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: $3,202 in Balzers versus $1,286 in Schaan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,093 in Balzers versus $2,175 in Schaan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,983 in Balzers versus $3,065 in Schaan.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Balzers is 138% above, Schaan is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.88 CHF 24.51

$27.50 CHF 21.83

12.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$124 CHF 98.3

$80.0 CHF 63.5

54.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.11 CHF 17.55

$14.70 CHF 11.67

50.41%

Cappuccino

$5.67 CHF 4.50

$6.74 CHF 5.35

-15.88%

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

$6.04 CHF 4.80

$3.16 CHF 2.51

91.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.61 CHF 4.45

$6.30 CHF 5.00

-10.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.49 CHF 5.94

$4.95 CHF 3.93

51.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.30 CHF 5.79

$3.78 CHF 3.00

93.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.74 CHF 2.18

$1.98 CHF 1.57

38.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 CHF 2.50

$4.91 CHF 3.90

-35.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.91 CHF 2.31

Eggs

$12.19 CHF 9.68

$5.82 CHF 4.62

109.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.81 CHF 20.49

$29.09 CHF 23.10

-11.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.43 CHF 19.39

$24.44 CHF 19.41

-0.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.8 CHF 40.35

$48.38 CHF 38.41

5.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 CHF 2.76

Banana (1kg)

$3.92 CHF 3.11

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 CHF 3.17

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 CHF 2.10

$8.43 CHF 6.69

-68.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 CHF 1.91

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 CHF 1.73

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 CHF 1.76

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 CHF 1.32

$2.45 CHF 1.94

-32.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.52 CHF 9.94

Wine (Bottle)

$14.07 CHF 11.17

$12.38 CHF 9.83

13.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 CHF 1.63

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CHF 1.40

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.47 CHF 2.75

$2.40 CHF 1.90

44.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.1 CHF 66.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 CHF 1.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.65 CHF 6.87

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.18 CHF 1.73

$2.44 CHF 1.94

-10.66%

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

$35.7K CHF 28.3K

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

$32.9K CHF 26.1K

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

$216 CHF 172

$86.3 CHF 68.5

150.60%

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

$40.39 CHF 32.06

$32.94 CHF 26.15

22.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 CHF 57.3

$43.02 CHF 34.15

67.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.9 CHF 74.5

$122 CHF 96.6

-22.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.77 CHF 19.66

Cinema Ticket

$24.66 CHF 19.57

$19.61 CHF 15.57

25.75%

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

$306 CHF 243

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,946 CHF 7,103

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$129 CHF 103

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 CHF 41.74

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$177 CHF 141

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$224 CHF 178

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 CHF 796

$1,871 CHF 1,485

-46.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 CHF 1,047

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,963 CHF 2,352

$3,039 CHF 2,413

-2.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,394 CHF 1,901

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.0K CHF 13.5K

$10.2K CHF 8,068

67.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,283 CHF 4,194

$6,499 CHF 5,159

-18.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,926 CHF 7,086

$9,046 CHF 7,182

-1.33%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Schaan: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Balzers and $1,871 in Schaan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Schaan pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $124 in Balzers vs $80.0 in Schaan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $624 vs $543 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 149% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Schaan earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Balzers versus $1,871 in Schaan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% 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 $80.0 versus $124 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.