Cost of Living Comparison Between La Chaux-de-Fonds and Fribourg Cost of Living Comparison Between La Chaux-de-Fonds and Fribourg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,063 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $3,440 in Fribourg, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,852 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $5,093 in Fribourg, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,641 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $6,746 in Fribourg, rent included.

La Chaux-de-Fonds is about 11% cheaper than Fribourg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both La Chaux-de-Fonds and Fribourg sit above the global median – La Chaux-de-Fonds by 122%, Fribourg by 149%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.87 CHF 20.30

$30.87 CHF 25.20

-19.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 CHF 69.5

$125 CHF 102

-31.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.84 CHF 15.38

$16.27 CHF 13.28

15.80%

Cappuccino

$4.72 CHF 3.85

$6.34 CHF 5.18

-25.55%

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

$3.74 CHF 3.05

$5.21 CHF 4.25

-28.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 CHF 3.86

$5.27 CHF 4.30

-10.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.39 CHF 6.03

$7.54 CHF 6.16

-1.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.05 CHF 4.94

$7.00 CHF 5.71

-13.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.85

$2.28 CHF 1.86

-0.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CHF 2.62

$3.39 CHF 2.77

-5.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CHF 2.66

$3.47 CHF 2.83

-6.05%

Eggs

$7.97 CHF 6.51

$7.36 CHF 6.01

8.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.29 CHF 21.46

$24.61 CHF 20.08

6.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.42 CHF 22.38

$25.80 CHF 21.05

6.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.24 CHF 34.48

$38.08 CHF 31.07

10.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 CHF 2.92

$3.45 CHF 2.81

3.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 CHF 1.89

$1.73 CHF 1.41

34.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 CHF 2.46

$2.59 CHF 2.11

16.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 CHF 3.93

$4.49 CHF 3.66

7.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 CHF 1.44

$1.75 CHF 1.43

0.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 CHF 1.66

$2.06 CHF 1.68

-1.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 CHF 1.88

$2.23 CHF 1.82

3.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 CHF 1.34

$1.21 CHF 0.99

36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.24 CHF 9.17

$10.95 CHF 8.93

2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.13 CHF 9.90

$10.62 CHF 8.67

14.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 CHF 2.03

$3.57 CHF 2.92

-30.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 CHF 2.48

$2.48 CHF 2.03

22.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.40 CHF 3.59

$3.51 CHF 2.87

25.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100.0 CHF 81.6

$87.7 CHF 71.6

14.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 CHF 6.64

$9.97 CHF 8.13

-18.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.80 CHF 3.91

$3.98 CHF 3.25

20.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.9 CHF 70.9

$75.1 CHF 61.3

15.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.85

$2.20 CHF 1.80

2.73%

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

$44.7K CHF 36.5K

$43.8K CHF 35.7K

2.07%

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

$40.3K CHF 32.9K

$40.8K CHF 33.3K

-1.09%

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

$298 CHF 244

$350 CHF 286

-14.74%

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

$54.2 CHF 44.22

$42.57 CHF 34.74

27.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 CHF 53.9

$59.2 CHF 48.29

11.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.4 CHF 62.3

$62.7 CHF 51.2

21.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.09 CHF 35.98

$30.56 CHF 24.94

44.27%

Cinema Ticket

$23.35 CHF 19.05

$21.46 CHF 17.51

8.81%

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

$2,984 CHF 2,436

$1,860 CHF 1,518

60.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K CHF 16.8K

$37.7K CHF 30.8K

-45.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$146 CHF 119

$104 CHF 85.0

40.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.7 CHF 65.9

$57.9 CHF 47.24

39.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 CHF 135

0.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$204 CHF 167

$194 CHF 158

5.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,483 CHF 1,211

$1,590 CHF 1,298

-6.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,105 CHF 902

$1,477 CHF 1,205

-25.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,017 CHF 3,278

$2,497 CHF 2,038

60.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,413 CHF 1,969

$2,210 CHF 1,803

9.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.0K CHF 13.9K

$21.1K CHF 17.2K

-19.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K CHF 9,345

$13.7K CHF 11.2K

-16.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,259 CHF 4,292

$7,118 CHF 5,809

-26.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.43

2.31

5.19%

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

Last update for La Chaux-de-Fonds: September 5, 2026

Last update for Fribourg: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,483 in La Chaux-de-Fonds versus $1,590 in Fribourg. 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 35% higher in Fribourg, 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 $85.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds versus $125 in Fribourg. Groceries tell a different story – $591 in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $554 in Fribourg – so Fribourg 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

La Chaux-de-Fonds vs Fribourg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fribourg costs about 12% more than La Chaux-de-Fonds, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,595 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $5,161 in Fribourg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,984 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $1,860 in Fribourg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Fribourg – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,063 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $3,440 in Fribourg. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. La Chaux-de-Fonds costs $3,063 versus $3,440 in Fribourg. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 La Chaux-de-Fonds. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fribourg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.