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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,137 per month in Chur vs $3,619 in Lausanne, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,098 per month in Chur vs $5,781 in Lausanne, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,060 per month in Chur vs $7,944 in Lausanne, rent included.

Chur is about 13% cheaper than Lausanne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chur and Lausanne sit above the global median – Chur by 135%, Lausanne by 171%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.31 CHF 25.31

$32.44 CHF 26.23

-3.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 CHF 80.4

$148 CHF 119

-32.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.09 CHF 13.01

$19.05 CHF 15.40

-15.54%

Cappuccino

$5.94 CHF 4.81

$5.90 CHF 4.77

0.68%

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

$4.56 CHF 3.68

$5.41 CHF 4.38

-15.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 CHF 3.42

$4.92 CHF 3.97

-14.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.21 CHF 5.83

$10.12 CHF 8.18

-28.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.55 CHF 6.11

$8.85 CHF 7.16

-14.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 CHF 1.86

$2.24 CHF 1.81

2.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 CHF 2.97

$4.09 CHF 3.31

-10.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.19 CHF 3.38

$4.37 CHF 3.53

-4.12%

Eggs

$7.83 CHF 6.33

$7.37 CHF 5.96

6.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.05 CHF 23.48

$26.35 CHF 21.31

10.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.87 CHF 29.00

$28.58 CHF 23.11

25.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$36.50 CHF 29.51

$53.2 CHF 42.99

-31.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 CHF 3.02

$3.80 CHF 3.07

-1.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.29 CHF 1.86

$2.15 CHF 1.74

6.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 CHF 2.06

$2.89 CHF 2.34

-11.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.51 CHF 4.46

$6.62 CHF 5.35

-16.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 CHF 1.46

$2.43 CHF 1.97

-25.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 CHF 1.84

$2.41 CHF 1.95

-5.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 CHF 1.83

$2.53 CHF 2.04

-10.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 CHF 1.03

$1.40 CHF 1.14

-9.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.67 CHF 8.63

$11.03 CHF 8.92

-3.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.97 CHF 10.49

$15.39 CHF 12.44

-15.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 CHF 1.93

$2.10 CHF 1.69

13.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 CHF 2.69

$3.27 CHF 2.64

1.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.51 CHF 4.45

$4.83 CHF 3.90

14.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$188 CHF 152

$96.1 CHF 77.7

96.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 CHF 6.41

$7.67 CHF 6.20

3.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.25 CHF 3.43

$3.42 CHF 2.77

24.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$62.8 CHF 50.8

$66.1 CHF 53.5

-4.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.77

$2.18 CHF 1.76

0.46%

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

$38.1K CHF 30.8K

$39.6K CHF 32.0K

-3.79%

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

$37.5K CHF 30.3K

$40.6K CHF 32.9K

-7.70%

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

$250 CHF 202

$331 CHF 267

-24.42%

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

$24.93 CHF 20.16

$50.0 CHF 40.44

-50.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.89 CHF 39.53

$57.7 CHF 46.68

-15.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.5 CHF 69.9

$78.4 CHF 63.4

10.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.17 CHF 30.05

$48.46 CHF 39.18

-23.30%

Cinema Ticket

$22.49 CHF 18.19

$26.35 CHF 21.31

-14.65%

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

$2,500 CHF 2,022

$2,843 CHF 2,298

-12.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.3K CHF 35.0K

$34.6K CHF 28.0K

25.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 CHF 112

$110 CHF 89.0

25.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.49 CHF 29.51

$69.2 CHF 55.9

-47.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 CHF 106

$153 CHF 124

-14.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 CHF 128

$184 CHF 149

-13.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 CHF 1,204

$1,834 CHF 1,483

-18.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,133 CHF 916

$1,476 CHF 1,193

-23.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,894 CHF 2,340

$3,654 CHF 2,954

-20.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,498 CHF 2,019

$2,979 CHF 2,408

-16.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,281 CHF 5,886

$18.6K CHF 15.0K

-60.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,574 CHF 4,507

$14.2K CHF 11.5K

-60.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,981 CHF 5,644

$6,512 CHF 5,265

7.20%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lausanne: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,489 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 7% higher in Chur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chur versus $148 in Lausanne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $633 vs $655 – 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: $3,137 in Chur, $3,619 in Lausanne – roughly 15% apart. Lausanne costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,706 per month in Chur and $5,429 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 $2,500 per month in Chur and $2,843 in Lausanne. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% 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 $3,137 in Chur and $3,619 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 $3,137 in Chur to $3,619 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.