Cost of Living Comparison Between Fribourg and La Chaux-de-Fonds Cost of Living Comparison Between Fribourg and La Chaux-de-Fonds

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,357 per month in Fribourg vs $3,143 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,992 per month in Fribourg vs $4,986 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,628 per month in Fribourg vs $6,828 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

Fribourg costs about 7% more than La Chaux-de-Fonds, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Fribourg and La Chaux-de-Fonds sit above the global median – Fribourg by 151%, La Chaux-de-Fonds by 135%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.98 CHF 24.42

$24.98 CHF 19.69

24.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 CHF 96.5

$85.0 CHF 67.0

43.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.75 CHF 14.00

$18.29 CHF 14.42

-2.95%

Cappuccino

$6.02 CHF 4.75

$4.60 CHF 3.63

30.87%

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

$5.16 CHF 4.07

$3.62 CHF 2.86

42.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.37 CHF 4.23

$4.58 CHF 3.61

17.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.96 CHF 5.49

$7.33 CHF 5.78

-5.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.22 CHF 5.69

$6.13 CHF 4.83

17.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 CHF 1.62

$2.30 CHF 1.82

-10.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.35 CHF 2.64

$3.79 CHF 2.99

-11.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.36 CHF 2.65

$4.32 CHF 3.41

-22.22%

Eggs

$6.64 CHF 5.24

$7.38 CHF 5.82

-10.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.09 CHF 22.93

$27.39 CHF 21.59

6.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$25.61 CHF 20.19

$33.78 CHF 26.63

-24.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$37.53 CHF 29.59

$53.0 CHF 41.75

-29.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.25 CHF 3.35

$3.53 CHF 2.79

20.40%

Banana (1kg)

$3.21 CHF 2.53

$2.46 CHF 1.94

30.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 CHF 2.34

$3.08 CHF 2.43

-3.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 CHF 4.88

$6.21 CHF 4.90

-0.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 CHF 1.65

$2.57 CHF 2.02

-18.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 CHF 1.84

$2.39 CHF 1.89

-2.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.88 CHF 2.27

$2.59 CHF 2.04

11.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CHF 1.26

$1.33 CHF 1.05

20.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.96 CHF 8.64

$10.97 CHF 8.65

-0.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.85 CHF 8.55

$12.50 CHF 9.86

-13.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.93 CHF 3.10

$2.40 CHF 1.89

63.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 CHF 3.82

$3.74 CHF 2.95

29.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.67 CHF 2.90

$3.10 CHF 2.44

18.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.1 CHF 68.7

$158 CHF 125

-44.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.78 CHF 6.14

$7.52 CHF 5.93

3.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.52 CHF 2.77

$3.64 CHF 2.87

-3.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$74.6 CHF 58.8

$65.5 CHF 51.7

13.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 CHF 1.73

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

$42.1K CHF 33.2K

$41.2K CHF 32.5K

2.14%

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

$40.6K CHF 32.0K

$48.4K CHF 38.2K

-16.09%

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

$311 CHF 245

$257 CHF 203

20.79%

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

$74.7 CHF 58.9

$48.20 CHF 38.00

54.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.3 CHF 42.00

$63.5 CHF 50.1

-16.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 CHF 55.9

$77.1 CHF 60.8

-7.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.30 CHF 35.72

Cinema Ticket

$21.17 CHF 16.69

$24.58 CHF 19.38

-13.87%

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

$1,813 CHF 1,429

$3,131 CHF 2,469

-42.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.9K CHF 29.1K

$20.9K CHF 16.5K

76.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$100 CHF 79.1

$138 CHF 109

-27.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$82.2 CHF 64.8

$79.0 CHF 62.3

4.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 CHF 121

$160 CHF 127

-4.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$216 CHF 170

$211 CHF 166

2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 CHF 1,274

$1,460 CHF 1,151

10.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,300 CHF 1,025

$1,104 CHF 870

17.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,664 CHF 2,100

$3,903 CHF 3,077

-31.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,083 CHF 1,642

$2,381 CHF 1,877

-12.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,134 CHF 6,413

$13.1K CHF 10.4K

-38.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,140 CHF 4,053

$9,930 CHF 7,829

-48.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,283 CHF 5,742

$5,383 CHF 4,244

35.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.63

2.46

6.91%

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

Last update for Fribourg: June 2, 2026

Last update for La Chaux-de-Fonds: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Fribourg versus $1,460 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 35% higher in Fribourg, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Fribourg versus $85.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Groceries tell a different story – $598 in Fribourg vs $677 in La Chaux-de-Fonds – so Fribourg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Fribourg vs La Chaux-de-Fonds: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fribourg costs about 7% more than La Chaux-de-Fonds, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,036 per month in Fribourg and $4,715 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Chaux-de-Fonds, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,813 per month in Fribourg and $3,131 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Fribourg – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,357 in Fribourg and $3,143 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. La Chaux-de-Fonds costs $3,143 versus $3,357 in Fribourg. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with La Chaux-de-Fonds. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fribourg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.