Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Schaffhausen Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Schaffhausen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,164 per month in Geneva vs $3,132 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,467 per month in Geneva vs $4,926 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,770 per month in Geneva vs $6,720 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

Geneva costs about 33% more than Schaffhausen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Geneva and Schaffhausen sit above the global median – Geneva by 210%, Schaffhausen by 133%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$36.87 CHF 29.47

$30.39 CHF 24.29

21.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 CHF 116

$124 CHF 99.4

16.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.57 CHF 14.84

$15.82 CHF 12.65

17.38%

Cappuccino

$6.02 CHF 4.81

$5.42 CHF 4.33

11.07%

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

$5.34 CHF 4.27

$5.36 CHF 4.28

-0.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 CHF 3.88

$4.37 CHF 3.49

11.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.58 CHF 7.66

$7.95 CHF 6.36

20.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.36 CHF 6.69

$7.35 CHF 5.88

13.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.77

$1.96 CHF 1.57

12.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.94 CHF 3.15

$3.77 CHF 3.01

4.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 CHF 3.42

$3.61 CHF 2.88

18.56%

Eggs

$7.50 CHF 6.00

$7.87 CHF 6.29

-4.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.37 CHF 21.87

$29.45 CHF 23.54

-7.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.50 CHF 25.98

$35.04 CHF 28.01

-7.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$53.2 CHF 42.50

$51.8 CHF 41.39

2.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 CHF 2.78

$3.68 CHF 2.94

-5.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 CHF 2.04

$2.33 CHF 1.86

9.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 CHF 2.48

$2.94 CHF 2.35

5.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 CHF 4.96

$6.14 CHF 4.91

0.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 CHF 2.10

$2.42 CHF 1.94

8.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 CHF 1.87

$2.49 CHF 1.99

-6.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 CHF 1.98

$2.56 CHF 2.05

-3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 CHF 1.07

$1.28 CHF 1.02

4.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.96 CHF 8.76

$10.97 CHF 8.77

-0.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 CHF 9.95

$12.33 CHF 9.85

0.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 CHF 2.57

$1.37 CHF 1.09

134.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 CHF 3.01

$2.71 CHF 2.16

38.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.81 CHF 3.04

$3.98 CHF 3.18

-4.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.1 CHF 68.8

$87.3 CHF 69.7

-1.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.68 CHF 6.14

$10.15 CHF 8.11

-24.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.64 CHF 2.91

$3.89 CHF 3.11

-6.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$63.9 CHF 51.1

$60.6 CHF 48.41

5.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.28 CHF 1.82

$2.21 CHF 1.76

3.17%

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

$40.8K CHF 32.6K

$40.3K CHF 32.2K

1.15%

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

$49.7K CHF 39.7K

$42.6K CHF 34.1K

16.64%

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

$259 CHF 207

$247 CHF 197

4.88%

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

$48.72 CHF 38.94

$28.92 CHF 23.11

68.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 CHF 49.90

$43.93 CHF 35.11

42.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.4 CHF 64.3

$109 CHF 87.2

-26.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.17 CHF 28.91

$47.61 CHF 38.06

-24.03%

Cinema Ticket

$24.70 CHF 19.75

$22.53 CHF 18.01

9.63%

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

$3,414 CHF 2,728

$3,388 CHF 2,708

0.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.7K CHF 26.1K

$42.4K CHF 33.9K

-23.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 CHF 109

$111 CHF 89.1

22.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.2 CHF 64.1

$66.4 CHF 53.1

20.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 CHF 133

$129 CHF 103

28.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$207 CHF 166

$155 CHF 124

33.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,339 CHF 1,870

$1,216 CHF 972

92.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,018 CHF 1,613

$1,222 CHF 977

65.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,705 CHF 3,760

$2,692 CHF 2,152

74.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,900 CHF 3,117

$2,197 CHF 1,756

77.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.1K CHF 18.5K

$8,390 CHF 6,706

175.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.5K CHF 13.2K

$6,769 CHF 5,410

143.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,654 CHF 6,117

$9,336 CHF 7,463

-18.02%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Schaffhausen: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,339 in Geneva versus $1,216 in Schaffhausen. 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 22% higher in Schaffhausen, 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 $145 in Geneva versus $124 in Schaffhausen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $676 vs $672 – making Schaffhausen 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 Schaffhausen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,245 per month in Geneva and $4,699 in Schaffhausen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $145 in Geneva and $124 in Schaffhausen. 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 $4,164 in Geneva and $3,132 in Schaffhausen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Schaffhausen – 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 Schaffhausen. 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.