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

😐 Solo nomad: Geneva is 7.4% more expensive than Lugano without rent, and 32.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Geneva is 1.2% cheaper than Lugano without rent, and 16% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$36.83 CHF 28.76
$30.57 CHF 23.87
20.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$147 CHF 115
$182 CHF 142
-19.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.65 CHF 14.56
$18.24 CHF 14.25
2.25%
Cappuccino
$5.79 CHF 4.52
$4.32 CHF 3.37
34.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32 CHF 4.16
$4.91 CHF 3.84
8.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05 CHF 3.94
$4.17 CHF 3.26
21.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.90 CHF 7.73
$7.35 CHF 5.74
34.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.53 CHF 6.66
$7.55 CHF 5.90
12.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 CHF 1.78
$2.26 CHF 1.77
0.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.85 CHF 3.01
$3.50 CHF 2.73
10.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.28 CHF 3.34
$4.67 CHF 3.65
-8.35%
Eggs
$7.30 CHF 5.70
$6.72 CHF 5.25
8.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.66 CHF 20.82
$27.22 CHF 21.26
-2.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$33.69 CHF 26.31
$36.30 CHF 28.35
-7.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$53.3 CHF 41.60
$47.81 CHF 37.34
11.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.58 CHF 2.80
$3.06 CHF 2.39
16.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 CHF 1.99
$1.99 CHF 1.55
28.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.07 CHF 2.39
$2.50 CHF 1.96
22.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.19 CHF 4.83
$7.54 CHF 5.89
-17.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 CHF 2.09
$2.17 CHF 1.69
23.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 CHF 1.81
$2.35 CHF 1.83
-1.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 CHF 1.95
$2.62 CHF 2.05
-4.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 CHF 1.05
$1.30 CHF 1.02
3.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.96 CHF 8.56
$10.87 CHF 8.49
0.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.61 CHF 9.85
$12.95 CHF 10.11
-2.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.34 CHF 2.61
$2.69 CHF 2.10
24.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 CHF 2.81
$4.21 CHF 3.29
-14.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.75 CHF 2.93
$3.15 CHF 2.46
19.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.7 CHF 66.2
$87.8 CHF 68.6
-3.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 CHF 6.01
$6.84 CHF 5.34
12.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.49 CHF 2.73
$4.48 CHF 3.50
-22.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.4 CHF 49.54
$62.4 CHF 48.77
1.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 CHF 1.78
$2.15 CHF 1.68
6.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6K CHF 31.7K
$40.9K CHF 31.9K
-0.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.6K CHF 38.0K
$37.4K CHF 29.2K
29.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$262 CHF 205
$206 CHF 161
27.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.85 CHF 37.37
$73.8 CHF 57.6
-35.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.9 CHF 49.15
$53.5 CHF 41.76
17.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.5 CHF 62.1
$108 CHF 84.3
-26.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.19 CHF 28.27
$62.8 CHF 49.02
-42.34%
Cinema Ticket
$24.29 CHF 18.97
$18.11 CHF 14.14
34.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,495 CHF 2,730
$1,251 CHF 977
179.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.8K CHF 25.7K
$35.2K CHF 27.5K
-6.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140 CHF 109
$124 CHF 96.9
12.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.1 CHF 62.6
$46.81 CHF 36.56
71.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$165 CHF 129
$136 CHF 106
21.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$213 CHF 166
$154 CHF 120
38.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,365 CHF 1,847
$1,702 CHF 1,329
38.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,006 CHF 1,566
$1,248 CHF 975
60.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,668 CHF 3,646
$2,849 CHF 2,225
63.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,833 CHF 2,994
$2,589 CHF 2,022
48.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.2K CHF 18.1K
$17.8K CHF 13.9K
30.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.9K CHF 14.0K
$13.3K CHF 10.4K
33.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Geneva
Lugano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,828 CHF 6,113
$6,979 CHF 5,451
12.16%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Lugano: April 12, 2026

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

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