Cost of Living Comparison Between Lausanne and Arbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Lausanne and Arbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,619 per month in Lausanne vs $3,361 in Arbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,781 per month in Lausanne vs $5,221 in Arbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,944 per month in Lausanne vs $7,082 in Arbon, rent included.

Lausanne costs about 8% more than Arbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lausanne and Arbon sit above the global median – Lausanne by 171%, Arbon by 152%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$32.44 CHF 26.23

$30.53 CHF 24.68

6.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 CHF 119

$139 CHF 112

6.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.05 CHF 15.40

$17.34 CHF 14.02

9.86%

Cappuccino

$5.90 CHF 4.77

$6.16 CHF 4.98

-4.22%

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

$5.41 CHF 4.38

$5.35 CHF 4.32

1.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.92 CHF 3.97

$4.35 CHF 3.52

13.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.12 CHF 8.18

$7.72 CHF 6.24

31.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.85 CHF 7.16

$7.19 CHF 5.82

23.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.81

$2.28 CHF 1.84

-1.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.09 CHF 3.31

$2.57 CHF 2.08

59.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 CHF 3.53

$3.63 CHF 2.93

20.39%

Eggs

$7.37 CHF 5.96

$7.91 CHF 6.39

-6.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.35 CHF 21.31

$27.75 CHF 22.43

-5.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$28.58 CHF 23.11

$32.72 CHF 26.46

-12.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$53.2 CHF 42.99

$41.18 CHF 33.29

29.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 CHF 3.07

$3.19 CHF 2.58

19.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 CHF 1.74

$1.83 CHF 1.48

17.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 CHF 2.34

$2.49 CHF 2.02

16.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.62 CHF 5.35

$6.36 CHF 5.14

4.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CHF 1.97

$2.49 CHF 2.01

-2.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 CHF 1.95

$2.38 CHF 1.92

1.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 CHF 2.04

$2.58 CHF 2.09

-1.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 CHF 1.14

$1.15 CHF 0.93

21.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.03 CHF 8.92

$10.80 CHF 8.73

2.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.39 CHF 12.44

$11.17 CHF 9.03

37.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 CHF 1.69

$2.25 CHF 1.82

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CHF 2.64

$2.33 CHF 1.88

40.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.83 CHF 3.90

$3.89 CHF 3.15

24.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.1 CHF 77.7

$97.0 CHF 78.4

-1.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 CHF 6.20

$6.71 CHF 5.42

14.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.42 CHF 2.77

$4.24 CHF 3.43

-19.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$66.1 CHF 53.5

$78.8 CHF 63.7

-16.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.18 CHF 1.76

$2.17 CHF 1.76

0.46%

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

$39.6K CHF 32.0K

$39.8K CHF 32.1K

-0.36%

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

$40.6K CHF 32.9K

$42.9K CHF 34.7K

-5.33%

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

$331 CHF 267

$251 CHF 203

31.82%

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

$50.0 CHF 40.44

$59.3 CHF 47.97

-15.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 CHF 46.68

$54.0 CHF 43.68

6.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 CHF 63.4

$89.4 CHF 72.3

-12.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$48.46 CHF 39.18

Cinema Ticket

$26.35 CHF 21.31

$22.30 CHF 18.03

18.16%

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

$2,843 CHF 2,298

$2,789 CHF 2,255

1.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.6K CHF 28.0K

$42.8K CHF 34.6K

-19.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$110 CHF 89.0

$137 CHF 111

-19.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.2 CHF 55.9

$64.4 CHF 52.1

7.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 CHF 124

$131 CHF 106

17.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$184 CHF 149

$161 CHF 130

14.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 CHF 1,483

$1,702 CHF 1,376

7.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,476 CHF 1,193

$1,445 CHF 1,169

2.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,654 CHF 2,954

$2,874 CHF 2,324

27.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,979 CHF 2,408

$2,437 CHF 1,971

22.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.6K CHF 15.0K

$14.8K CHF 12.0K

25.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.2K CHF 11.5K

$10.6K CHF 8,587

33.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,512 CHF 5,265

$11.3K CHF 9,150

-42.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

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

Last update for Lausanne: July 12, 2026

Last update for Arbon: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,834 in Lausanne versus $1,702 in Arbon. 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 74% higher in Arbon, 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 $148 in Lausanne versus $139 in Arbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $655 vs $608 – making Arbon 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

Lausanne vs Arbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,619 in Lausanne, $3,361 in Arbon – roughly 8% apart. Lausanne costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,429 per month in Lausanne and $5,041 in Arbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,619 in Lausanne and $3,361 in Arbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Arbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,619 in Lausanne and $3,361 in Arbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Lausanne has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,361 in Arbon to $3,619 in Lausanne. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Arbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lausanne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.