Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Montreux Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Montreux

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,060 per month in Geneva vs $4,058 in Montreux, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,383 per month in Geneva vs $5,760 in Montreux, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,707 per month in Geneva vs $7,462 in Montreux, rent included.

Geneva and Montreux have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Geneva and Montreux sit above the global median – Geneva by 203%, Montreux by 203%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$37.68 CHF 29.71

$30.25 CHF 23.85

24.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 CHF 118

$149 CHF 118

0.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.64 CHF 14.69

$18.89 CHF 14.90

-1.32%

Cappuccino

$5.97 CHF 4.71

$6.02 CHF 4.74

-0.83%

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

$5.49 CHF 4.33

$5.59 CHF 4.41

-1.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.92 CHF 3.88

$4.75 CHF 3.74

3.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.13 CHF 7.99

$9.61 CHF 7.58

5.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.54 CHF 6.73

$8.67 CHF 6.84

-1.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.78

$2.23 CHF 1.76

1.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 CHF 3.06

$3.80 CHF 3.00

2.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 CHF 3.50

$4.41 CHF 3.48

0.68%

Eggs

$7.62 CHF 6.00

$7.04 CHF 5.55

8.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.53 CHF 20.92

$29.06 CHF 22.91

-8.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.26 CHF 26.22

$28.44 CHF 22.42

16.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$52.6 CHF 41.45

$43.85 CHF 34.57

19.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 CHF 2.75

$4.01 CHF 3.16

-12.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 CHF 1.99

$2.16 CHF 1.70

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.07 CHF 2.42

$2.89 CHF 2.28

6.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 CHF 4.93

$6.40 CHF 5.05

-2.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 CHF 2.09

$3.17 CHF 2.50

-16.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 CHF 1.83

$2.43 CHF 1.91

-4.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CHF 2.03

$2.52 CHF 1.99

1.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 CHF 1.07

$1.57 CHF 1.24

-13.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.90 CHF 8.59

$10.89 CHF 8.59

0.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.84 CHF 10.13

$14.17 CHF 11.17

-9.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.26 CHF 2.57

$2.03 CHF 1.60

60.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 CHF 2.87

$3.04 CHF 2.39

19.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.60 CHF 2.83

$4.03 CHF 3.18

-10.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.5 CHF 67.4

$89.5 CHF 70.6

-4.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.53 CHF 5.94

$8.08 CHF 6.37

-6.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.64 CHF 2.87

$4.12 CHF 3.25

-11.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.6 CHF 51.7

$66.7 CHF 52.6

-1.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.76

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-1.33%

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

$41.0K CHF 32.3K

$39.8K CHF 31.4K

3.00%

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

$48.7K CHF 38.4K

$42.0K CHF 33.1K

16.19%

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

$262 CHF 207

$308 CHF 243

-15.01%

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

$47.82 CHF 37.70

$50.1 CHF 39.46

-4.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 CHF 49.87

$58.1 CHF 45.81

8.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 CHF 62.7

$80.5 CHF 63.4

-1.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.97 CHF 28.36

$36.99 CHF 29.16

-2.76%

Cinema Ticket

$24.48 CHF 19.30

$22.58 CHF 17.81

8.41%

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

$3,514 CHF 2,770

$2,617 CHF 2,064

34.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.7K CHF 25.8K

$33.8K CHF 26.7K

-3.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 CHF 109

$109 CHF 86.0

26.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.7 CHF 64.4

$68.6 CHF 54.1

19.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$162 CHF 128

$176 CHF 139

-8.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$214 CHF 169

$184 CHF 145

16.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 CHF 1,836

$2,177 CHF 1,717

6.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 CHF 1,615

$2,006 CHF 1,582

2.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,631 CHF 3,651

$3,327 CHF 2,623

39.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,922 CHF 3,092

$2,749 CHF 2,167

42.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.1K CHF 18.2K

$16.7K CHF 13.2K

38.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K CHF 12.9K

$8,808 CHF 6,944

85.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,858 CHF 6,195

$8,425 CHF 6,642

-6.73%

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 Montreux: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,329 in Geneva versus $2,177 in Montreux. 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 7% higher in Montreux. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $150 in Geneva versus $149 in Montreux. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $678 vs $632 – making Montreux 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 Montreux: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,090 per month in Geneva and $6,088 in Montreux. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreux, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Geneva, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $3,514 per month in Geneva and $2,617 in Montreux. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$4,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,060 in Geneva and $4,058 in Montreux. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Montreux – 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 Montreux. 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.