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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,080 per month in Geneva vs $3,361 in Arbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,404 per month in Geneva vs $5,221 in Arbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,728 per month in Geneva vs $7,082 in Arbon, rent included.

Geneva costs about 21% more than Arbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Geneva and Arbon sit above the global median – Geneva by 205%, Arbon by 152%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$36.40 CHF 29.43

$30.53 CHF 24.68

19.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 CHF 121

$139 CHF 112

7.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.14 CHF 14.67

$17.34 CHF 14.02

4.61%

Cappuccino

$5.76 CHF 4.66

$6.16 CHF 4.98

-6.49%

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

$5.48 CHF 4.43

$5.35 CHF 4.32

2.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 CHF 3.86

$4.35 CHF 3.52

9.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.05 CHF 8.12

$7.72 CHF 6.24

30.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.76 CHF 7.08

$7.19 CHF 5.82

21.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.77

$2.28 CHF 1.84

-3.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 CHF 3.16

$2.57 CHF 2.08

52.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.45 CHF 3.59

$3.63 CHF 2.93

22.59%

Eggs

$7.55 CHF 6.10

$7.91 CHF 6.39

-4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.83 CHF 21.69

$27.75 CHF 22.43

-3.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.39 CHF 26.99

$32.72 CHF 26.46

2.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$52.3 CHF 42.24

$41.18 CHF 33.29

26.88%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 CHF 2.85

$3.19 CHF 2.58

10.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 CHF 2.02

$1.83 CHF 1.48

36.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.09 CHF 2.50

$2.49 CHF 2.02

24.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.36 CHF 5.14

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 CHF 2.13

$2.49 CHF 2.01

6.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 CHF 1.87

$2.38 CHF 1.92

-2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CHF 2.07

$2.58 CHF 2.09

-0.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 CHF 1.07

$1.15 CHF 0.93

15.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.89 CHF 8.81

$10.80 CHF 8.73

0.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.08 CHF 9.76

$11.17 CHF 9.03

8.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.25 CHF 2.63

$2.25 CHF 1.82

44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 CHF 3.04

$2.33 CHF 1.88

60.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.73 CHF 3.02

$3.89 CHF 3.15

-4.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.7 CHF 69.3

$97.0 CHF 78.4

-11.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.40 CHF 5.98

$6.71 CHF 5.42

10.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.54 CHF 2.86

$4.24 CHF 3.43

-16.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.0 CHF 52.5

$78.8 CHF 63.7

-17.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.77

$2.17 CHF 1.76

0.92%

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

$39.8K CHF 32.1K

0.01%

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

$50.2K CHF 40.6K

$42.9K CHF 34.7K

16.95%

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

$261 CHF 211

$251 CHF 203

4.06%

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

$48.55 CHF 39.25

$59.3 CHF 47.97

-18.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.3 CHF 52.0

$54.0 CHF 43.68

19.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.0 CHF 64.7

$89.4 CHF 72.3

-10.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.29 CHF 30.15

Cinema Ticket

$24.25 CHF 19.60

$22.30 CHF 18.03

8.74%

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

$3,487 CHF 2,819

$2,789 CHF 2,255

25.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.3K CHF 26.9K

$42.8K CHF 34.6K

-22.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 113

$137 CHF 111

2.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.9 CHF 65.4

$64.4 CHF 52.1

25.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$165 CHF 134

$131 CHF 106

26.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$215 CHF 174

$161 CHF 130

33.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,358 CHF 1,907

$1,702 CHF 1,376

38.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 CHF 1,655

$1,445 CHF 1,169

41.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,672 CHF 3,778

$2,874 CHF 2,324

62.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,893 CHF 3,148

$2,437 CHF 1,971

59.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$22.1K CHF 17.8K

$14.8K CHF 12.0K

48.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.3K CHF 13.2K

$10.6K CHF 8,587

53.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,277 CHF 5,883

$11.3K CHF 9,150

-35.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.46

2.5

-1.60%

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

Last update for Geneva: July 13, 2026

Last update for Arbon: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,358 in Geneva versus $1,702 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 56% 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 $150 in Geneva versus $139 in Arbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $676 vs $608 – making Arbon 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: $4,080 in Geneva, $3,361 in Arbon – roughly 21% apart. Geneva costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,120 per month in Geneva and $5,041 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 $4,080 in Geneva and $3,361 in Arbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% 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 $4,080 in Geneva and $3,361 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 $3,361 in Arbon to $4,080 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.