Cost of Living Comparison Between Chur and Lausanne Cost of Living Comparison Between Chur and Lausanne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,127 per month in Chur vs $3,565 in Lausanne, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,106 per month in Chur vs $5,676 in Lausanne, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,085 per month in Chur vs $7,788 in Lausanne, rent included.

Chur is about 12% cheaper than Lausanne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chur and Lausanne sit above the global median – Chur by 133%, Lausanne by 166%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.26 CHF 23.86

$32.84 CHF 25.89

-7.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.7 CHF 77.8

$145 CHF 114

-31.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.12 CHF 12.71

$18.73 CHF 14.77

-13.93%

Cappuccino

$5.94 CHF 4.69

$6.07 CHF 4.79

-2.14%

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

$4.45 CHF 3.50

$5.59 CHF 4.41

-20.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 CHF 3.47

$4.70 CHF 3.71

-6.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.44 CHF 5.87

$9.64 CHF 7.60

-22.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.44 CHF 5.87

$8.41 CHF 6.63

-11.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.76

$2.19 CHF 1.73

1.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 CHF 2.91

$4.17 CHF 3.29

-11.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 CHF 3.35

$4.48 CHF 3.53

-5.36%

Eggs

$7.71 CHF 6.08

$7.01 CHF 5.52

9.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.74 CHF 23.45

$26.22 CHF 20.67

13.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$34.86 CHF 27.49

$28.78 CHF 22.69

21.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$35.76 CHF 28.19

$52.0 CHF 40.97

-31.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 CHF 2.95

$3.60 CHF 2.84

4.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 CHF 1.83

$2.19 CHF 1.73

5.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 CHF 2.01

$2.95 CHF 2.32

-13.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.61 CHF 4.42

$6.43 CHF 5.07

-12.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 CHF 1.36

$2.51 CHF 1.98

-31.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 CHF 1.78

$2.35 CHF 1.85

-3.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 CHF 1.79

$2.49 CHF 1.96

-8.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 CHF 1.01

$1.39 CHF 1.09

-7.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.64 CHF 8.38

$10.93 CHF 8.62

-2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.84 CHF 10.91

$16.11 CHF 12.70

-14.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 CHF 1.97

$2.01 CHF 1.59

24.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 CHF 2.64

$3.20 CHF 2.52

4.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.56 CHF 4.39

$4.74 CHF 3.73

17.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$191 CHF 150

$97.6 CHF 77.0

95.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.06 CHF 6.36

$7.98 CHF 6.29

1.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.34 CHF 3.42

$3.26 CHF 2.57

33.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$61.4 CHF 48.40

$67.6 CHF 53.3

-9.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.73

$2.15 CHF 1.70

1.86%

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

$38.3K CHF 30.2K

$41.1K CHF 32.4K

-6.78%

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

$36.4K CHF 28.7K

$41.7K CHF 32.9K

-12.67%

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

$249 CHF 196

$322 CHF 254

-22.83%

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

$24.39 CHF 19.23

$50.3 CHF 39.66

-51.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.80 CHF 38.47

$57.6 CHF 45.42

-15.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.1 CHF 67.1

$76.0 CHF 59.9

12.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.06 CHF 29.22

$47.71 CHF 37.61

-22.32%

Cinema Ticket

$21.75 CHF 17.15

$26.56 CHF 20.94

-18.11%

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

$2,508 CHF 1,977

$2,763 CHF 2,178

-9.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.5K CHF 33.5K

$34.4K CHF 27.1K

23.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 CHF 107

$110 CHF 86.9

23.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.30 CHF 29.41

$70.2 CHF 55.4

-46.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 CHF 102

$149 CHF 117

-12.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 CHF 128

$185 CHF 146

-12.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 CHF 1,183

$1,834 CHF 1,446

-18.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,138 CHF 897

$1,486 CHF 1,172

-23.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,915 CHF 2,298

$3,523 CHF 2,777

-17.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,546 CHF 2,007

$2,944 CHF 2,321

-13.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K CHF 8,007

$19.6K CHF 15.4K

-48.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,375 CHF 5,815

$14.4K CHF 11.4K

-48.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,132 CHF 5,623

$7,571 CHF 5,969

-5.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

-20.00%

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

Last update for Chur: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lausanne: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,501 in Chur versus $1,834 in Lausanne. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Lausanne, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chur versus $145 in Lausanne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $630 vs $651 – making Chur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Chur vs Lausanne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,127 in Chur, $3,565 in Lausanne – roughly 14% apart. Lausanne costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,691 per month in Chur and $5,347 in Lausanne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $2,508 per month in Chur and $2,763 in Lausanne. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Lausanne, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,127 in Chur and $3,565 in Lausanne. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Lausanne has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,127 in Chur to $3,565 in Lausanne. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lausanne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.