Cost of Living Comparison Between Balzers and Planken Cost of Living Comparison Between Balzers and Planken

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,248 in Balzers versus $92.3 in Planken.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,137 in Balzers versus $145 in Planken.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,026 in Balzers versus $197 in Planken.

Living in Balzers is roughly 3418% more expensive than Planken, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Balzers is 143% above, Planken is 93% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.24 CHF 24.71

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 CHF 96.4

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.08 CHF 17.46

Cappuccino

$5.43 CHF 4.29

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

$6.13 CHF 4.85

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.39 CHF 4.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.59 CHF 6.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CHF 5.98

Milk (1 liter)

$2.77 CHF 2.19

White Bread (500g)

$3.16 CHF 2.50

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.75 CHF 2.17

Eggs

$11.95 CHF 9.45

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.28 CHF 20.79

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.30 CHF 19.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.7 CHF 40.09

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 CHF 2.67

Banana (1kg)

$3.91 CHF 3.09

Oranges (1kg)

$4.01 CHF 3.17

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 CHF 2.00

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 CHF 1.90

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 CHF 1.63

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 CHF 1.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CHF 1.27

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.34 CHF 9.76

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CHF 11.26

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 CHF 1.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 CHF 1.44

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.59 CHF 2.84

$7.39 CHF 5.84

-51.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.7 CHF 65.4

$61.3 CHF 48.51

34.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 CHF 1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 CHF 7.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.29 CHF 1.81

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

$35.5K CHF 28.1K

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

$32.8K CHF 25.9K

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

$220 CHF 174

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

$40.02 CHF 31.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 CHF 58.8

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.1 CHF 72.8

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.19 CHF 19.13

Cinema Ticket

$24.70 CHF 19.54

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

$306 CHF 242

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,085 CHF 7,186

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$132 CHF 104

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 CHF 40.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$177 CHF 140

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$230 CHF 182

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 CHF 799

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 CHF 1,041

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,872 CHF 2,272

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,383 CHF 1,885

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.1K CHF 13.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,494 CHF 4,346

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,182 CHF 7,263

$9,747 CHF 7,710

-5.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.55

8.1

-6.79%

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

Last update for Balzers: April 28, 2026

Last update for Planken: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Planken pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Planken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Planken is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3418% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Planken earns 6% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

A monthly transit pass in Planken runs roughly 35% less than in Balzers. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $3,248 per month in Balzers versus $92.3 in Planken – a 3418% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $92.3 in Planken versus $3,248 in Balzers, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Planken but tight or insufficient in Balzers. The gap between the two cities makes Planken 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 Planken 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 Planken gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3418% less than in Balzers. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.