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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,172 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $3,151 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,040 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $4,931 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,909 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $6,712 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

La Chaux-de-Fonds costs about 1% more than Schaffhausen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both La Chaux-de-Fonds and Schaffhausen sit above the global median – La Chaux-de-Fonds by 137%, Schaffhausen by 135%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.32 CHF 19.07

$31.31 CHF 24.55

-22.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.5 CHF 68.6

$125 CHF 98.1

-30.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.72 CHF 14.67

$15.86 CHF 12.43

18.03%

Cappuccino

$4.82 CHF 3.78

$5.43 CHF 4.26

-11.23%

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

$3.64 CHF 2.86

$5.42 CHF 4.25

-32.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 CHF 3.68

$4.42 CHF 3.47

6.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.34 CHF 5.75

$8.20 CHF 6.43

-10.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 CHF 4.73

$7.59 CHF 5.95

-20.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 CHF 1.70

$1.90 CHF 1.49

14.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 CHF 3.12

$3.79 CHF 2.97

5.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 CHF 3.51

$3.55 CHF 2.79

26.20%

Eggs

$7.50 CHF 5.88

$7.66 CHF 6.01

-2.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.03 CHF 21.19

$29.66 CHF 23.25

-8.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.08 CHF 25.94

$35.28 CHF 27.66

-6.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$53.0 CHF 41.58

$51.8 CHF 40.59

2.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 CHF 2.72

$3.77 CHF 2.95

-7.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 CHF 1.91

$2.24 CHF 1.76

8.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.09 CHF 2.42

$2.87 CHF 2.25

7.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.17 CHF 4.84

$6.02 CHF 4.72

2.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CHF 2.07

$2.46 CHF 1.93

7.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 CHF 1.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CHF 2.04

$2.67 CHF 2.10

-2.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 CHF 1.07

$1.28 CHF 1.01

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.10 CHF 8.70

$11.29 CHF 8.85

-1.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 CHF 9.87

$13.90 CHF 10.90

-9.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 CHF 1.98

$1.36 CHF 1.07

86.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 CHF 2.97

$2.75 CHF 2.15

37.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 CHF 2.37

$3.79 CHF 2.97

-20.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$161 CHF 127

$85.1 CHF 66.7

89.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 CHF 5.88

$10.08 CHF 7.91

-25.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.53 CHF 2.76

$4.11 CHF 3.22

-14.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$64.2 CHF 50.3

$62.3 CHF 48.83

3.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.29 CHF 1.79

$2.15 CHF 1.69

6.51%

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

$39.7K CHF 31.2K

$40.9K CHF 32.0K

-2.71%

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

$49.3K CHF 38.7K

$42.5K CHF 33.3K

16.12%

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

$263 CHF 206

$242 CHF 190

8.59%

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

$48.25 CHF 37.83

$28.69 CHF 22.49

68.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 CHF 49.82

$43.53 CHF 34.13

45.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.5 CHF 58.4

$109 CHF 85.7

-31.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.51 CHF 37.25

Cinema Ticket

$24.58 CHF 19.27

$22.50 CHF 17.64

9.24%

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

$3,073 CHF 2,409

$3,325 CHF 2,607

-7.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K CHF 16.1K

$43.6K CHF 34.1K

-52.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 109

$112 CHF 87.9

23.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.9 CHF 61.9

$68.3 CHF 53.5

15.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$161 CHF 126

$130 CHF 102

24.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$209 CHF 164

$158 CHF 124

32.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,449 CHF 1,136

$1,214 CHF 952

19.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,102 CHF 864

$1,221 CHF 957

-9.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,991 CHF 3,129

$2,754 CHF 2,159

44.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,438 CHF 1,911

$2,163 CHF 1,696

12.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.1K CHF 11.8K

$8,567 CHF 6,717

75.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,461 CHF 7,418

$6,910 CHF 5,417

36.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,374 CHF 4,213

$9,437 CHF 7,398

-43.06%

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 La Chaux-de-Fonds: April 20, 2026

Last update for Schaffhausen: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,449 in La Chaux-de-Fonds versus $1,214 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 76% 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 $87 in La Chaux-de-Fonds versus $125 in Schaffhausen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $675 vs $675 – 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 Schaffhausen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Chaux-de-Fonds costs about 1% more than Schaffhausen, 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 $4,758 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $4,726 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $125 in Schaffhausen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,172 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $3,151 in Schaffhausen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,172 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $3,151 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, La Chaux-de-Fonds makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.