Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubendorf and Meilen Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubendorf and Meilen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,753 in Dubendorf versus $3,456 in Meilen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,651 in Dubendorf versus $5,967 in Meilen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,550 in Dubendorf versus $8,477 in Meilen.

Living in Dubendorf is roughly 9% more expensive than in Meilen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dubendorf 174% above, Meilen 153% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.16 CHF 25.72

$30.64 CHF 25.29

1.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$125 CHF 103

$122 CHF 100

2.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.58 CHF 13.68

$16.67 CHF 13.76

-0.54%

Cappuccino

$6.11 CHF 5.04

$6.26 CHF 5.17

-2.40%

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

$5.37 CHF 4.43

$5.55 CHF 4.58

-3.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.98 CHF 4.11

$5.04 CHF 4.16

-1.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.49 CHF 7.00

$8.43 CHF 6.96

0.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.70 CHF 5.53

$8.54 CHF 7.05

-21.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.81

$2.22 CHF 1.84

-1.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 CHF 3.21

$3.54 CHF 2.92

9.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 CHF 3.91

$4.04 CHF 3.33

17.33%

Eggs

$7.51 CHF 6.20

$7.97 CHF 6.57

-5.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$33.30 CHF 27.49

$27.40 CHF 22.62

21.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.10 CHF 21.54

$26.64 CHF 21.99

-2.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.25 CHF 35.70

$41.75 CHF 34.46

3.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 CHF 2.85

$3.66 CHF 3.02

-5.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 CHF 1.77

$2.08 CHF 1.71

3.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 CHF 2.71

$2.67 CHF 2.20

22.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.06 CHF 5.83

$4.86 CHF 4.01

45.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CHF 2.11

$2.10 CHF 1.73

21.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 CHF 1.84

$2.21 CHF 1.82

0.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 CHF 2.06

$2.38 CHF 1.96

4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CHF 1.19

$1.29 CHF 1.06

11.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.86 CHF 8.97

$11.10 CHF 9.16

-2.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.46 CHF 11.11

$13.39 CHF 11.05

0.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 CHF 1.81

$2.21 CHF 1.82

-0.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 CHF 2.33

$2.84 CHF 2.34

-0.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 CHF 2.01

$4.59 CHF 3.79

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.74 CHF 40.23

$102 CHF 84.2

-52.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.48 CHF 4.52

$7.97 CHF 6.58

-31.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.47 CHF 2.87

$4.74 CHF 3.91

-26.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$61.8 CHF 51.0

$88.0 CHF 72.7

-29.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.15 CHF 1.78

$2.19 CHF 1.81

-1.83%

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

$43.8K CHF 36.1K

$39.8K CHF 32.8K

10.15%

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

$39.4K CHF 32.6K

$40.5K CHF 33.5K

-2.71%

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

$234 CHF 193

$240 CHF 198

-2.25%

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

$31.19 CHF 25.74

$39.33 CHF 32.46

-20.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 CHF 54.7

$66.0 CHF 54.5

0.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$123 CHF 101

$92.6 CHF 76.4

32.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$80.7 CHF 66.6

$46.24 CHF 38.17

74.50%

Cinema Ticket

$24.11 CHF 19.90

$22.49 CHF 18.56

7.20%

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

$1,809 CHF 1,493

$2,882 CHF 2,379

-37.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.1K CHF 27.4K

$44.1K CHF 36.4K

-24.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$142 CHF 117

$140 CHF 115

1.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$90.2 CHF 74.5

$60.3 CHF 49.80

49.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 CHF 121

$150 CHF 124

-2.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 CHF 144

$173 CHF 143

0.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,833 CHF 1,513

$1,772 CHF 1,462

3.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 CHF 1,520

$1,493 CHF 1,232

23.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,926 CHF 2,415

$2,847 CHF 2,350

2.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,822 CHF 2,329

$4,086 CHF 3,373

-30.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.1K CHF 10.0K

$16.1K CHF 13.3K

-24.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,404 CHF 6,111

$12.3K CHF 10.2K

-39.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,873 CHF 3,197

$8,471 CHF 6,992

-54.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.48

1.72

44.19%

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

Last update for Dubendorf: September 14, 2026

Last update for Meilen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,833 in Dubendorf and $1,772 in Meilen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Meilen pays 119% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $125 in Dubendorf vs $122 in Meilen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $631 vs $591 per month, with Meilen 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

Dubendorf vs Meilen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dubendorf and Meilen differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($3,753 vs $3,456 including rent). Meilen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 119% lower in Meilen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,833 in Dubendorf versus $1,772 in Meilen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,753 per month in Dubendorf versus $3,456 in Meilen – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Meilen runs roughly 109% less than in Dubendorf. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Meilen is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Dubendorf and Meilen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Meilen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Dubendorf. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.