Cost of Living Comparison Between Bern and Lugano Cost of Living Comparison Between Bern and Lugano

🙂 Solo nomad: Bern is 1.4% cheaper than Lugano without rent, and 8.7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bern is 7.3% cheaper than Lugano without rent, and 5.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bern
Lugano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.32 CHF 23.03
$30.54 CHF 24.83
-7.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 CHF 89.3
$184 CHF 149
-40.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$17.37 CHF 14.12
$18.53 CHF 15.07
-6.26%
Cappuccino
$5.8 CHF 4.72
$4.24 CHF 3.45
36.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78 CHF 3.89
$4.7 CHF 3.82
1.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 CHF 3.88
$4.06 CHF 3.3
17.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.08 CHF 6.57
$7.18 CHF 5.84
12.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.27 CHF 5.09
$7.59 CHF 6.17
-17.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bern
Lugano
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 CHF 1.82
$2.26 CHF 1.84
-0.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.29 CHF 2.68
$3.51 CHF 2.86
-6.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.08 CHF 3.32
$4.72 CHF 3.84
-13.56%
Eggs
$6.93 CHF 5.64
$6.69 CHF 5.44
3.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.01 CHF 22.77
$27.42 CHF 22.29
2.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$35.98 CHF 29.26
$37.36 CHF 30.38
-3.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.51 CHF 33.75
$47.43 CHF 38.56
-12.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.49 CHF 2.84
$3.23 CHF 2.63
8.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 CHF 1.73
$2.02 CHF 1.64
5.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.78 CHF 2.26
$2.51 CHF 2.04
10.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.02 CHF 5.7
$7.37 CHF 6
-4.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 CHF 1.81
$2.19 CHF 1.78
1.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 CHF 1.8
$2.26 CHF 1.84
-1.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 CHF 2.06
$2.56 CHF 2.08
-1.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 CHF 0.9
$1.3 CHF 1.05
-14.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.5 CHF 9.35
$10.78 CHF 8.76
6.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.65 CHF 10.29
$10.91 CHF 8.87
15.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 CHF 1.52
$2.66 CHF 2.16
-29.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 CHF 1.83
$4.19 CHF 3.4
-46.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Bern
Lugano
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.59 CHF 2.92
$3.26 CHF 2.65
10.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96 CHF 78
$86.8 CHF 70.5
10.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 CHF 6.53
$6.6 CHF 5.37
21.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.32 CHF 3.52
$4.47 CHF 3.64
-3.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$92.7 CHF 75.4
$60.9 CHF 49.49
52.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.2 CHF 1.79
$2.21 CHF 1.8
-0.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.2K CHF 32.7K
$39.8K CHF 32.3K
1.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.5K CHF 46.7K
$37.9K CHF 30.8K
51.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bern
Lugano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$377 CHF 307
$203 CHF 165
86.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59 CHF 47.97
$73.2 CHF 59.5
-19.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.1 CHF 47.2
$55.1 CHF 44.78
5.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bern
Lugano
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.8 CHF 67.4
$111 CHF 90
-25.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.33 CHF 38.49
$62 CHF 50.4
-23.61%
Cinema Ticket
$24.24 CHF 19.71
$18.76 CHF 15.25
29.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bern
Lugano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,311 CHF 2,692
$1,245 CHF 1,012
166.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.8K CHF 32.4K
$35.5K CHF 28.8K
12.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bern
Lugano
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$152 CHF 124
$126 CHF 103
20.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67 CHF 54.5
$47.68 CHF 38.77
40.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$173 CHF 141
$133 CHF 108
30.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$189 CHF 153
$151 CHF 123
24.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bern
Lugano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,884 CHF 1,532
$1,648 CHF 1,340
14.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,282 CHF 1,042
$1,256 CHF 1,021
2.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,314 CHF 2,694
$2,885 CHF 2,345
14.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,401 CHF 1,952
$2,649 CHF 2,154
-9.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$22.6K CHF 18.4K
$17.6K CHF 14.3K
28.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.7K CHF 14.4K
$18.8K CHF 15.3K
-5.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bern
Lugano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,599 CHF 6,178
$7,350 CHF 5,976
3.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.52
2.5
0.80%

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

Last update for Bern: October 27, 2025

Last update for Lugano: October 28, 2025

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