😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Lausanne versus $3,455 in Acquarossa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,676 in Lausanne versus $5,316 in Acquarossa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,788 in Lausanne versus $7,177 in Acquarossa.
😐Living in Lausanne is roughly 3% more expensive than Acquarossa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lausanne166% above, Acquarossa158% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.84CHF 25.89
$30.59CHF 24.12
7.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$145CHF 114
$150CHF 118
-3.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.73CHF 14.77
$20.92CHF 16.49
-10.47%
Cappuccino
$6.07CHF 4.79
$6.74CHF 5.32
-9.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.59CHF 4.41
$5.92CHF 4.67
-5.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70CHF 3.71
$5.10CHF 4.02
-7.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.64CHF 7.60
$9.76CHF 7.70
-1.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.41CHF 6.63
$8.56CHF 6.75
-1.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19CHF 1.73
$2.17CHF 1.71
0.92%
White Bread(500g)
$4.17CHF 3.29
$3.37CHF 2.65
23.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.48CHF 3.53
$4.13CHF 3.25
8.47%
Eggs
$7.01CHF 5.52
$7.52CHF 5.93
-6.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.22CHF 20.67
$29.93CHF 23.59
-12.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$28.78CHF 22.69
$33.51CHF 26.42
-14.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$52.0CHF 40.97
$50.7CHF 40.00
2.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.60CHF 2.84
$4.11CHF 3.24
-12.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19CHF 1.73
$2.91CHF 2.29
-24.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95CHF 2.32
$2.98CHF 2.35
-1.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.43CHF 5.07
$4.98CHF 3.93
29.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51CHF 1.98
$2.82CHF 2.23
-10.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.35CHF 1.85
$2.34CHF 1.84
0.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.49CHF 1.96
$2.49CHF 1.96
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39CHF 1.09
$1.73CHF 1.37
-19.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.93CHF 8.62
$11.17CHF 8.81
-2.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.11CHF 12.70
$15.19CHF 11.98
6.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01CHF 1.59
$2.67CHF 2.10
-24.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20CHF 2.52
$3.19CHF 2.52
0.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.74CHF 3.73
$3.82CHF 3.01
24.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.6CHF 77.0
$96.9CHF 76.4
0.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.98CHF 6.29
$7.68CHF 6.05
3.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.26CHF 2.57
$4.11CHF 3.24
-20.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$67.6CHF 53.3
$88.3CHF 69.6
-23.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15CHF 1.70
$2.24CHF 1.76
-4.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1KCHF 32.4K
$40.2KCHF 31.7K
2.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7KCHF 32.9K
$39.9KCHF 31.5K
4.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$322CHF 254
$260CHF 205
23.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.3CHF 39.66
$35.79CHF 28.22
40.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6CHF 45.42
$58.4CHF 46.02
-1.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.0CHF 59.9
$87.5CHF 69.0
-13.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.71CHF 37.61
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$26.56CHF 20.94
$24.21CHF 19.08
9.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,763CHF 2,178
$3,346CHF 2,638
-17.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.4KCHF 27.1K
$39.0KCHF 30.7K
-11.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110CHF 86.9
$139CHF 110
-20.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.2CHF 55.4
$53.8CHF 42.41
30.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$149CHF 117
$147CHF 116
1.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$185CHF 146
$205CHF 162
-9.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,834CHF 1,446
$1,669CHF 1,316
9.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,486CHF 1,172
$1,461CHF 1,152
1.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,523CHF 2,777
$2,869CHF 2,262
22.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,944CHF 2,321
$2,434CHF 1,919
20.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$19.6KCHF 15.4K
$14.6KCHF 11.5K
34.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$14.4KCHF 11.4K
$9,972CHF 7,862
44.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lausanne
Acquarossa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,571CHF 5,969
$12.5KCHF 9,854
-39.43%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Acquarossa: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,834 in Lausanne and $1,669 in Acquarossa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Acquarossa pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $145 in Lausanne vs $150 in Acquarossa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $651 vs $680 per month, with Lausanne cheaper across the board.
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 Acquarossa?
On paper, Acquarossa earns 65% less. 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 vs Acquarossa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,834 in Lausanne versus $1,669 in Acquarossa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lausanne or Acquarossa?
Shoppers in Lausanne pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Lausanne vs Acquarossa?
Dining out is cheaper in Acquarossa – a meal for two runs $150 versus $145 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 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 $3,455 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.