25

-11.65%

Eggs

$7.87 CHF 6.20

$7.19 CHF 5.67

9.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.41 CHF 21.61

$29.88 CHF 23.56

-8.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$31.88 CHF 25.14

$33.59 CHF 26.48

-5.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$40.41 CHF 31.86

$49.65 CHF 39.14

-18.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 CHF 2.47

$4.04 CHF 3.18

-22.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 CHF 1.45

$2.90 CHF 2.29

-36.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 CHF 2.01

$3.05 CHF 2.40

-16.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.51 CHF 5.14

$5.24 CHF 4.13

24.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CHF 1.97

$2.85 CHF 2.25

-12.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 CHF 1.80

$2.38 CHF 1.88

-4.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 CHF 2.01

$2.50 CHF 1.97

2.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 CHF 0.90

$1.70 CHF 1.34

-32.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.80 CHF 8.51

$10.96 CHF 8.64

-1.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.87 CHF 9.36

$15.06 CHF 11.87

-21.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CHF 1.77

$2.62 CHF 2.07

-14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 CHF 1.81

$3.23 CHF 2.55

-29.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.90 CHF 3.07

$4.82 CHF 3.80

-19.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 CHF 79.2

$106 CHF 83.7

-5.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 CHF 5.32

$7.55 CHF 5.95

-10.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.26 CHF 3.36

$4.15 CHF 3.27

2.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$80.5 CHF 63.5

$89.1 CHF 70.2

-9.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.11 CHF 1.66

$2.29 CHF 1.81

-7.86%

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

$40.5K CHF 31.9K

$41.1K CHF 32.4K

-1.55%

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

$43.1K CHF 34.0K

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

9.48%

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

$248 CHF 196

$259 CHF 204

-3.90%

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

$59.2 CHF 46.67

$35.51 CHF 28.00

66.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CHF 42.31

$58.5 CHF 46.08

-8.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.6 CHF 69.1

$88.8 CHF 70.0

-1.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$48.84 CHF 38.50

Cinema Ticket

$22.44 CHF 17.69

$25.07 CHF 19.77

-10.49%

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

$2,843 CHF 2,242

$3,470 CHF 2,736

-18.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.5K CHF 34.3K

$39.0K CHF 30.8K

11.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 111

$137 CHF 108

2.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.8 CHF 51.9

$62.3 CHF 49.13

5.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 CHF 105

$148 CHF 117

-10.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 CHF 127

$202 CHF 159

-20.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 CHF 1,327

$2,686 CHF 2,118

-37.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 CHF 1,176

$2,205 CHF 1,738

-32.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,865 CHF 2,259

$4,902 CHF 3,865

-41.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,423 CHF 1,910

$3,702 CHF 2,919

-34.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.2K CHF 11.2K

$26.1K CHF 20.6K

-45.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K CHF 9,140

$16.5K CHF 13.0K

-29.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$11.4K CHF 8,986

$8,722 CHF 6,876

30.68%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Zurich: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,683 in Arbon versus $2,686 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 31% 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 $140 in Arbon versus $149 in Zurich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $602 vs $677 – 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: $3,362 in Arbon, $4,254 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 $5,043 per month in Arbon and $6,382 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 $3,362 in Arbon and $4,254 in Zurich. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 6% 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 $3,362 in Arbon and $4,254 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 $3,362 in Arbon to $4,254 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.