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 $3,256 per month in Fribourg vs $3,144 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,963 per month in Fribourg vs $5,011 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,669 per month in Fribourg vs $6,877 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

Fribourg costs about 4% 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 144%, La Chaux-de-Fonds by 135%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.21 CHF 25.18

$24.88 CHF 20.07

25.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$124 CHF 99.9

$86.0 CHF 69.4

43.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.73 CHF 14.30

$18.51 CHF 14.93

-4.21%

Cappuccino

$6.30 CHF 5.08

$4.63 CHF 3.74

36.07%

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

$5.09 CHF 4.10

$3.73 CHF 3.01

36.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.30 CHF 4.28

$4.49 CHF 3.63

18.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 CHF 5.59

$7.25 CHF 5.85

-4.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.50 CHF 6.05

$6.29 CHF 5.08

19.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CHF 1.63

$2.17 CHF 1.75

-6.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CHF 2.69

$3.78 CHF 3.05

-11.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.46 CHF 2.79

$4.43 CHF 3.58

-21.90%

Eggs

$6.66 CHF 5.37

$7.39 CHF 5.96

-9.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.15 CHF 23.52

$26.83 CHF 21.65

8.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$25.28 CHF 20.40

$33.57 CHF 27.09

-24.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$36.83 CHF 29.72

$52.2 CHF 42.14

-29.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.15 CHF 3.35

$3.56 CHF 2.88

16.57%

Banana (1kg)

$3.32 CHF 2.68

$2.51 CHF 2.03

32.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.93 CHF 2.36

$2.95 CHF 2.38

-0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.97 CHF 4.82

$6.18 CHF 4.99

-3.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 CHF 1.66

$2.60 CHF 2.10

-20.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 CHF 1.97

$2.35 CHF 1.90

4.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.82 CHF 2.27

$2.60 CHF 2.10

8.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CHF 1.30

$1.37 CHF 1.10

17.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.81 CHF 8.73

$10.90 CHF 8.79

-0.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 CHF 8.31

$12.40 CHF 10.01

-17.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.02 CHF 3.24

$2.41 CHF 1.94

66.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 CHF 3.88

$3.72 CHF 3.00

29.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.63 CHF 2.93

$3.04 CHF 2.45

19.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.3 CHF 69.6

$160 CHF 129

-46.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 CHF 6.02

$7.64 CHF 6.16

-2.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 CHF 2.83

$3.53 CHF 2.85

-0.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$73.7 CHF 59.4

$65.5 CHF 52.9

12.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 CHF 1.77

$2.26 CHF 1.82

-2.65%

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

$41.4K CHF 33.4K

$40.0K CHF 32.3K

3.36%

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

$41.2K CHF 33.2K

$48.4K CHF 39.0K

-14.85%

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

$305 CHF 246

$257 CHF 207

18.81%

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

$73.0 CHF 58.9

$48.14 CHF 38.84

51.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 CHF 42.33

$63.8 CHF 51.5

-17.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.3 CHF 57.6

$75.0 CHF 60.5

-4.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.90 CHF 37.84

Cinema Ticket

$20.83 CHF 16.81

$24.67 CHF 19.91

-15.57%

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

$1,831 CHF 1,477

$3,023 CHF 2,439

-39.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.3K CHF 29.3K

$20.7K CHF 16.7K

75.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 CHF 82.7

$137 CHF 111

-25.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$84.5 CHF 68.2

$80.6 CHF 65.0

4.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$155 CHF 125

$165 CHF 133

-6.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$216 CHF 174

$208 CHF 168

3.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 CHF 1,300

$1,489 CHF 1,201

8.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 CHF 1,068

$1,069 CHF 863

23.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,718 CHF 2,193

$3,989 CHF 3,218

-31.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,104 CHF 1,697

$2,369 CHF 1,912

-11.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.9K CHF 16.9K

$17.6K CHF 14.2K

18.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.8K CHF 11.1K

$11.3K CHF 9,116

22.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,096 CHF 5,726

$5,195 CHF 4,192

36.59%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for La Chaux-de-Fonds: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,611 in Fribourg versus $1,489 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 37% 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 $124 in Fribourg versus $86.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Groceries tell a different story – $593 in Fribourg vs $671 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 4% 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 $4,884 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 $1,831 per month in Fribourg and $3,023 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 $3,256 in Fribourg and $3,144 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 $3,144 versus $3,256 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.