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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,202 per month in Geneva vs $3,063 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,374 per month in Geneva vs $4,852 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,546 per month in Geneva vs $6,641 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

Geneva costs about 37% more than La Chaux-de-Fonds, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Geneva and La Chaux-de-Fonds sit above the global median – Geneva by 205%, La Chaux-de-Fonds by 122%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.87 CHF 25.21

$24.87 CHF 20.31

24.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$136 CHF 111

$85.2 CHF 69.6

59.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.85 CHF 15.39

$18.84 CHF 15.39

0.05%

Cappuccino

$6.65 CHF 5.43

$4.72 CHF 3.86

40.89%

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

$5.00 CHF 4.09

$3.74 CHF 3.06

33.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 CHF 3.41

$4.73 CHF 3.87

-11.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.02 CHF 8.18

$7.39 CHF 6.04

35.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.77 CHF 7.98

$6.05 CHF 4.94

61.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 CHF 1.94

$2.26 CHF 1.85

5.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 CHF 2.85

$3.21 CHF 2.62

8.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CHF 2.66

Eggs

$8.25 CHF 6.74

$7.97 CHF 6.51

3.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 CHF 20.64

$26.29 CHF 21.47

-3.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$30.09 CHF 24.57

$27.42 CHF 22.39

9.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.71 CHF 35.70

$42.24 CHF 34.50

3.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.59 CHF 2.93

$3.58 CHF 2.92

0.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CHF 1.37

$2.32 CHF 1.89

-27.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 CHF 2.23

$3.02 CHF 2.47

-9.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 CHF 3.93

$4.82 CHF 3.93

-0.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 CHF 1.29

$1.76 CHF 1.44

-9.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 CHF 1.74

$2.03 CHF 1.66

4.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 CHF 1.71

$2.30 CHF 1.88

-8.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 CHF 1.39

$1.65 CHF 1.34

3.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.27 CHF 9.20

$11.24 CHF 9.18

0.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 CHF 9.95

$12.13 CHF 9.90

0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.27 CHF 2.67

$2.49 CHF 2.03

31.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 CHF 2.92

$3.04 CHF 2.48

17.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.69 CHF 3.01

$4.40 CHF 3.59

-16.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$90.8 CHF 74.2

$100.0 CHF 81.6

-9.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.83 CHF 6.40

$8.14 CHF 6.64

-3.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.91 CHF 3.19

$4.80 CHF 3.92

-18.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.7 CHF 53.7

$86.9 CHF 71.0

-24.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.38 CHF 1.95

$2.26 CHF 1.85

5.31%

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

$39.1K CHF 32.0K

$44.7K CHF 36.5K

-12.41%

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

$40.1K CHF 32.8K

$40.3K CHF 32.9K

-0.44%

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

$287 CHF 234

$298 CHF 244

-3.94%

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

$39.09 CHF 31.92

$54.2 CHF 44.25

-27.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CHF 47.42

$66.1 CHF 54.0

-12.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.3 CHF 62.3

$76.4 CHF 62.4

-0.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.89 CHF 38.29

$44.09 CHF 36.00

6.35%

Cinema Ticket

$24.65 CHF 20.13

$23.35 CHF 19.07

5.57%

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

$2,449 CHF 2,000

$2,984 CHF 2,437

-17.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.8K CHF 30.0K

$20.6K CHF 16.8K

78.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 CHF 111

$146 CHF 119

-6.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.8 CHF 66.8

$80.7 CHF 65.9

1.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$169 CHF 138

$166 CHF 136

1.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$189 CHF 154

$204 CHF 167

-7.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,843 CHF 2,321

$1,483 CHF 1,211

91.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,143 CHF 1,750

$1,105 CHF 902

93.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,690 CHF 3,830

$4,017 CHF 3,280

16.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,651 CHF 2,981

$2,413 CHF 1,970

51.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$22.5K CHF 18.4K

$17.0K CHF 13.9K

31.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.0K CHF 13.0K

$11.5K CHF 9,350

39.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,229 CHF 5,903

$5,259 CHF 4,294

37.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.98

2.43

-18.52%

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

Last update for Geneva: September 6, 2026

Last update for La Chaux-de-Fonds: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,843 in Geneva versus $1,483 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 Geneva, 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 $136 in Geneva versus $85.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $611 vs $591 – making La Chaux-de-Fonds 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 La Chaux-de-Fonds: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,303 per month in Geneva and $4,595 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.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Geneva, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $136 in Geneva and $85.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,202 in Geneva and $3,063 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward La Chaux-de-Fonds – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Geneva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.