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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,121 per month in Geneva vs $3,525 in Montreux, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,298 per month in Geneva vs $5,306 in Montreux, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,476 per month in Geneva vs $7,088 in Montreux, rent included.

Geneva costs about 17% more than Montreux, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Geneva and Montreux sit above the global median – Geneva by 201%, Montreux by 158%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.82 CHF 25.44

$31.18 CHF 25.74

-1.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$133 CHF 110

$135 CHF 112

-1.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.06 CHF 14.91

$18.32 CHF 15.12

-1.42%

Cappuccino

$6.51 CHF 5.37

$6.24 CHF 5.15

4.33%

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

$5.07 CHF 4.19

$5.22 CHF 4.31

-2.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 CHF 3.55

$4.28 CHF 3.54

0.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.69 CHF 8.00

$10.09 CHF 8.33

-3.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.53 CHF 7.87

$9.86 CHF 8.14

-3.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.40 CHF 1.98

$2.26 CHF 1.86

6.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 CHF 2.84

$3.60 CHF 2.97

-4.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 CHF 2.75

$3.25 CHF 2.69

2.46%

Eggs

$7.86 CHF 6.49

$7.14 CHF 5.89

10.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.58 CHF 21.12

$25.65 CHF 21.17

-0.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$28.71 CHF 23.70

$27.97 CHF 23.09

2.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.27 CHF 34.89

$40.15 CHF 33.14

5.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 CHF 2.94

$3.73 CHF 3.08

-4.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CHF 1.39

$1.71 CHF 1.41

-1.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 CHF 2.29

$2.50 CHF 2.06

10.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 CHF 4.00

$4.51 CHF 3.72

7.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 CHF 1.30

$1.91 CHF 1.57

-17.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 CHF 1.77

$2.07 CHF 1.71

3.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 CHF 1.80

$2.10 CHF 1.73

3.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CHF 1.34

$1.77 CHF 1.46

-8.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.13 CHF 9.19

$11.28 CHF 9.31

-1.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.07 CHF 9.96

$12.30 CHF 10.15

-1.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 CHF 2.72

$2.73 CHF 2.25

20.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 CHF 2.91

$3.36 CHF 2.77

4.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.70 CHF 3.05

$4.46 CHF 3.68

-17.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.9 CHF 75.9

$100 CHF 82.9

-8.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.72 CHF 6.37

$7.86 CHF 6.48

-1.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.02 CHF 3.32

$3.84 CHF 3.17

4.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.0 CHF 53.6

$64.4 CHF 53.2

0.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.33 CHF 1.92

$2.37 CHF 1.95

-1.69%

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

$39.2K CHF 32.4K

$39.5K CHF 32.6K

-0.73%

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

$40.3K CHF 33.2K

$40.9K CHF 33.7K

-1.56%

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

$288 CHF 238

$294 CHF 242

-1.97%

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

$37.66 CHF 31.08

$37.71 CHF 31.13

-0.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 CHF 48.10

$51.6 CHF 42.60

12.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 CHF 62.1

$90.9 CHF 75.0

-17.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.11 CHF 37.23

$46.17 CHF 38.11

-2.30%

Cinema Ticket

$24.37 CHF 20.12

$24.22 CHF 19.99

0.62%

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

$2,401 CHF 1,982

$2,433 CHF 2,008

-1.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.2K CHF 29.9K

$36.4K CHF 30.0K

-0.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 CHF 114

$141 CHF 116

-2.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.9 CHF 66.8

$80.1 CHF 66.1

0.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 CHF 137

-0.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$187 CHF 155

$192 CHF 158

-2.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,833 CHF 2,338

$1,771 CHF 1,462

59.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,110 CHF 1,742

$1,481 CHF 1,222

42.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,745 CHF 3,916

$2,938 CHF 2,425

61.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,727 CHF 3,076

$2,555 CHF 2,109

45.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$22.5K CHF 18.6K

$16.2K CHF 13.3K

39.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.1K CHF 13.3K

$12.3K CHF 10.2K

30.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,207 CHF 5,948

$8,061 CHF 6,653

-10.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.98

1.95

1.54%

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

Last update for Geneva: September 12, 2026

Last update for Montreux: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,833 in Geneva versus $1,771 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 12% higher in Montreux, 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 $133 in Geneva versus $135 in Montreux. Groceries tell a different story – $598 in Geneva vs $583 in Montreux – so Montreux wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,181 per month in Geneva and $5,288 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 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 $133 in Geneva and $135 in Montreux. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,121 in Geneva and $3,525 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.