Cost of Living Comparison Between Balzers and Eschen Cost of Living Comparison Between Balzers and Eschen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,293 in Balzers versus $966 in Eschen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,044 in Balzers versus $1,574 in Eschen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,795 in Balzers versus $2,182 in Eschen.

Living in Balzers is roughly 241% more expensive than Eschen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Balzers is 146% above, Eschen is 28% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.54 CHF 24.08

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$123 CHF 97.4

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.09 CHF 17.41

Cappuccino

$5.64 CHF 4.45

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

$6.20 CHF 4.89

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.68 CHF 4.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.54 CHF 5.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.43 CHF 5.86

Milk (1 liter)

$2.68 CHF 2.11

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 CHF 2.45

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.90 CHF 2.29

Eggs

$11.92 CHF 9.40

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.58 CHF 20.16

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.63 CHF 18.63

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$51.8 CHF 40.86

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 CHF 2.68

Banana (1kg)

$3.81 CHF 3.00

Oranges (1kg)

$3.98 CHF 3.14

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 CHF 2.03

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 CHF 1.89

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 CHF 1.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 CHF 1.74

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 CHF 1.29

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.45 CHF 9.81

Wine (Bottle)

$14.26 CHF 11.24

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 CHF 1.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 CHF 1.44

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.56 CHF 2.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 CHF 66.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 CHF 1.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.60 CHF 6.78

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.73

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

$34.5K CHF 27.2K

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

$33.8K CHF 26.7K

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

$217 CHF 171

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

$39.34 CHF 31.02

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 CHF 58.7

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.7 CHF 74.7

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.35 CHF 19.20

Cinema Ticket

$24.22 CHF 19.10

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

$313 CHF 247

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,918 CHF 7,031

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$129 CHF 102

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 CHF 41.06

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$177 CHF 140

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$225 CHF 177

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 CHF 792

$1,247 CHF 983

-19.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 CHF 1,052

$976 CHF 769

36.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,931 CHF 2,311

$2,565 CHF 2,022

14.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CHF 1,869

$2,177 CHF 1,716

8.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.6K CHF 13.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,368 CHF 4,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,082 CHF 7,161

$8,758 CHF 6,905

3.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.55

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

Last update for Balzers: June 2, 2026

Last update for Eschen: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,005 in Balzers and $1,247 in Eschen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Balzers pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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

Balzers vs Eschen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eschen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 241% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Balzers pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,005 in Balzers versus $1,247 in Eschen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

At $966 in Eschen versus $3,293 in Balzers, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Eschen but tight or insufficient in Balzers. The gap between the two cities makes Eschen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Balzers and Eschen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Eschen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 241% less than in Balzers. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.