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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,446 per month in Arbon vs $4,731 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,324 per month in Arbon vs $7,187 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,202 per month in Arbon vs $9,642 in Zurich, rent included.

Arbon is about 27% cheaper than Zurich, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arbon and Zurich sit above the global median – Arbon by 151%, Zurich by 244%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.29 CHF 25.44

$37.35 CHF 30.37

-16.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 CHF 122

$149 CHF 121

1.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.92 CHF 16.19

$18.46 CHF 15.01

7.91%

Cappuccino

$6.29 CHF 5.11

$7.03 CHF 5.72

-10.53%

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

$6.09 CHF 4.95

$5.88 CHF 4.78

3.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.47 CHF 4.44

$5.40 CHF 4.39

1.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.32 CHF 7.57

$9.98 CHF 8.11

-6.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.35 CHF 5.16

$8.85 CHF 7.19

-28.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.85

$2.16 CHF 1.75

5.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 CHF 2.58

$4.06 CHF 3.30

-21.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CHF 3.04

$3.98 CHF 3.23

-6.28%

Eggs

$8.07 CHF 6.56

$8.69 CHF 7.06

-7.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.89 CHF 21.05

$27.65 CHF 22.48

-6.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$28.96 CHF 23.54

$27.77 CHF 22.58

4.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.89 CHF 34.87

$61.1 CHF 49.70

-29.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 CHF 2.96

$4.08 CHF 3.32

-10.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 CHF 1.64

$2.92 CHF 2.38

-30.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 CHF 1.94

$3.59 CHF 2.92

-33.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 CHF 4.35

$4.94 CHF 4.02

8.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 CHF 1.62

$2.62 CHF 2.13

-23.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 CHF 1.85

$2.30 CHF 1.87

-1.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.33 CHF 1.89

$2.60 CHF 2.11

-10.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CHF 1.00

$1.29 CHF 1.05

-5.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.34 CHF 9.22

$10.92 CHF 8.88

3.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.57 CHF 14.28

$13.57 CHF 11.04

29.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 CHF 1.85

$2.89 CHF 2.35

-21.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 CHF 1.88

$3.14 CHF 2.55

-26.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.22 CHF 3.43

$5.57 CHF 4.53

-24.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.0 CHF 74.0

$107 CHF 87.1

-15.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.63 CHF 5.39

$8.13 CHF 6.61

-18.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.70 CHF 3.82

$4.82 CHF 3.92

-2.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$81.2 CHF 66.0

$92.7 CHF 75.3

-12.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.33 CHF 1.89

$2.32 CHF 1.89

0.43%

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

$36.4K CHF 29.6K

$40.2K CHF 32.7K

-9.61%

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

$40.9K CHF 33.3K

$39.8K CHF 32.4K

2.85%

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

$228 CHF 186

$290 CHF 235

-21.17%

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

$38.84 CHF 31.58

$39.27 CHF 31.93

-1.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.5 CHF 45.93

$57.5 CHF 46.78

-1.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.5 CHF 64.6

$91.0 CHF 74.0

-12.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.5 CHF 43.48

$63.6 CHF 51.7

-15.85%

Cinema Ticket

$24.06 CHF 19.56

$25.00 CHF 20.33

-3.76%

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

$2,309 CHF 1,877

$3,759 CHF 3,056

-38.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.3K CHF 26.2K

$42.8K CHF 34.8K

-24.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$146 CHF 118

$143 CHF 116

1.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.2 CHF 53.8

$60.5 CHF 49.18

9.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$149 CHF 121

$167 CHF 136

-10.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$188 CHF 153

$263 CHF 214

-28.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,556 CHF 1,265

$3,126 CHF 2,542

-50.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 CHF 1,091

$2,503 CHF 2,035

-46.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,878 CHF 2,340

$6,322 CHF 5,140

-54.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 CHF 2,212

$4,166 CHF 3,387

-34.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.4K CHF 15.0K

$28.2K CHF 23.0K

-34.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K CHF 9,379

$16.4K CHF 13.3K

-29.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$11.6K CHF 9,446

$8,301 CHF 6,749

39.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.9

2.07

-8.21%

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

Last update for Arbon: August 29, 2026

Last update for Zurich: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,556 in Arbon versus $3,126 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 40% 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 $150 in Arbon versus $149 in Zurich. Groceries tell a different story – $605 in Arbon vs $681 in Zurich – so Arbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $3,446 in Arbon, $4,731 in Zurich – roughly 37% apart. Zurich costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,170 per month in Arbon and $7,096 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 $3,446 in Arbon and $4,731 in Zurich. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 18% 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 $3,446 in Arbon and $4,731 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 $3,446 in Arbon to $4,731 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.