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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,060 per month in Geneva vs $3,362 in Arbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,383 per month in Geneva vs $5,166 in Arbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,707 per month in Geneva vs $6,970 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 203%, Arbon by 151%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$37.68 CHF 29.71

$30.71 CHF 24.21

22.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 CHF 118

$140 CHF 110

7.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.64 CHF 14.69

$17.11 CHF 13.49

8.94%

Cappuccino

$5.97 CHF 4.71

$6.33 CHF 4.99

-5.69%

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

$5.49 CHF 4.33

$5.27 CHF 4.15

4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.92 CHF 3.88

$4.33 CHF 3.41

13.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.13 CHF 7.99

$7.71 CHF 6.08

31.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.54 CHF 6.73

$7.51 CHF 5.92

13.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.78

$2.17 CHF 1.71

4.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 CHF 3.06

$2.66 CHF 2.10

45.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 CHF 3.50

$3.64 CHF 2.87

21.98%

Eggs

$7.62 CHF 6.00

$7.87 CHF 6.20

-3.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.53 CHF 20.92

$27.41 CHF 21.61

-3.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.26 CHF 26.22

$31.88 CHF 25.14

4.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$52.6 CHF 41.45

$40.41 CHF 31.86

30.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 CHF 2.75

$3.14 CHF 2.47

11.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 CHF 1.99

$1.84 CHF 1.45

36.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.07 CHF 2.42

$2.55 CHF 2.01

20.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 CHF 4.93

$6.51 CHF 5.14

-3.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 CHF 2.09

$2.50 CHF 1.97

6.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 CHF 1.83

$2.28 CHF 1.80

1.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CHF 2.03

$2.55 CHF 2.01

0.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 CHF 1.07

$1.15 CHF 0.90

18.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.90 CHF 8.59

$10.80 CHF 8.51

0.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.84 CHF 10.13

$11.87 CHF 9.36

8.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.26 CHF 2.57

$2.25 CHF 1.77

44.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 CHF 2.87

$2.29 CHF 1.81

58.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.60 CHF 2.83

$3.90 CHF 3.07

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.5 CHF 67.4

$100 CHF 79.2

-14.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.53 CHF 5.94

$6.74 CHF 5.32

11.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.64 CHF 2.87

$4.26 CHF 3.36

-14.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.6 CHF 51.7

$80.5 CHF 63.5

-18.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.76

$2.11 CHF 1.66

5.69%

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

$41.0K CHF 32.3K

$40.5K CHF 31.9K

1.41%

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

$48.7K CHF 38.4K

$43.1K CHF 34.0K

13.16%

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

$262 CHF 207

$248 CHF 196

5.41%

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

$47.82 CHF 37.70

$59.2 CHF 46.67

-19.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 CHF 49.87

$53.7 CHF 42.31

17.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 CHF 62.7

$87.6 CHF 69.1

-9.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.97 CHF 28.36

Cinema Ticket

$24.48 CHF 19.30

$22.44 CHF 17.69

9.09%

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

$3,514 CHF 2,770

$2,843 CHF 2,242

23.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.7K CHF 25.8K

$43.5K CHF 34.3K

-24.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 CHF 109

$140 CHF 111

-1.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.7 CHF 64.4

$65.8 CHF 51.9

24.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$162 CHF 128

$133 CHF 105

21.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$214 CHF 169

$162 CHF 127

32.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 CHF 1,836

$1,683 CHF 1,327

38.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 CHF 1,615

$1,492 CHF 1,176

37.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,631 CHF 3,651

$2,865 CHF 2,259

61.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,922 CHF 3,092

$2,423 CHF 1,910

61.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.1K CHF 18.2K

$14.2K CHF 11.2K

62.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K CHF 12.9K

$11.6K CHF 9,140

41.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,858 CHF 6,195

$11.4K CHF 8,986

-31.05%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Arbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,329 in Geneva versus $1,683 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 45% 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 $140 in Arbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $678 vs $602 – 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: $4,060 in Geneva, $3,362 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 $6,090 per month in Geneva and $5,043 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 $4,060 in Geneva and $3,362 in Arbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 17% 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 $4,060 in Geneva and $3,362 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 $3,362 in Arbon to $4,060 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.