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: $3,989 in Dubendorf versus $3,482 in Meilen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,880 in Dubendorf versus $5,449 in Meilen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,771 in Dubendorf versus $7,416 in Meilen.

Living in Dubendorf is roughly 15% more expensive than in Meilen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dubendorf 200% above, Meilen 162% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.24 CHF 24.41

$30.45 CHF 24.58

-0.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 CHF 117

$146 CHF 117

-0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.57 CHF 14.98

$18.82 CHF 15.19

-1.33%

Cappuccino

$6.16 CHF 4.97

$6.46 CHF 5.21

-4.64%

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

$5.75 CHF 4.64

$6.03 CHF 4.86

-4.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.17 CHF 4.17

$5.14 CHF 4.15

0.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.54 CHF 6.08

$8.76 CHF 7.07

-13.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 CHF 5.63

$7.43 CHF 5.99

-6.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 CHF 1.73

$2.18 CHF 1.76

-1.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 CHF 2.65

$3.38 CHF 2.72

-2.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.13 CHF 3.33

$3.97 CHF 3.20

4.03%

Eggs

$7.58 CHF 6.11

$7.44 CHF 6.01

1.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.26 CHF 23.61

$29.03 CHF 23.43

0.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.98 CHF 26.61

$33.05 CHF 26.67

-0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$49.81 CHF 40.19

$50.7 CHF 40.94

-1.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 CHF 2.60

$4.04 CHF 3.26

-20.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 CHF 2.26

$2.42 CHF 1.95

15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 CHF 2.55

$3.10 CHF 2.50

1.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.26 CHF 5.86

$4.97 CHF 4.01

46.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 CHF 2.30

$2.63 CHF 2.12

8.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 CHF 1.90

$2.34 CHF 1.89

0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CHF 2.09

$2.56 CHF 2.07

1.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 CHF 1.35

$1.15 CHF 0.93

45.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.95 CHF 8.84

$11.25 CHF 9.08

-2.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 CHF 10.95

$13.11 CHF 10.58

3.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 CHF 1.84

$2.20 CHF 1.78

3.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 CHF 2.46

$2.29 CHF 1.85

32.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.54 CHF 6.09

$4.03 CHF 3.25

87.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$122 CHF 98.7

$98.9 CHF 79.8

23.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 CHF 5.63

$6.61 CHF 5.33

5.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.12 CHF 3.33

$4.16 CHF 3.35

-0.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$81.1 CHF 65.5

$79.5 CHF 64.2

2.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 CHF 1.87

$2.21 CHF 1.79

4.98%

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

$40.8K CHF 33.0K

$40.2K CHF 32.4K

1.64%

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

$39.7K CHF 32.0K

$39.3K CHF 31.8K

0.93%

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

$265 CHF 214

$251 CHF 202

5.55%

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

$36.24 CHF 29.25

$60.4 CHF 48.72

-39.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.5 CHF 43.14

$59.5 CHF 48.02

-10.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.0 CHF 71.9

$86.5 CHF 69.8

2.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$55.4 CHF 44.66

$46.78 CHF 37.75

18.32%

Cinema Ticket

$24.53 CHF 19.80

$26.94 CHF 21.74

-8.95%

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

$2,715 CHF 2,191

$2,850 CHF 2,300

-4.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.9K CHF 31.4K

$40.1K CHF 32.3K

-2.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$151 CHF 122

$140 CHF 113

7.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.2 CHF 53.5

$60.7 CHF 48.96

9.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$150 CHF 121

$148 CHF 120

1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$199 CHF 161

$201 CHF 162

-0.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,832 CHF 1,479

$1,679 CHF 1,355

9.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,859 CHF 1,500

$1,493 CHF 1,205

24.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,728 CHF 2,202

$2,862 CHF 2,309

-4.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,857 CHF 2,306

$2,474 CHF 1,996

15.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.1K CHF 9,740

$14.6K CHF 11.8K

-17.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,274 CHF 5,870

$12.4K CHF 9,986

-41.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,841 CHF 3,100

$8,239 CHF 6,649

-53.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

2.09

19.62%

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

Last update for Dubendorf: July 27, 2026

Last update for Meilen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,832 in Dubendorf and $1,679 in Meilen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Meilen pays 114% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $145 in Dubendorf vs $146 in Meilen. Groceries flip the comparison at $673 vs $656, with Meilen cheaper for home cooking.

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 15% in total monthly costs ($3,989 vs $3,482 including rent). Meilen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 114% 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: $1,832 in Dubendorf versus $1,679 in Meilen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,989 per month in Dubendorf versus $3,482 in Meilen – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Meilen runs roughly 24% 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 15% less than in Dubendorf. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.