Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Olten Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Olten

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,060 per month in Geneva vs $2,941 in Olten, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,383 per month in Geneva vs $4,458 in Olten, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,707 per month in Geneva vs $5,975 in Olten, rent included.

Geneva costs about 38% more than Olten, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Geneva and Olten sit above the global median – Geneva by 203%, Olten by 119%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$37.68 CHF 29.74

$30.87 CHF 24.36

22.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 CHF 118

$105 CHF 82.9

42.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.64 CHF 14.71

$17.57 CHF 13.86

6.09%

Cappuccino

$5.97 CHF 4.71

$5.47 CHF 4.31

9.14%

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

$5.49 CHF 4.33

$5.34 CHF 4.22

2.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.92 CHF 3.88

$4.62 CHF 3.65

6.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.13 CHF 7.99

$6.88 CHF 5.43

47.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.54 CHF 6.74

$6.29 CHF 4.97

35.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.78

$2.09 CHF 1.65

8.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 CHF 3.06

$3.40 CHF 2.68

14.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 CHF 3.50

$4.12 CHF 3.26

7.77%

Eggs

$7.62 CHF 6.01

$7.54 CHF 5.95

1.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.53 CHF 20.94

$21.64 CHF 17.07

22.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.26 CHF 26.25

$25.89 CHF 20.43

28.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$52.6 CHF 41.49

$40.22 CHF 31.74

30.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 CHF 2.76

$4.04 CHF 3.19

-13.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 CHF 1.99

$2.40 CHF 1.90

5.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.07 CHF 2.42

$2.97 CHF 2.35

3.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 CHF 4.94

$5.05 CHF 3.99

23.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 CHF 2.10

$2.75 CHF 2.17

-3.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 CHF 1.83

$2.37 CHF 1.87

-2.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CHF 2.03

$2.46 CHF 1.94

4.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 CHF 1.07

$1.52 CHF 1.20

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.90 CHF 8.60

$10.95 CHF 8.64

-0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.84 CHF 10.14

$15.42 CHF 12.17

-16.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.26 CHF 2.57

$2.15 CHF 1.70

51.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 CHF 2.87

$2.42 CHF 1.91

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.60 CHF 2.84

$3.93 CHF 3.10

-8.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.5 CHF 67.5

$100 CHF 79.0

-14.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.53 CHF 5.95

$7.53 CHF 5.94

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.64 CHF 2.87

$4.14 CHF 3.27

-12.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.6 CHF 51.7

$61.5 CHF 48.53

6.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.76

$2.28 CHF 1.80

-2.19%

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

$41.0K CHF 32.4K

$40.7K CHF 32.1K

0.89%

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

$48.7K CHF 38.5K

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

23.99%

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

$262 CHF 207

$260 CHF 205

0.68%

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

$47.82 CHF 37.74

$33.65 CHF 26.56

42.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 CHF 49.92

$57.7 CHF 45.54

9.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 CHF 62.8

$61.3 CHF 48.36

29.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.97 CHF 28.39

$18.65 CHF 14.72

92.87%

Cinema Ticket

$24.48 CHF 19.32

$24.88 CHF 19.64

-1.61%

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

$3,514 CHF 2,773

$3,433 CHF 2,709

2.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.7K CHF 25.8K

$39.9K CHF 31.5K

-18.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 CHF 109

$141 CHF 111

-1.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.7 CHF 64.5

$61.2 CHF 48.33

33.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$162 CHF 128

$150 CHF 118

8.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$214 CHF 169

$198 CHF 156

8.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 CHF 1,838

$1,248 CHF 985

86.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 CHF 1,617

$1,063 CHF 839

92.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,631 CHF 3,655

$1,987 CHF 1,568

133.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,922 CHF 3,095

$1,708 CHF 1,348

129.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.1K CHF 18.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K CHF 12.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,858 CHF 6,202

$4,351 CHF 3,433

80.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.46

2.09

17.70%

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

Last update for Geneva: June 1, 2026

Last update for Olten: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,329 in Geneva versus $1,248 in Olten. 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 81% 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 $150 in Geneva versus $105 in Olten. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $678 vs $576 – making Olten 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 Olten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,090 per month in Geneva and $4,411 in Olten. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 18% 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 $150 in Geneva and $105 in Olten. 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 $4,060 in Geneva and $2,941 in Olten. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Olten – 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 Olten. 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.