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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,097 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $4,177 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,901 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $6,255 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,705 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $8,333 in Geneva, rent included.

La Chaux-de-Fonds is about 26% cheaper than Geneva, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both La Chaux-de-Fonds and Geneva sit above the global median – La Chaux-de-Fonds by 125%, Geneva by 204%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.23 CHF 20.51

$30.77 CHF 25.02

-18.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 CHF 72.0

$133 CHF 108

-33.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.81 CHF 15.30

$18.66 CHF 15.17

0.80%

Cappuccino

$4.74 CHF 3.85

$6.56 CHF 5.33

-27.74%

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

$3.75 CHF 3.05

$4.98 CHF 4.05

-24.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 CHF 3.89

$4.25 CHF 3.46

12.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.31 CHF 5.94

$9.63 CHF 7.83

-24.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 CHF 4.95

$9.97 CHF 8.10

-38.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CHF 1.94

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 CHF 2.55

$3.50 CHF 2.84

-10.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 CHF 2.69

$3.33 CHF 2.71

-0.60%

Eggs

$7.71 CHF 6.27

$8.08 CHF 6.57

-4.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.57 CHF 21.60

$25.34 CHF 20.60

4.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.97 CHF 22.74

$29.32 CHF 23.84

-4.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.27 CHF 35.18

$42.61 CHF 34.64

1.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.79 CHF 3.08

$3.46 CHF 2.82

9.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 CHF 1.93

$1.75 CHF 1.42

35.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 CHF 2.44

$2.80 CHF 2.28

7.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 CHF 3.92

$4.74 CHF 3.85

1.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 CHF 1.21

$1.61 CHF 1.31

-7.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 CHF 1.61

$2.19 CHF 1.78

-9.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.33 CHF 1.89

$2.13 CHF 1.73

9.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 CHF 1.34

$1.73 CHF 1.41

-4.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.04 CHF 8.98

$11.15 CHF 9.06

-0.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.52 CHF 10.18

$12.17 CHF 9.90

2.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 CHF 1.97

$3.43 CHF 2.78

-29.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 CHF 2.52

$3.51 CHF 2.85

-11.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.54 CHF 3.69

$3.64 CHF 2.96

24.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 CHF 83.5

$91.7 CHF 74.6

11.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.24 CHF 6.70

$7.50 CHF 6.09

9.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.68 CHF 3.80

$4.06 CHF 3.30

15.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$88.4 CHF 71.9

$65.7 CHF 53.4

34.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.35 CHF 1.91

$2.36 CHF 1.92

-0.42%

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

$44.5K CHF 36.2K

$39.5K CHF 32.1K

12.84%

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

$40.9K CHF 33.2K

$40.4K CHF 32.9K

1.12%

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

$298 CHF 242

$288 CHF 234

3.62%

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

$52.8 CHF 42.92

$38.71 CHF 31.47

36.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 CHF 53.0

$57.0 CHF 46.33

14.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 CHF 61.6

$78.6 CHF 63.9

-3.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.04 CHF 38.24

$45.32 CHF 36.84

3.80%

Cinema Ticket

$23.70 CHF 19.26

$24.59 CHF 19.99

-3.62%

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

$3,027 CHF 2,461

$2,455 CHF 1,996

23.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.0K CHF 17.0K

$36.0K CHF 29.2K

-41.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$152 CHF 123

$139 CHF 113

9.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.8 CHF 66.5

$80.4 CHF 65.3

1.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$171 CHF 139

$170 CHF 138

0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$206 CHF 168

$192 CHF 156

7.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,480 CHF 1,203

$2,828 CHF 2,299

-47.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 CHF 905

$2,136 CHF 1,736

-47.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,032 CHF 3,278

$4,724 CHF 3,840

-14.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,469 CHF 2,008

$3,738 CHF 3,039

-33.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.7K CHF 13.6K

$22.5K CHF 18.3K

-25.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.6K CHF 10.3K

$16.2K CHF 13.2K

-22.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,145 CHF 4,183

$7,375 CHF 5,996

-30.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.43

1.98

22.73%

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

Last update for La Chaux-de-Fonds: August 30, 2026

Last update for Geneva: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,480 in La Chaux-de-Fonds versus $2,828 in Geneva. 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 43% 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 $89.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds versus $133 in Geneva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $599 vs $605 – making La Chaux-de-Fonds 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

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

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 35%, 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 $4,646 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $6,266 in Geneva. 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.

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 $89.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $133 in Geneva. 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 $3,097 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $4,177 in Geneva. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward La Chaux-de-Fonds – 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 La Chaux-de-Fonds. 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.