Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Arbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Arbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,177 per month in Geneva vs $3,446 in Arbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,255 per month in Geneva vs $5,324 in Arbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,333 per month in Geneva vs $7,202 in Arbon, rent included.

Geneva costs about 21% more than Arbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Geneva and Arbon sit above the global median – Geneva by 204%, Arbon by 151%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.77 CHF 25.02

$31.29 CHF 25.44

-1.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$133 CHF 108

$150 CHF 122

-11.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.66 CHF 15.17

$19.92 CHF 16.19

-6.33%

Cappuccino

$6.56 CHF 5.33

$6.29 CHF 5.11

4.29%

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

$4.98 CHF 4.05

$6.09 CHF 4.95

-18.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 CHF 3.46

$5.47 CHF 4.44

-22.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.63 CHF 7.83

$9.32 CHF 7.57

3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.97 CHF 8.10

$6.35 CHF 5.16

57.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CHF 1.94

$2.27 CHF 1.85

5.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 CHF 2.84

$3.17 CHF 2.58

10.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 CHF 2.71

$3.73 CHF 3.04

-10.72%

Eggs

$8.08 CHF 6.57

$8.07 CHF 6.56

0.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.34 CHF 20.60

$25.89 CHF 21.05

-2.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$29.32 CHF 23.84

$28.96 CHF 23.54

1.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.61 CHF 34.64

$42.89 CHF 34.87

-0.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 CHF 2.82

$3.64 CHF 2.96

-4.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 CHF 1.42

$2.02 CHF 1.64

-13.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 CHF 2.28

$2.39 CHF 1.94

17.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 CHF 3.85

$5.35 CHF 4.35

-11.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 CHF 1.31

$2.00 CHF 1.62

-19.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 CHF 1.78

$2.27 CHF 1.85

-3.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 CHF 1.73

$2.33 CHF 1.89

-8.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CHF 1.41

$1.22 CHF 1.00

41.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.15 CHF 9.06

$11.34 CHF 9.22

-1.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.17 CHF 9.90

$17.57 CHF 14.28

-30.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.43 CHF 2.78

$2.27 CHF 1.85

51.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 CHF 2.85

$2.32 CHF 1.88

51.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.64 CHF 2.96

$4.22 CHF 3.43

-13.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.7 CHF 74.6

$91.0 CHF 74.0

0.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 CHF 6.09

$6.63 CHF 5.39

13.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.06 CHF 3.30

$4.70 CHF 3.82

-13.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.7 CHF 53.4

$81.2 CHF 66.0

-19.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.36 CHF 1.92

$2.33 CHF 1.89

1.29%

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

$39.5K CHF 32.1K

$36.4K CHF 29.6K

8.56%

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

$40.4K CHF 32.9K

$40.9K CHF 33.3K

-1.24%

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

$288 CHF 234

$228 CHF 186

26.12%

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

$38.71 CHF 31.47

$38.84 CHF 31.58

-0.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 CHF 46.33

$56.5 CHF 45.93

0.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.6 CHF 63.9

$79.5 CHF 64.6

-1.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.32 CHF 36.84

$53.5 CHF 43.48

-15.26%

Cinema Ticket

$24.59 CHF 19.99

$24.06 CHF 19.56

2.20%

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

$2,455 CHF 1,996

$2,309 CHF 1,877

6.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.0K CHF 29.2K

$32.3K CHF 26.2K

11.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 113

$146 CHF 118

-4.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.4 CHF 65.3

$66.2 CHF 53.8

21.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$170 CHF 138

$149 CHF 121

13.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$192 CHF 156

$188 CHF 153

1.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,828 CHF 2,299

$1,556 CHF 1,265

81.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 CHF 1,736

$1,342 CHF 1,091

59.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 CHF 3,840

$2,878 CHF 2,340

64.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,738 CHF 3,039

$2,721 CHF 2,212

37.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$22.5K CHF 18.3K

$18.4K CHF 15.0K

22.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.2K CHF 13.2K

$11.5K CHF 9,379

40.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,375 CHF 5,996

$11.6K CHF 9,446

-36.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.98

1.9

4.21%

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

Last update for Geneva: August 30, 2026

Last update for Arbon: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,828 in Geneva versus $1,556 in Arbon. 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 58% higher in Arbon, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $133 in Geneva versus $150 in Arbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $605 vs $605 – making Geneva the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Geneva vs Arbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,177 in Geneva, $3,446 in Arbon – roughly 21% apart. Geneva costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,266 per month in Geneva and $5,170 in Arbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,177 in Geneva and $3,446 in Arbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Arbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,177 in Geneva and $3,446 in Arbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Geneva has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,446 in Arbon to $4,177 in Geneva. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Arbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Geneva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.