Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Lugano Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Lugano

😐 Solo nomad: Geneva is 6% more expensive than Lugano without rent, and 33.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Geneva is 1.1% more expensive than Lugano without rent, and 16.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$36.38 CHF 29.58
$30.54 CHF 24.83
19.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$148 CHF 120
$184 CHF 149
-19.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.35 CHF 14.92
$18.53 CHF 15.07
-0.97%
Cappuccino
$5.89 CHF 4.79
$4.24 CHF 3.45
38.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25 CHF 4.27
$4.7 CHF 3.82
11.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81 CHF 3.91
$4.06 CHF 3.3
18.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.99 CHF 8.12
$7.18 CHF 5.84
39.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.76 CHF 7.12
$7.59 CHF 6.17
15.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 CHF 1.84
$2.26 CHF 1.84
0.44%
White Bread (500g)
$3.88 CHF 3.16
$3.51 CHF 2.86
10.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.51 CHF 3.67
$4.72 CHF 3.84
-4.45%
Eggs
$7.31 CHF 5.94
$6.69 CHF 5.44
9.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.1 CHF 22.03
$27.42 CHF 22.29
-1.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$33.27 CHF 27.05
$37.36 CHF 30.38
-10.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$53.3 CHF 43.31
$47.43 CHF 38.56
12.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 CHF 2.89
$3.23 CHF 2.63
9.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 CHF 2.04
$2.02 CHF 1.64
24.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.06 CHF 2.49
$2.51 CHF 2.04
21.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.18 CHF 5.02
$7.37 CHF 6
-16.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.6 CHF 2.12
$2.19 CHF 1.78
18.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.4 CHF 1.95
$2.26 CHF 1.84
6.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.6 CHF 2.11
$2.56 CHF 2.08
1.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 CHF 1.08
$1.3 CHF 1.05
2.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.03 CHF 8.97
$10.78 CHF 8.76
2.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.66 CHF 10.3
$10.91 CHF 8.87
16.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33 CHF 2.7
$2.66 CHF 2.16
25.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 CHF 2.96
$4.19 CHF 3.4
-13.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.74 CHF 3.04
$3.26 CHF 2.65
14.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.8 CHF 69.8
$86.8 CHF 70.5
-1.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.43 CHF 6.04
$6.6 CHF 5.37
12.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.47 CHF 2.82
$4.47 CHF 3.64
-22.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$64.9 CHF 52.8
$60.9 CHF 49.49
6.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 CHF 1.82
$2.21 CHF 1.8
0.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2K CHF 33.5K
$39.8K CHF 32.3K
3.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$50K CHF 40.6K
$37.9K CHF 30.8K
31.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$262 CHF 213
$203 CHF 165
29.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.1 CHF 39.11
$73.2 CHF 59.5
-34.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.8 CHF 51.1
$55.1 CHF 44.78
14.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.8 CHF 65.7
$111 CHF 90
-27.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.22 CHF 29.45
$62 CHF 50.4
-41.54%
Cinema Ticket
$24.26 CHF 19.73
$18.76 CHF 15.25
29.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,390 CHF 2,757
$1,245 CHF 1,012
172.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.1K CHF 26.9K
$35.5K CHF 28.8K
-6.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$136 CHF 110
$126 CHF 103
7.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.7 CHF 65.7
$47.68 CHF 38.77
69.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$165 CHF 134
$133 CHF 108
24.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$209 CHF 170
$151 CHF 123
38.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,305 CHF 1,874
$1,648 CHF 1,340
39.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 CHF 1,666
$1,256 CHF 1,021
63.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,711 CHF 3,831
$2,885 CHF 2,345
63.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,814 CHF 3,101
$2,649 CHF 2,154
43.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$22.7K CHF 18.5K
$17.6K CHF 14.3K
29.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.9K CHF 14.5K
$18.8K CHF 15.3K
-4.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,798 CHF 6,341
$7,350 CHF 5,976
6.10%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lugano: October 28, 2025

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