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: $3,866 in Dubendorf versus $4,270 in Zurich.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,884 in Dubendorf versus $6,491 in Zurich.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,901 in Dubendorf versus $8,712 in Zurich.

Living in Dubendorf costs roughly 9% less than in Zurich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dubendorf 189% above, Zurich 220% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.26 CHF 25.22

$30.84 CHF 24.88

1.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 CHF 117

$147 CHF 119

-1.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.61 CHF 15.02

$20.72 CHF 16.72

-10.18%

Cappuccino

$6.17 CHF 4.98

$6.94 CHF 5.60

-11.10%

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

$5.79 CHF 4.67

$6.04 CHF 4.88

-4.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.18 CHF 4.18

$5.24 CHF 4.23

-1.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.44 CHF 6.00

$9.83 CHF 7.94

-24.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 CHF 5.78

$8.52 CHF 6.87

-15.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.82

$2.18 CHF 1.76

3.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 CHF 2.64

$3.25 CHF 2.62

0.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.12 CHF 3.33

$4.12 CHF 3.32

Eggs

$7.49 CHF 6.04

$7.26 CHF 5.85

3.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.48 CHF 23.79

$30.00 CHF 24.21

-1.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$31.92 CHF 25.75

$34.06 CHF 27.49

-6.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.4 CHF 40.65

$50.2 CHF 40.48

0.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 CHF 2.60

$4.09 CHF 3.30

-21.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 CHF 2.28

$2.91 CHF 2.34

-3.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 CHF 2.54

$3.02 CHF 2.44

3.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.28 CHF 5.87

$4.98 CHF 4.02

46.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 CHF 2.22

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 CHF 1.88

$2.34 CHF 1.89

-0.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 CHF 2.05

$2.54 CHF 2.05

0.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 CHF 1.38

$1.72 CHF 1.39

-0.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.22 CHF 9.05

$11.29 CHF 9.11

-0.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.26 CHF 10.70

$13.58 CHF 10.96

-2.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 CHF 1.80

$2.63 CHF 2.12

-15.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 CHF 2.40

$3.23 CHF 2.60

-7.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.76 CHF 6.26

$5.02 CHF 4.05

54.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$124 CHF 100

$107 CHF 86.4

15.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.58 CHF 5.31

$7.81 CHF 6.30

-15.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.24 CHF 3.43

$4.31 CHF 3.48

-1.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$79.3 CHF 64.0

$86.9 CHF 70.1

-8.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.83

$2.24 CHF 1.80

1.34%

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

$41.2K CHF 33.2K

$39.7K CHF 32.0K

3.75%

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

$40.0K CHF 32.3K

$39.8K CHF 32.1K

0.52%

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

$260 CHF 210

$258 CHF 208

0.92%

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

$35.31 CHF 28.49

$36.31 CHF 29.30

-2.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.2 CHF 42.11

$59.4 CHF 47.92

-12.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.9 CHF 70.2

$89.5 CHF 72.2

-2.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$55.7 CHF 44.95

$50.1 CHF 40.41

11.24%

Cinema Ticket

$24.42 CHF 19.70

$24.81 CHF 20.02

-1.57%

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

$2,732 CHF 2,205

$3,344 CHF 2,698

-18.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K CHF 31.3K

$39.1K CHF 31.6K

-0.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$146 CHF 117

$138 CHF 111

5.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.0 CHF 53.2

$61.7 CHF 49.80

6.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$146 CHF 118

$147 CHF 119

-0.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$198 CHF 160

$200 CHF 161

-0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 CHF 1,518

$2,721 CHF 2,195

-30.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,830 CHF 1,477

$2,227 CHF 1,797

-17.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,683 CHF 2,165

$5,054 CHF 4,078

-46.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,936 CHF 2,369

$3,797 CHF 3,064

-22.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.8K CHF 12.7K

$27.3K CHF 22.0K

-42.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.6K CHF 10.2K

$16.4K CHF 13.2K

-23.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,977 CHF 3,209

$8,287 CHF 6,687

-52.01%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Zurich: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,882 in Dubendorf and $2,721 in Zurich. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zurich pays 108% 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: $145 in Dubendorf vs $147 in Zurich for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $670 vs $676 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 10% in total monthly costs ($3,866 vs $4,270 including rent). Dubendorf is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 108% 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: $1,882 in Dubendorf versus $2,721 in Zurich. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,866 per month in Dubendorf versus $4,270 in Zurich – a 10% 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 10% less than in Zurich. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.