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: $3,199 in Balzers versus $1,003 in Eschen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,094 in Balzers versus $1,624 in Eschen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,989 in Balzers versus $2,245 in Eschen.

Living in Balzers is roughly 219% more expensive than in Eschen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Balzers is 139% above, Eschen is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.30 CHF 25.31

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$125 CHF 101

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$21.82 CHF 17.64

Cappuccino

$5.55 CHF 4.49

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

$6.27 CHF 5.07

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 CHF 4.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.45 CHF 6.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.55 CHF 6.11

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CHF 2.20

White Bread (500g)

$3.00 CHF 2.43

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 CHF 2.24

Eggs

$11.96 CHF 9.67

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.61 CHF 20.71

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.71 CHF 19.17

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.3 CHF 40.69

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 CHF 2.83

Banana (1kg)

$3.80 CHF 3.07

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 CHF 3.24

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 CHF 2.14

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 CHF 1.94

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 CHF 1.77

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 CHF 1.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 CHF 1.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.53 CHF 10.13

Wine (Bottle)

$14.14 CHF 11.43

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 CHF 1.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 CHF 1.43

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.44 CHF 2.78

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.4 CHF 69.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 CHF 1.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 CHF 7.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.79

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

$35.7K CHF 28.9K

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

$33.1K CHF 26.7K

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

$221 CHF 178

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

$40.64 CHF 32.86

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.5 CHF 58.6

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.2 CHF 74.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.90 CHF 20.13

Cinema Ticket

$24.43 CHF 19.75

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

$307 CHF 248

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,050 CHF 7,317

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$127 CHF 103

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 CHF 42.55

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$176 CHF 142

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$226 CHF 182

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,002 CHF 810

$1,223 CHF 989

-18.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 CHF 1,044

$1,004 CHF 812

28.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,922 CHF 2,362

$2,581 CHF 2,086

13.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,390 CHF 1,933

$2,174 CHF 1,758

9.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.9K CHF 13.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,216 CHF 4,217

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,820 CHF 7,131

$8,639 CHF 6,984

2.10%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Eschen: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,002 in Balzers and $1,223 in Eschen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Balzers pays 2% 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 219% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% higher in Balzers, 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: $1,002 in Balzers versus $1,223 in Eschen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

At $1,003 in Eschen versus $3,199 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 219% less than in Balzers. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.