๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,008 in Centreville, VA versus $3,393 in Buchs.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,009 in Centreville, VA versus $4,946 in Buchs.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,010 in Centreville, VA versus $6,499 in Buchs.
๐Living in Centreville, VA is roughly 18% more expensive than Buchs, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Centreville, VA199% above, Buchs153% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.97$23.97
$29.66CHFย 23.25
-19.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118$118
$108CHFย 84.5
9.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.21$13.21
$11.50CHFย 9.02
14.87%
Cappuccino
$5.71$5.71
$3.57CHFย 2.80
59.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02$3.02
$2.47CHFย 1.94
22.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57$2.57
$2.08CHFย 1.63
23.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.35$6.35
$4.69CHFย 3.68
35.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90$7.90
$5.23CHFย 4.10
51.05%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26$1.26
$1.74CHFย 1.37
-27.59%
White Bread(500g)
$3.71$3.71
$3.14CHFย 2.46
18.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.11$7.11
$4.07CHFย 3.19
74.69%
Eggs
$4.03$4.03
$4.89CHFย 3.83
-17.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.13$19.13
$30.23CHFย 23.70
-36.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.92$14.92
$14.82CHFย 11.62
0.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.03$24.03
$51.8CHFย 40.60
-53.60%
Apples(1kg)
$7.48$7.48
$3.73CHFย 2.93
100.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83$1.83
$2.07CHFย 1.62
-11.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$8.15$8.15
$2.98CHFย 2.33
173.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$11.02$11.02
$6.21CHFย 4.87
77.46%
Potato(1kg)
$4.85$4.85
$2.38CHFย 1.87
103.78%
Onion(1kg)
$3.66$3.66
$2.45CHFย 1.92
49.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.59$3.59
$2.56CHFย 2.01
40.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.24$3.24
$1.23CHFย 0.97
163.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.46$11.46
$11.21CHFย 8.79
2.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65$17.65
$13.76CHFย 10.79
28.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$2.43CHFย 1.91
-27.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73$3.73
$3.35CHFย 2.62
11.34%
๐ Getting Around
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.41$4.41
$2.44CHFย 1.91
80.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$197$197
$87.4CHFย 68.5
125.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88$2.88
$8.19CHFย 6.42
-64.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33$1.33
$3.37CHFย 2.64
-60.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.73$24.73
$88.5CHFย 69.4
-72.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$2.17CHFย 1.70
-62.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K$30.6K
$30.8KCHFย 24.2K
-0.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K$24.9K
$42.3KCHFย 33.1K
-41.20%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220$220
$185CHFย 145
18.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.5$52.5
$42.34CHFย 33.20
23.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.7$70.7
$56.5CHFย 44.31
25.05%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$99.2$99.2
$147CHFย 116
-32.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$49.23$49.23
$17.39CHFย 13.63
183.09%
Cinema Ticket
$15.10$15.10
$14.99CHFย 11.75
0.73%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,895$1,895
$2,868CHFย 2,249
-33.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$36.2K$36.2K
$33.8KCHFย 26.5K
7.01%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7$56.7
$138CHFย 108
-58.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4$54.4
$75.5CHFย 59.2
-28.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118$118
$134CHFย 105
-12.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122$122
$162CHFย 127
-24.72%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,782$2,782
$1,839CHFย 1,442
51.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,182$2,182
$1,597CHFย 1,252
36.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,545$4,545
$2,761CHFย 2,165
64.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,678$3,678
$2,427CHFย 1,903
51.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,826$3,826
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,982$2,982
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,434$5,434
$9,225CHFย 7,233
-41.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
2
227.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Centreville, VA: April 20, 2026
Last update for Buchs: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,782 in Centreville, VA and $1,839 in Buchs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBuchs pays 70% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $118 in Centreville, VA vs $108 in Buchs. Groceries flip the comparison at $561 vs $562, with Centreville, VA cheaper for home cooking.
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
Centreville, VA vs Buchs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Centreville, VA and Buchs?
Centreville, VA and Buchs differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($4,008 vs $3,393 including rent). Buchs is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Buchs earns 70% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Centreville, VA and Buchs?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,782 in Centreville, VA versus $1,839 in Buchs. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Buchs โ a meal for two runs $108 versus $118 in Centreville, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Centreville, VA or Buchs?
All in, you'll spend $4,008 per month in Centreville, VA versus $3,393 in Buchs โ a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Buchs is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Centreville, VA and Buchs?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Centreville, VA or Buchs safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Centreville, VA and Buchs are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Centreville, VA or Buchs?
Expats usually find Buchs gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 18% less than in Centreville, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Centreville, VA vs other spots: cost of living compared