Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubendorf and Zurich Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubendorf and Zurich

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,974 in Dubendorf versus $4,254 in Zurich.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,958 in Dubendorf versus $6,409 in Zurich.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,942 in Dubendorf versus $8,563 in Zurich.

Living in Dubendorf costs roughly 7% less than in Zurich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dubendorf 197% above, Zurich 217% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.79 CHF 24.27

$31.04 CHF 24.47

-0.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 CHF 119

$149 CHF 118

0.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.42 CHF 14.52

$20.83 CHF 16.42

-11.57%

Cappuccino

$6.38 CHF 5.03

$6.72 CHF 5.29

-5.06%

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

$5.85 CHF 4.61

$5.90 CHF 4.65

-0.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.40 CHF 4.25

$5.35 CHF 4.22

0.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.41 CHF 5.85

$9.85 CHF 7.76

-24.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.99 CHF 5.51

$8.82 CHF 6.95

-20.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 CHF 1.69

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-4.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 CHF 2.57

$3.29 CHF 2.60

-0.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.08 CHF 3.22

$4.12 CHF 3.25

-0.97%

Eggs

$7.26 CHF 5.72

$7.19 CHF 5.67

0.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.29 CHF 23.09

$29.88 CHF 23.56

-1.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$31.91 CHF 25.16

$33.59 CHF 26.48

-5.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$49.09 CHF 38.70

$49.65 CHF 39.14

-1.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.18 CHF 2.50

$4.04 CHF 3.18

-21.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 CHF 2.21

$2.90 CHF 2.29

-3.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.09 CHF 2.43

$3.05 CHF 2.40

1.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.09 CHF 5.59

$5.24 CHF 4.13

35.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 CHF 2.19

$2.85 CHF 2.25

-2.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 CHF 1.79

$2.38 CHF 1.88

-4.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 CHF 2.01

$2.50 CHF 1.97

2.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CHF 1.37

$1.70 CHF 1.34

1.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.01 CHF 8.68

$10.96 CHF 8.64

0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.50 CHF 12.22

$15.06 CHF 11.87

2.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 CHF 1.76

$2.62 CHF 2.07

-14.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 CHF 2.32

$3.23 CHF 2.55

-8.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.71 CHF 6.08

$4.82 CHF 3.80

59.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$123 CHF 97.1

$106 CHF 83.7

16.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 CHF 5.42

$7.55 CHF 5.95

-9.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.25 CHF 3.35

$4.15 CHF 3.27

2.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$79.7 CHF 62.9

$89.1 CHF 70.2

-10.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 CHF 1.82

$2.29 CHF 1.81

0.87%

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

$39.6K CHF 31.2K

$41.1K CHF 32.4K

-3.60%

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

$40.2K CHF 31.7K

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

2.13%

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

$260 CHF 205

$259 CHF 204

0.73%

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

$35.53 CHF 28.02

$35.51 CHF 28.00

0.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.7 CHF 41.56

$58.5 CHF 46.08

-9.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.4 CHF 68.9

$88.8 CHF 70.0

-1.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$55.8 CHF 43.96

$48.84 CHF 38.50

14.15%

Cinema Ticket

$25.12 CHF 19.80

$25.07 CHF 19.77

0.20%

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

$2,686 CHF 2,118

$3,470 CHF 2,736

-22.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.6K CHF 31.3K

$39.0K CHF 30.8K

1.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$147 CHF 116

$137 CHF 108

7.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.5 CHF 50.8

$62.3 CHF 49.13

3.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 CHF 116

$148 CHF 117

-0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$202 CHF 159

-0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 CHF 1,462

$2,686 CHF 2,118

-30.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,860 CHF 1,467

$2,205 CHF 1,738

-15.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,681 CHF 2,114

$4,902 CHF 3,865

-45.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,917 CHF 2,299

$3,702 CHF 2,919

-21.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.0K CHF 11.1K

$26.1K CHF 20.6K

-46.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.0K CHF 7,885

$16.5K CHF 13.0K

-39.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,069 CHF 3,208

$8,722 CHF 6,876

-53.35%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Zurich: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,855 in Dubendorf and $2,686 in Zurich. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zurich pays 114% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $150 in Dubendorf vs $149 in Zurich. Groceries flip the comparison at $667 vs $677, with Dubendorf 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 Zurich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dubendorf and Zurich differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($3,974 vs $4,254 including rent). Dubendorf is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Zurich earns 114% less. 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: $1,855 in Dubendorf versus $2,686 in Zurich. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,974 per month in Dubendorf versus $4,254 in Zurich – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dubendorf runs roughly 16% less than in Zurich. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Dubendorf 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 Zurich 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 Dubendorf gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Zurich. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.