🙂A single person spends $3,116 per month in Chur vs $3,566 in St. Gallen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $5,144 per month in Chur vs $5,365 in St. Gallen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,172 per month in Chur vs $7,165 in St. Gallen, rent included.
🙂Chur is about 13% cheaper than St. Gallen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Chur and St. Gallen sit above the global median – Chur by 134%, St. Gallen by 168%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.40CHF 24.73
$30.77CHF 25.03
-1.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.1CHF 79.8
$145CHF 118
-32.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.99CHF 13.01
$18.51CHF 15.05
-13.61%
Cappuccino
$5.91CHF 4.81
$6.31CHF 5.13
-6.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56CHF 3.71
$5.72CHF 4.65
-20.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27CHF 3.47
$5.29CHF 4.30
-19.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.20CHF 5.85
$7.68CHF 6.25
-6.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40CHF 6.02
$7.17CHF 5.83
3.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.33CHF 1.89
$2.29CHF 1.86
1.75%
White Bread(500g)
$3.63CHF 2.96
$2.65CHF 2.16
36.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.12CHF 3.35
$3.54CHF 2.88
16.38%
Eggs
$7.69CHF 6.25
$7.92CHF 6.44
-2.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.99CHF 24.39
$28.07CHF 22.83
6.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$34.85CHF 28.35
$32.38CHF 26.34
7.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.79CHF 29.11
$41.83CHF 34.02
-14.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82CHF 3.10
$3.18CHF 2.58
20.13%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24CHF 1.83
$1.84CHF 1.50
21.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.53CHF 2.05
$2.57CHF 2.09
-1.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.66CHF 4.61
$7.11CHF 5.78
-20.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75CHF 1.43
$2.59CHF 2.10
-32.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20CHF 1.79
$2.33CHF 1.90
-5.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.24CHF 1.82
$2.41CHF 1.96
-7.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21CHF 0.99
$1.15CHF 0.93
5.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.89CHF 8.86
$10.77CHF 8.76
1.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.11CHF 10.66
$11.46CHF 9.32
14.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52CHF 2.05
$2.20CHF 1.79
14.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43CHF 2.79
$2.29CHF 1.86
49.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.54CHF 4.51
$4.29CHF 3.49
29.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$186CHF 151
$79.6CHF 64.8
133.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.27CHF 6.73
$6.68CHF 5.43
23.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.11CHF 3.34
$4.27CHF 3.48
-3.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.9CHF 50.3
$78.6CHF 64.0
-21.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16CHF 1.76
$2.19CHF 1.79
-1.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7KCHF 31.5K
$40.9KCHF 33.3K
-5.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6KCHF 29.8K
$40.7KCHF 33.1K
-10.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249CHF 203
$330CHF 268
-24.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.75CHF 20.13
$59.2CHF 48.19
-58.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.35CHF 40.14
$53.2CHF 43.26
-7.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.0CHF 69.9
$80.2CHF 65.3
7.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.32CHF 29.54
$98.6CHF 80.2
-63.16%
Cinema Ticket
$22.19CHF 18.05
$30.77CHF 25.03
-27.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,483CHF 2,020
$2,877CHF 2,340
-13.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$43.1KCHF 35.1K
$34.7KCHF 28.2K
24.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138CHF 112
$149CHF 121
-7.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.26CHF 30.31
$67.0CHF 54.5
-44.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134CHF 109
$155CHF 126
-13.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161CHF 131
$236CHF 192
-32.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,494CHF 1,215
$1,831CHF 1,490
-18.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,111CHF 903
$1,539CHF 1,252
-27.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,967CHF 2,413
$2,720CHF 2,213
9.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,584CHF 2,102
$2,341CHF 1,904
10.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,264CHF 5,908
$12.3KCHF 9,997
-40.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,428CHF 4,415
$9,211CHF 7,492
-41.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,830CHF 5,556
$6,725CHF 5,470
1.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
2.5
-20.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chur: July 26, 2026
Last update for St. Gallen: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,494 in Chur versus $1,831 in St. Gallen. 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 2% 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 $98.0 in Chur versus $145 in St. Gallen. Groceries tell a different story – $628 in Chur vs $614 in St. Gallen – so St. Gallen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 St. Gallen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chur and in St. Gallen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,116 in Chur, $3,566 in St. Gallen – roughly 14% apart. St. Gallen costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chur compared to St. Gallen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,675 per month in Chur and $5,348 in St. Gallen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chur and St. Gallen?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Chur and St. Gallen?
Kindergarten costs $2,483 per month in Chur and $2,877 in St. Gallen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in St. Gallen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,116 in Chur and $3,566 in St. Gallen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Chur and St. Gallen?
It depends on your priorities. St. Gallen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,116 in Chur to $3,566 in St. Gallen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chur or St. Gallen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Chur and St. Gallen?
If budget matters most, go with Chur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, St. Gallen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.