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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,063 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $4,715 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,852 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $7,006 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,641 per month in La Chaux-de-Fonds vs $9,297 in Zurich, rent included.

La Chaux-de-Fonds is about 35% cheaper than Zurich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both La Chaux-de-Fonds and Zurich sit above the global median – La Chaux-de-Fonds by 122%, Zurich by 242%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.87 CHF 20.30

$36.39 CHF 29.69

-31.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 CHF 69.5

$148 CHF 121

-42.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.84 CHF 15.38

$18.59 CHF 15.17

1.34%

Cappuccino

$4.72 CHF 3.85

$7.14 CHF 5.83

-33.89%

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

$3.74 CHF 3.05

$5.83 CHF 4.76

-35.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 CHF 3.86

$5.34 CHF 4.36

-11.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.39 CHF 6.03

$9.98 CHF 8.14

-25.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.05 CHF 4.94

$8.68 CHF 7.09

-30.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.85

$2.21 CHF 1.81

2.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CHF 2.62

$3.96 CHF 3.23

-18.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CHF 2.66

$4.02 CHF 3.28

-18.91%

Eggs

$7.97 CHF 6.51

$8.46 CHF 6.91

-5.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.29 CHF 21.46

$27.66 CHF 22.57

-4.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.42 CHF 22.38

$27.66 CHF 22.57

-0.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.24 CHF 34.48

$61.1 CHF 49.82

-30.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 CHF 2.92

$4.15 CHF 3.39

-13.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 CHF 1.89

$2.89 CHF 2.35

-19.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 CHF 2.46

$3.57 CHF 2.91

-15.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 CHF 3.93

$4.81 CHF 3.93

0.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 CHF 1.44

$2.69 CHF 2.20

-34.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 CHF 1.66

$2.19 CHF 1.79

-7.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 CHF 1.88

$2.59 CHF 2.11

-11.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 CHF 1.34

$1.33 CHF 1.09

24.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.24 CHF 9.17

Wine (Bottle)

$12.13 CHF 9.90

$13.77 CHF 11.24

-11.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 CHF 2.03

$2.78 CHF 2.27

-10.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 CHF 2.48

$3.21 CHF 2.62

-5.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.40 CHF 3.59

$5.74 CHF 4.68

-23.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100.0 CHF 81.6

$110 CHF 90.0

-9.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 CHF 6.64

$8.58 CHF 7.00

-5.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.80 CHF 3.91

$4.58 CHF 3.74

4.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.9 CHF 70.9

$91.6 CHF 74.7

-5.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.85

$2.30 CHF 1.88

-1.74%

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

$44.7K CHF 36.5K

$40.9K CHF 33.4K

9.16%

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

$40.3K CHF 32.9K

$39.9K CHF 32.5K

1.17%

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

$298 CHF 244

$289 CHF 236

3.14%

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

$54.2 CHF 44.22

$39.21 CHF 32.00

38.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 CHF 53.9

$57.7 CHF 47.08

14.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.4 CHF 62.3

$91.8 CHF 74.9

-16.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.09 CHF 35.98

$63.0 CHF 51.4

-29.98%

Cinema Ticket

$23.35 CHF 19.05

$25.56 CHF 20.86

-8.65%

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

$2,984 CHF 2,436

$3,721 CHF 3,037

-19.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K CHF 16.8K

$44.0K CHF 35.9K

-53.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$146 CHF 119

$144 CHF 118

1.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.7 CHF 65.9

$59.4 CHF 48.47

35.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 CHF 135

$170 CHF 138

-2.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$204 CHF 167

$267 CHF 218

-23.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,483 CHF 1,211

$3,117 CHF 2,543

-52.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,105 CHF 902

$2,438 CHF 1,989

-54.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,017 CHF 3,278

$6,299 CHF 5,141

-36.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,413 CHF 1,969

$4,288 CHF 3,499

-43.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.0K CHF 13.9K

$27.6K CHF 22.6K

-38.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K CHF 9,345

$16.4K CHF 13.4K

-30.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,259 CHF 4,292

$8,393 CHF 6,849

-37.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.43

2.07

17.39%

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 Zurich: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,483 in La Chaux-de-Fonds versus $3,117 in Zurich. 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 60% higher in Zurich, 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 $148 in Zurich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $591 vs $679 – 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 Zurich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zurich costs about 54% 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 $7,072 in Zurich. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $148 in Zurich. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,063 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $4,715 in Zurich. 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 $3,063 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and $4,715 in Zurich. 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 $4,715 in Zurich. 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, Zurich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.