Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Solothurn Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Solothurn

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,177 per month in Geneva vs $2,863 in Solothurn, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,255 per month in Geneva vs $4,556 in Solothurn, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,333 per month in Geneva vs $6,248 in Solothurn, rent included.

Geneva costs about 46% more than Solothurn, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Geneva and Solothurn sit above the global median – Geneva by 204%, Solothurn by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.77 CHF 24.89

$31.05 CHF 25.12

-0.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$133 CHF 108

$149 CHF 121

-10.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.66 CHF 15.09

$18.21 CHF 14.73

2.47%

Cappuccino

$6.56 CHF 5.31

$6.67 CHF 5.40

-1.65%

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

$4.98 CHF 4.03

$5.64 CHF 4.56

-11.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 CHF 3.44

$5.54 CHF 4.48

-23.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.63 CHF 7.79

$6.87 CHF 5.56

40.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.97 CHF 8.06

$6.07 CHF 4.91

64.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CHF 1.93

$2.24 CHF 1.81

6.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 CHF 2.83

$3.93 CHF 3.18

-10.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 CHF 2.69

$3.62 CHF 2.93

-8.01%

Eggs

$8.08 CHF 6.54

$8.64 CHF 6.99

-6.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.34 CHF 20.50

$23.03 CHF 18.63

10.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$29.32 CHF 23.72

$26.95 CHF 21.80

8.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.61 CHF 34.47

$60.8 CHF 49.20

-29.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 CHF 2.80

$2.99 CHF 2.42

15.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 CHF 1.42

$1.46 CHF 1.18

19.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 CHF 2.27

$3.45 CHF 2.79

-18.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 CHF 3.83

$4.22 CHF 3.41

12.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 CHF 1.31

$1.63 CHF 1.32

-1.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 CHF 1.77

$1.86 CHF 1.51

17.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 CHF 1.72

$1.64 CHF 1.33

29.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CHF 1.40

$0.99 CHF 0.80

74.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.15 CHF 9.02

$11.14 CHF 9.02

0.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.17 CHF 9.85

$13.73 CHF 11.11

-11.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.43 CHF 2.77

$2.84 CHF 2.30

20.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 CHF 2.84

$3.21 CHF 2.60

9.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.64 CHF 2.95

$4.89 CHF 3.96

-25.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.7 CHF 74.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 CHF 6.06

$8.11 CHF 6.56

-7.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.06 CHF 3.29

$4.80 CHF 3.88

-15.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.7 CHF 53.2

$90.1 CHF 72.9

-27.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.36 CHF 1.91

$2.27 CHF 1.84

3.96%

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

$39.5K CHF 31.9K

$31.0K CHF 25.1K

27.49%

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

$40.4K CHF 32.7K

$35.8K CHF 29.0K

12.83%

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

$288 CHF 233

$98.5 CHF 79.7

192.35%

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

$38.71 CHF 31.31

$31.23 CHF 25.26

23.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 CHF 46.10

$58.0 CHF 46.96

-1.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.6 CHF 63.6

$92.1 CHF 74.5

-14.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.32 CHF 36.66

$16.96 CHF 13.72

167.22%

Cinema Ticket

$24.59 CHF 19.89

$18.50 CHF 14.97

32.92%

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

$2,455 CHF 1,986

$3,686 CHF 2,982

-33.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.0K CHF 29.1K

$20.1K CHF 16.2K

79.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 112

$148 CHF 120

-6.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.4 CHF 65.0

$42.58 CHF 34.45

88.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$170 CHF 137

$168 CHF 136

1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$192 CHF 155

$258 CHF 209

-25.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,828 CHF 2,288

$1,197 CHF 968

136.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 CHF 1,728

$1,072 CHF 867

99.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 CHF 3,822

$1,886 CHF 1,526

150.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,738 CHF 3,024

$1,796 CHF 1,453

108.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$22.5K CHF 18.2K

$10.0K CHF 8,130

124.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.2K CHF 13.1K

$4,885 CHF 3,952

231.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,375 CHF 5,967

$7,084 CHF 5,731

4.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.98

2.07

-4.35%

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

Last update for Geneva: August 30, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,828 in Geneva versus $1,197 in Solothurn. 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 4% 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 $133 in Geneva versus $149 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $605 vs $631 – making Geneva 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 Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,266 per month in Geneva and $4,295 in Solothurn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,177 in Geneva and $2,863 in Solothurn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,455 per month in Geneva and $3,686 in Solothurn. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,177 in Geneva and $2,863 in Solothurn. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Solothurn – 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 Solothurn. 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.