😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,619 in Lausanne versus $3,523 in Acquarossa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,781 in Lausanne versus $5,404 in Acquarossa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,944 in Lausanne versus $7,284 in Acquarossa.
🌍Living in Lausanne is roughly 3% more expensive than in Acquarossa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lausanne171% above, Acquarossa164% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.44CHF 26.23
$30.20CHF 24.42
7.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$148CHF 119
$146CHF 118
1.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$19.05CHF 15.40
$20.59CHF 16.65
-7.48%
Cappuccino
$5.90CHF 4.77
$6.91CHF 5.59
-14.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41CHF 4.38
$5.83CHF 4.71
-7.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92CHF 3.97
$5.22CHF 4.22
-5.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.12CHF 8.18
$10.05CHF 8.13
0.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.85CHF 7.16
$8.70CHF 7.04
1.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24CHF 1.81
$2.26CHF 1.83
-0.88%
White Bread(500g)
$4.09CHF 3.31
$3.29CHF 2.66
24.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.37CHF 3.53
$4.10CHF 3.31
6.59%
Eggs
$7.37CHF 5.96
$7.52CHF 6.08
-1.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.35CHF 21.31
$30.19CHF 24.41
-12.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$28.58CHF 23.11
$33.03CHF 26.71
-13.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$53.2CHF 42.99
$49.58CHF 40.09
7.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.80CHF 3.07
$4.22CHF 3.41
-9.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15CHF 1.74
$2.88CHF 2.33
-25.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89CHF 2.34
$3.08CHF 2.49
-6.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.62CHF 5.35
$5.24CHF 4.23
26.34%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43CHF 1.97
$2.86CHF 2.31
-15.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.41CHF 1.95
$2.30CHF 1.86
4.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.53CHF 2.04
$2.59CHF 2.10
-2.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40CHF 1.14
$1.66CHF 1.34
-15.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.03CHF 8.92
$10.99CHF 8.89
0.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.39CHF 12.44
$13.45CHF 10.87
14.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10CHF 1.69
$2.65CHF 2.14
-20.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27CHF 2.64
$3.25CHF 2.63
0.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.83CHF 3.90
$4.01CHF 3.24
20.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$96.1CHF 77.7
$99.9CHF 80.8
-3.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.67CHF 6.20
$7.52CHF 6.08
1.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.42CHF 2.77
$4.30CHF 3.47
-20.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$66.1CHF 53.5
$88.7CHF 71.7
-25.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18CHF 1.76
$2.22CHF 1.80
-1.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6KCHF 32.0K
$40.9KCHF 33.0K
-3.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6KCHF 32.9K
$39.8KCHF 32.2K
2.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$331CHF 267
$256CHF 207
29.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.0CHF 40.44
$36.29CHF 29.34
37.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.7CHF 46.68
$59.7CHF 48.24
-3.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.4CHF 63.4
$89.5CHF 72.4
-12.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.46CHF 39.18
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$26.35CHF 21.31
$24.84CHF 20.08
6.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,843CHF 2,298
$3,353CHF 2,711
-15.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.6KCHF 28.0K
$39.1KCHF 31.6K
-11.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110CHF 89.0
$139CHF 112
-20.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.2CHF 55.9
$52.1CHF 42.13
32.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$153CHF 124
$147CHF 119
4.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$184CHF 149
$205CHF 166
-10.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,834CHF 1,483
$1,690CHF 1,366
8.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,476CHF 1,193
$1,447CHF 1,170
1.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,654CHF 2,954
$2,865CHF 2,316
27.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,979CHF 2,408
$2,502CHF 2,023
19.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$18.6KCHF 15.0K
$15.5KCHF 12.5K
20.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$14.2KCHF 11.5K
$11.2KCHF 9,038
27.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,512CHF 5,265
$12.3KCHF 9,925
-46.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
2.09
19.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lausanne: July 12, 2026
Last update for Acquarossa: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,834 in Lausanne and $1,690 in Acquarossa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Acquarossa pays 89% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $148 in Lausanne vs $146 in Acquarossa. Groceries flip the comparison at $655 vs $673, with Lausanne cheaper for home cooking.
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
Lausanne vs Acquarossa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lausanne or Acquarossa?
Acquarossa wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Lausanne. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Acquarossa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lausanne or in Acquarossa?
On paper, salaries run 89% lower in Acquarossa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lausanne compared to Acquarossa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,834 in Lausanne versus $1,690 in Acquarossa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lausanne or in Acquarossa?
Shoppers in Lausanne pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Lausanne and in Acquarossa?
Dining out is cheaper in Acquarossa – a meal for two runs $146 versus $148 in Lausanne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lausanne or in Acquarossa?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Acquarossa is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lausanne or Acquarossa?
Both work as nomad bases, but Acquarossa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,523 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Acquarossa hard to pass up.
How safe is Lausanne compared to Acquarossa?
Safety-wise, Lausanne and Acquarossa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Acquarossa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Lausanne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.