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 $3,172 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $3,365 in Fribourg, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,040 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $5,079 in Fribourg, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,909 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $6,793 in Fribourg, rent included.

La Chaux-de-Fonds is about 6% cheaper than Fribourg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both La Chaux-de-Fonds and Fribourg sit above the global median – La Chaux-de-Fonds by 137%, Fribourg by 151%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.32 CHF 19.07

$30.92 CHF 24.24

-21.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.5 CHF 68.6

$124 CHF 97.3

-29.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.72 CHF 14.67

$17.56 CHF 13.77

6.61%

Cappuccino

$4.82 CHF 3.78

$6.09 CHF 4.78

-20.85%

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

$3.64 CHF 2.86

$5.13 CHF 4.02

-29.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 CHF 3.68

$5.36 CHF 4.20

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.34 CHF 5.75

$7.10 CHF 5.57

3.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 CHF 4.73

$7.44 CHF 5.83

-18.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 CHF 1.70

$2.00 CHF 1.57

8.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 CHF 3.12

$3.45 CHF 2.71

15.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 CHF 3.51

$3.38 CHF 2.65

32.54%

Eggs

$7.50 CHF 5.88

$6.80 CHF 5.33

10.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.03 CHF 21.19

$28.47 CHF 22.32

-5.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.08 CHF 25.94

$25.33 CHF 19.86

30.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$53.0 CHF 41.58

$37.89 CHF 29.70

39.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 CHF 2.72

$4.07 CHF 3.19

-14.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 CHF 1.91

$3.14 CHF 2.46

-22.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.09 CHF 2.42

$3.08 CHF 2.41

0.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.17 CHF 4.84

$6.10 CHF 4.78

1.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CHF 2.07

$2.11 CHF 1.65

25.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 CHF 1.92

$2.36 CHF 1.85

3.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CHF 2.04

$2.87 CHF 2.25

-9.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 CHF 1.07

$1.57 CHF 1.23

-13.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.10 CHF 8.70

$10.94 CHF 8.58

1.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 CHF 9.87

$10.95 CHF 8.58

14.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 CHF 1.98

$4.06 CHF 3.19

-37.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 CHF 2.97

$4.86 CHF 3.81

-22.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 CHF 2.37

$3.52 CHF 2.76

-14.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$161 CHF 127

$87.8 CHF 68.8

83.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 CHF 5.88

$7.47 CHF 5.85

0.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.53 CHF 2.76

$3.57 CHF 2.80

-1.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$64.2 CHF 50.3

$74.6 CHF 58.5

-13.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.29 CHF 1.79

$2.23 CHF 1.75

2.69%

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

$39.7K CHF 31.2K

$41.8K CHF 32.8K

-4.90%

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

$49.3K CHF 38.7K

$41.7K CHF 32.7K

18.43%

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

$263 CHF 206

$301 CHF 236

-12.43%

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

$48.25 CHF 37.83

$74.5 CHF 58.4

-35.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 CHF 49.82

$53.8 CHF 42.14

18.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.5 CHF 58.4

$70.3 CHF 55.1

5.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.76 CHF 35.87

Cinema Ticket

$24.58 CHF 19.27

$21.01 CHF 16.47

16.99%

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

$3,073 CHF 2,409

$1,876 CHF 1,471

63.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K CHF 16.1K

$37.7K CHF 29.5K

-45.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 109

$101 CHF 79.0

38.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.9 CHF 61.9

$83.2 CHF 65.2

-5.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$161 CHF 126

$150 CHF 118

7.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$209 CHF 164

$216 CHF 169

-3.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,449 CHF 1,136

$1,629 CHF 1,277

-11.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,102 CHF 864

$1,326 CHF 1,039

-16.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,991 CHF 3,129

$2,718 CHF 2,131

46.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,438 CHF 1,911

$2,161 CHF 1,694

12.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.1K CHF 11.8K

$8,331 CHF 6,532

80.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,461 CHF 7,418

$5,195 CHF 4,073

82.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,374 CHF 4,213

$7,154 CHF 5,609

-24.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.46

2.63

-6.46%

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

Last update for La Chaux-de-Fonds: April 20, 2026

Last update for Fribourg: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,449 in La Chaux-de-Fonds versus $1,629 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 33% 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 $87 in La Chaux-de-Fonds versus $124 in Fribourg. Groceries tell a different story – $675 in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $596 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 6% more than La Chaux-de-Fonds, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,758 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $5,048 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 $3,073 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $1,876 in Fribourg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% 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 $3,172 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $3,365 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 $3,172 versus $3,365 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.