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: $3,867 in Dubendorf versus $4,731 in Zurich.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,690 in Dubendorf versus $7,187 in Zurich.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Dubendorf versus $9,642 in Zurich.

Living in Dubendorf costs roughly 18% less than in Zurich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dubendorf 181% above, Zurich 244% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.67 CHF 24.94

$37.35 CHF 30.37

-17.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 CHF 98.6

$149 CHF 121

-18.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.54 CHF 13.45

$18.46 CHF 15.01

-10.40%

Cappuccino

$6.21 CHF 5.05

$7.03 CHF 5.72

-11.66%

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

$5.47 CHF 4.45

$5.88 CHF 4.78

-6.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 CHF 4.01

$5.40 CHF 4.39

-8.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.60 CHF 7.00

$9.98 CHF 8.11

-13.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CHF 5.45

$8.85 CHF 7.19

-24.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 CHF 1.78

$2.16 CHF 1.75

0.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.90 CHF 3.17

$4.06 CHF 3.30

-3.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.70 CHF 3.82

$3.98 CHF 3.23

18.09%

Eggs

$7.61 CHF 6.18

$8.69 CHF 7.06

-12.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$33.49 CHF 27.22

$27.65 CHF 22.48

21.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.04 CHF 21.99

$27.77 CHF 22.58

-2.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.16 CHF 35.09

$61.1 CHF 49.70

-29.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 CHF 2.89

$4.08 CHF 3.32

-12.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 CHF 1.87

$2.92 CHF 2.38

-21.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 CHF 2.72

$3.59 CHF 2.92

-6.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.91 CHF 5.62

$4.94 CHF 4.02

39.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 2.03

$2.62 CHF 2.13

-4.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 CHF 1.80

$2.30 CHF 1.87

-3.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CHF 2.09

$2.60 CHF 2.11

-1.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 CHF 1.18

$1.29 CHF 1.05

12.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.97 CHF 8.92

$10.92 CHF 8.88

0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 CHF 10.90

$13.57 CHF 11.04

-1.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 CHF 1.81

$2.89 CHF 2.35

-23.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 CHF 2.28

$3.14 CHF 2.55

-10.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 CHF 2.02

$5.57 CHF 4.53

-55.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.0 CHF 40.65

$107 CHF 87.1

-53.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 CHF 4.41

$8.13 CHF 6.61

-33.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.39 CHF 2.76

$4.82 CHF 3.92

-29.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$61.7 CHF 50.2

$92.7 CHF 75.3

-33.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.22 CHF 1.80

$2.32 CHF 1.89

-4.31%

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

$42.9K CHF 34.8K

$40.2K CHF 32.7K

6.55%

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

$39.7K CHF 32.3K

$39.8K CHF 32.4K

-0.35%

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

$233 CHF 190

$290 CHF 235

-19.35%

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

$32.72 CHF 26.60

$39.27 CHF 31.93

-16.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 CHF 54.5

$57.5 CHF 46.78

16.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$123 CHF 100

$91.0 CHF 74.0

35.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$80.3 CHF 65.2

$63.6 CHF 51.7

26.28%

Cinema Ticket

$24.97 CHF 20.30

$25.00 CHF 20.33

-0.12%

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

$1,881 CHF 1,529

$3,759 CHF 3,056

-49.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.8K CHF 26.7K

$42.8K CHF 34.8K

-23.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$144 CHF 117

$143 CHF 116

0.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$88.2 CHF 71.7

$60.5 CHF 49.18

45.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$150 CHF 122

$167 CHF 136

-10.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$177 CHF 144

$263 CHF 214

-32.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,860 CHF 1,512

$3,126 CHF 2,542

-40.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,884 CHF 1,532

$2,503 CHF 2,035

-24.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,911 CHF 2,366

$6,322 CHF 5,140

-53.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,875 CHF 2,337

$4,166 CHF 3,387

-30.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.3K CHF 9,988

$28.2K CHF 23.0K

-56.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,334 CHF 5,962

$16.4K CHF 13.3K

-55.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,921 CHF 3,188

$8,301 CHF 6,749

-52.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.48

2.07

19.81%

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

Last update for Dubendorf: August 30, 2026

Last update for Zurich: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,860 in Dubendorf and $3,126 in Zurich. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zurich pays 112% 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: $121 in Dubendorf vs $149 in Zurich for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $638 vs $681 per month, with Dubendorf 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 Zurich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dubendorf and Zurich differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($3,867 vs $4,731 including rent). Dubendorf is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 112% lower in Zurich. 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: $1,860 in Dubendorf versus $3,126 in Zurich. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,867 per month in Dubendorf versus $4,731 in Zurich – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dubendorf runs roughly 114% 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 22% less than in Zurich. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.