Cost of Living Comparison Between Bern and Zurich Cost of Living Comparison Between Bern and Zurich

🙂 Solo nomad: Bern is 4.3% cheaper than Zurich without rent, and 21.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bern is 6.8% cheaper than Zurich without rent, and 17.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bern
Zurich
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.53 CHF 22.26
$31.39 CHF 24.49
-9.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108 CHF 84.6
$148 CHF 116
-26.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$17.04 CHF 13.29
$20.60 CHF 16.06
-17.28%
Cappuccino
$5.82 CHF 4.54
$6.90 CHF 5.38
-15.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96 CHF 3.87
$5.83 CHF 4.55
-14.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 CHF 3.65
$5.30 CHF 4.13
-11.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.25 CHF 6.44
$9.74 CHF 7.59
-15.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06 CHF 4.72
$8.44 CHF 6.58
-28.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bern
Zurich
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 CHF 1.77
$2.16 CHF 1.69
5.09%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 CHF 2.60
$3.40 CHF 2.65
-1.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.06 CHF 3.17
$3.94 CHF 3.07
3.05%
Eggs
$7.11 CHF 5.55
$7.57 CHF 5.91
-6.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.57 CHF 22.28
$29.08 CHF 22.68
-1.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$35.59 CHF 27.76
$33.28 CHF 25.96
6.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$40.29 CHF 31.42
$50.8 CHF 39.61
-20.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 CHF 2.76
$4.01 CHF 3.13
-11.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 CHF 1.73
$2.82 CHF 2.20
-21.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.88 CHF 2.24
$3.04 CHF 2.37
-5.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.96 CHF 5.43
$5.17 CHF 4.03
34.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 CHF 1.69
$2.73 CHF 2.13
-20.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 CHF 1.70
$2.37 CHF 1.85
-8.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 CHF 1.89
$2.58 CHF 2.02
-6.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 CHF 0.90
$1.66 CHF 1.30
-30.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.46 CHF 8.94
$11.15 CHF 8.69
2.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.03 CHF 10.16
$15.52 CHF 12.10
-16.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 CHF 1.47
$2.75 CHF 2.14
-31.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 CHF 1.81
$3.34 CHF 2.60
-30.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Bern
Zurich
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.61 CHF 2.82
$4.96 CHF 3.87
-27.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.2 CHF 76.6
$109 CHF 85.3
-10.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.12 CHF 6.33
$7.63 CHF 5.95
6.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.41 CHF 3.44
$4.13 CHF 3.22
6.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$91.4 CHF 71.3
$89.0 CHF 69.4
2.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.24 CHF 1.74
$2.24 CHF 1.75
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K CHF 31.6K
$40.1K CHF 31.3K
1.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.0K CHF 44.5K
$39.5K CHF 30.8K
44.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bern
Zurich
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$366 CHF 286
$253 CHF 198
44.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.7 CHF 45.76
$35.07 CHF 27.35
67.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1 CHF 44.51
$58.2 CHF 45.36
-1.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bern
Zurich
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.7 CHF 64.5
$90.5 CHF 70.6
-8.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.96 CHF 37.41
$48.94 CHF 38.17
-2.00%
Cinema Ticket
$24.94 CHF 19.45
$24.92 CHF 19.44
0.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bern
Zurich
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,330 CHF 2,597
$3,471 CHF 2,707
-4.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.7K CHF 31.0K
$39.2K CHF 30.6K
1.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bern
Zurich
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$151 CHF 118
$137 CHF 107
10.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.7 CHF 53.6
$61.1 CHF 47.63
12.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$173 CHF 135
$149 CHF 117
15.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$184 CHF 143
$201 CHF 157
-8.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bern
Zurich
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,884 CHF 1,470
$2,726 CHF 2,126
-30.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,248 CHF 973
$2,225 CHF 1,736
-43.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,311 CHF 2,582
$4,974 CHF 3,879
-33.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,409 CHF 1,879
$3,694 CHF 2,881
-34.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K CHF 12.2K
$24.7K CHF 19.3K
-36.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.9K CHF 9,293
$16.4K CHF 12.8K
-27.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bern
Zurich
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,431 CHF 5,796
$8,573 CHF 6,687
-13.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.52
2.09
20.57%

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

Last update for Bern: March 2, 2026

Last update for Zurich: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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