Cost of Living Comparison Between Centreville, VA and Buchs Cost of Living Comparison Between Centreville, VA and Buchs

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,980 in Centreville, VA versus $3,289 in Buchs.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,920 in Centreville, VA versus $4,945 in Buchs.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,860 in Centreville, VA versus $6,600 in Buchs.

Living in Centreville, VA is roughly 21% more expensive than Buchs, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Centreville, VA 197% above, Buchs 145% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.83 $23.83
$29.59 CHF 23.57
-19.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$105 CHF 83.6
13.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.39 $13.39
$11.57 CHF 9.22
15.73%
Cappuccino
$5.51 $5.51
$3.44 CHF 2.74
60.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.51 CHF 2.00
19.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.98 CHF 1.58
31.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.42 $6.42
$4.51 CHF 3.60
42.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 $7.72
$5.24 CHF 4.17
47.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.69 CHF 1.35
-29.59%
White Bread (500g)
$3.83 $3.83
$3.01 CHF 2.40
27.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.97 $6.97
$4.04 CHF 3.21
72.52%
Eggs
$4.07 $4.07
$4.83 CHF 3.85
-15.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.48 $19.48
$30.94 CHF 24.64
-37.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.78 $14.78
$14.90 CHF 11.87
-0.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.73 $23.73
$50.6 CHF 40.33
-53.13%
Apples (1kg)
$7.58 $7.58
$3.59 CHF 2.86
111.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.11 CHF 1.68
-16.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.31 $8.31
$2.94 CHF 2.34
182.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$11.04 $11.04
$6.15 CHF 4.90
79.51%
Potato (1kg)
$4.85 $4.85
$2.43 CHF 1.93
99.59%
Onion (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.41 CHF 1.92
54.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.45 $3.45
$2.70 CHF 2.15
27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.28 CHF 1.02
142.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.42 $11.42
$11.08 CHF 8.82
3.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.33 $18.33
$14.16 CHF 11.28
29.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.42 CHF 1.93
-29.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 $3.77
$3.43 CHF 2.73
9.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.43 $4.43
$2.49 CHF 1.99
77.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$196 $196
$86.2 CHF 68.6
127.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 $2.81
$7.91 CHF 6.30
-64.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$3.50 CHF 2.79
-61.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.43 $25.43
$89.3 CHF 71.1
-71.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$2.17 CHF 1.73
-60.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K $31.5K
$30.4K CHF 24.2K
3.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$42.2K CHF 33.6K
-39.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$185 CHF 147
16.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 $53.4
$42.94 CHF 34.20
24.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1 $70.1
$55.4 CHF 44.14
26.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$100 $100
$150 CHF 119
-33.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 $50.1
$17.44 CHF 13.89
187.44%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$14.57 CHF 11.61
4.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,952 $1,952
$2,906 CHF 2,315
-32.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.6K $35.6K
$33.7K CHF 26.8K
5.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 $56.4
$137 CHF 109
-58.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6 $53.6
$78.5 CHF 62.6
-31.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 $118
$134 CHF 106
-11.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$162 CHF 129
-24.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,696 $2,696
$1,823 CHF 1,452
47.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,183 $2,183
$1,576 CHF 1,255
38.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,689 $4,689
$2,784 CHF 2,218
68.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,753 $3,753
$2,489 CHF 1,983
50.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,804 $3,804
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,994 $2,994
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Centreville, VA
Buchs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,488 $5,488
$9,109 CHF 7,256
-39.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
2
227.50%

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

Last update for Centreville, VA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Buchs: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,696 in Centreville, VA and $1,823 in Buchs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buchs pays 66% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $119 in Centreville, VA vs $105 in Buchs for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $561 vs $560 per month, with Buchs 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
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 21% in total monthly costs ($3,980 vs $3,289 including rent). Buchs is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Buchs earns 66% 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: $2,696 in Centreville, VA versus $1,823 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 – a meal for two runs $105 versus $119 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 $3,980 per month in Centreville, VA versus $3,289 in Buchs – a 21% 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 – 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 – expenses run 21% less than in Centreville, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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