Cost of Living Comparison Between Balzers and Schaan Cost of Living Comparison Between Balzers and Schaan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,232 in Balzers versus $1,299 in Schaan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,087 in Balzers versus $2,208 in Schaan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,943 in Balzers versus $3,117 in Schaan.

Living in Balzers is roughly 149% more expensive than in Schaan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Balzers is 134% above, Schaan is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.29 CHF 25.53

$28.09 CHF 22.93

11.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$125 CHF 102

$87.7 CHF 71.6

43.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.60 CHF 18.44

$14.68 CHF 11.98

53.95%

Cappuccino

$5.52 CHF 4.50

$6.60 CHF 5.38

-16.36%

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

$6.01 CHF 4.91

$3.01 CHF 2.46

99.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.62 CHF 4.59

$6.02 CHF 4.92

-6.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.62 CHF 6.22

$4.94 CHF 4.03

54.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.46 CHF 6.08

$3.78 CHF 3.08

97.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.66 CHF 2.17

$1.94 CHF 1.58

37.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 CHF 2.46

$5.02 CHF 4.10

-40.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.89 CHF 2.36

Eggs

$12.07 CHF 9.85

$5.99 CHF 4.89

101.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.87 CHF 21.11

$29.21 CHF 23.84

-11.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.81 CHF 19.43

$24.66 CHF 20.12

-3.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.5 CHF 41.20

$49.49 CHF 40.39

2.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 CHF 2.76

Banana (1kg)

$3.81 CHF 3.11

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 CHF 3.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.62 CHF 2.14

$8.85 CHF 7.23

-70.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 CHF 2.05

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 CHF 1.74

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 CHF 1.74

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 CHF 1.33

$2.42 CHF 1.98

-32.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.57 CHF 10.26

Wine (Bottle)

$14.00 CHF 11.42

$12.25 CHF 10.00

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 CHF 1.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 CHF 1.45

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.61 CHF 2.95

$2.48 CHF 2.03

45.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.8 CHF 67.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 CHF 1.49

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$6.36 CHF 5.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.79 CHF 7.17

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 CHF 1.89

$2.45 CHF 2.00

-5.71%

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

$35.3K CHF 28.8K

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

$33.2K CHF 27.1K

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

$218 CHF 178

$88.1 CHF 71.9

147.40%

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

$40.63 CHF 33.16

$33.26 CHF 27.15

22.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 CHF 59.1

$44.24 CHF 36.11

63.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.5 CHF 77.1

$122 CHF 99.6

-22.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.89 CHF 20.32

Cinema Ticket

$24.75 CHF 20.20

$19.83 CHF 16.18

24.81%

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

$303 CHF 248

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,985 CHF 7,332

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$130 CHF 106

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.5 CHF 43.65

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$180 CHF 147

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$226 CHF 185

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$998 CHF 814

$1,848 CHF 1,508

-46.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,304 CHF 1,065

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CHF 2,387

$3,075 CHF 2,509

-4.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 CHF 1,964

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.6K CHF 13.5K

$10.0K CHF 8,186

65.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,257 CHF 4,290

$6,223 CHF 5,079

-15.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,737 CHF 7,130

$8,726 CHF 7,121

0.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.55

88.75%

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

Last update for Balzers: September 7, 2026

Last update for Schaan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $998 in Balzers and $1,848 in Schaan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Balzers pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $125 in Balzers vs $88.0 in Schaan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $616 vs $551 per month, with Schaan cheaper across the board.

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 Schaan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Schaan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 149% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 0% 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: $998 in Balzers versus $1,848 in Schaan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Balzers. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Schaan – a meal for two runs $88.0 versus $125 in Balzers. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Schaan is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Schaan 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 Schaan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 149% less than in Balzers. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.