Cost of Living Comparison Between Chur and St. Gallen Cost of Living Comparison Between Chur and St. Gallen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,301 per month in Chur vs $3,806 in St. Gallen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,228 per month in Chur vs $5,351 in St. Gallen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,154 per month in Chur vs $6,896 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 141%, St. Gallen by 178%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.92 CHF 24.69
$29.81 CHF 24.61
0.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112 CHF 92.2
$145 CHF 120
-22.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.71 CHF 13.79
$18.58 CHF 15.34
-10.06%
Cappuccino
$5.93 CHF 4.90
$6.09 CHF 5.03
-2.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.61 CHF 4.63
$5.96 CHF 4.92
-5.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02 CHF 4.14
$5.22 CHF 4.31
-3.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.64 CHF 7.13
$9.08 CHF 7.49
-4.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.55 CHF 7.06
$6.40 CHF 5.28
33.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 CHF 1.77
$2.30 CHF 1.90
-6.52%
White Bread (500g)
$3.43 CHF 2.83
$3.11 CHF 2.56
10.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.40 CHF 3.64
$3.85 CHF 3.18
14.29%
Eggs
$7.88 CHF 6.51
$7.90 CHF 6.52
-0.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.67 CHF 22.01
$25.34 CHF 20.91
5.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$26.03 CHF 21.48
$28.79 CHF 23.76
-9.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$40.46 CHF 33.40
$39.29 CHF 32.43
2.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 CHF 2.93
$3.06 CHF 2.53
16.01%
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 CHF 1.78
$1.61 CHF 1.33
34.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.63 CHF 2.17
$2.38 CHF 1.96
10.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.87 CHF 4.02
$6.09 CHF 5.03
-20.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 CHF 1.58
$1.68 CHF 1.39
13.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 CHF 1.85
$2.16 CHF 1.78
3.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 CHF 1.94
$2.23 CHF 1.84
5.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 CHF 1.19
$1.24 CHF 1.02
16.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.89 CHF 8.99
$11.16 CHF 9.21
-2.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.96 CHF 10.70
$11.22 CHF 9.26
15.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 CHF 1.80
$2.23 CHF 1.84
-2.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 CHF 2.31
$2.38 CHF 1.96
17.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.26 CHF 4.34
$4.24 CHF 3.50
24.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$189 CHF 156
$131 CHF 108
44.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.51 CHF 6.20
$6.59 CHF 5.44
13.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.79 CHF 3.96
$4.78 CHF 3.95
0.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$87.0 CHF 71.8
$78.7 CHF 64.9
10.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.14 CHF 1.77
$2.22 CHF 1.83
-3.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3K CHF 34.1K
$35.8K CHF 29.6K
15.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K CHF 31.2K
$39.9K CHF 32.9K
-5.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$235 CHF 194
$314 CHF 259
-25.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.12 CHF 26.51
$37.99 CHF 31.36
-15.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.8 CHF 46.04
$56.0 CHF 46.19
-0.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$81.7 CHF 67.4
$80.9 CHF 66.8
0.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.93 CHF 28.00
$98.0 CHF 80.9
-65.39%
Cinema Ticket
$21.72 CHF 17.93
$30.58 CHF 25.24
-28.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,406 CHF 1,986
$2,297 CHF 1,896
4.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$44.4K CHF 36.6K
$33.1K CHF 27.3K
34.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.2 CHF 76.1
$149 CHF 123
-38.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.64 CHF 40.15
$65.7 CHF 54.2
-25.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 CHF 99.4
$146 CHF 121
-17.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$171 CHF 141
$185 CHF 152
-7.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,732 CHF 1,430
$1,825 CHF 1,506
-5.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,389 CHF 1,146
$1,714 CHF 1,415
-18.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,019 CHF 2,492
$2,906 CHF 2,398
3.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,606 CHF 2,151
$2,207 CHF 1,822
18.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,467 CHF 6,164
$12.5K CHF 10.3K
-40.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,587 CHF 4,612
$9,126 CHF 7,532
-38.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chur
St. Gallen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,407 CHF 6,939
$6,752 CHF 5,573
24.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.72
2.1
-18.10%

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

Last update for Chur: September 13, 2026

Last update for St. Gallen: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,732 in Chur versus $1,825 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 25% 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 $112 in Chur versus $145 in St. Gallen. Groceries tell a different story – $581 in Chur vs $575 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: $3,301 in Chur, $3,806 in St. Gallen – roughly 15% 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 $4,952 per month in Chur and $5,708 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 $2,406 per month in Chur and $2,297 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 1% 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 $3,301 in Chur and $3,806 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 $3,301 in Chur to $3,806 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.

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