😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,497 in Lausanne versus $3,292 in Stabio.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,694 in Lausanne versus $5,216 in Stabio.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,890 in Lausanne versus $7,141 in Stabio.
😐Living in Lausanne is roughly 6% more expensive than Stabio, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lausanne161% above, Stabio146% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lausanne
Stabio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$33.20CHF 26.03
$30.35CHF 23.80
9.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$148CHF 116
$165CHF 130
-10.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$19.38CHF 15.19
$18.53CHF 14.53
4.59%
Cappuccino
$5.99CHF 4.69
$4.34CHF 3.40
38.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.58CHF 4.38
$4.90CHF 3.84
13.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84CHF 3.79
$4.06CHF 3.18
19.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.03CHF 7.87
$7.25CHF 5.69
38.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.43CHF 6.61
$7.59CHF 5.95
11.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lausanne
Stabio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17CHF 1.70
$2.28CHF 1.79
-4.82%
White Bread(500g)
$4.11CHF 3.22
$3.61CHF 2.83
13.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.45CHF 3.49
$4.66CHF 3.66
-4.51%
Eggs
$7.27CHF 5.70
$6.99CHF 5.48
4.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.33CHF 20.64
$27.48CHF 21.55
-4.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$28.92CHF 22.67
$36.63CHF 28.72
-21.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$52.0CHF 40.77
$44.71CHF 35.05
16.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.79CHF 2.97
$3.07CHF 2.41
23.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10CHF 1.65
$2.01CHF 1.58
4.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89CHF 2.26
$2.53CHF 1.98
14.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.68CHF 5.23
$7.45CHF 5.84
-10.34%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55CHF 2.00
$2.18CHF 1.71
16.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.35CHF 1.84
$2.26CHF 1.77
3.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60CHF 2.04
$2.55CHF 2.00
1.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39CHF 1.09
$1.25CHF 0.98
11.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12CHF 8.72
$10.55CHF 8.27
5.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.76CHF 12.36
$12.93CHF 10.14
21.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05CHF 1.61
$2.54CHF 1.99
-19.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17CHF 2.49
$4.19CHF 3.29
-24.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Lausanne
Stabio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.72CHF 3.70
$3.95CHF 3.10
19.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.3CHF 76.3
$99.4CHF 77.9
-2.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.82CHF 6.13
$6.60CHF 5.18
18.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.41CHF 2.67
$4.44CHF 3.48
-23.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$67.8CHF 53.1
$62.4CHF 48.93
8.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24CHF 1.76
$2.16CHF 1.69
3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.8KCHF 32.0K
$40.5KCHF 31.8K
0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6KCHF 32.6K
$37.6KCHF 29.4K
10.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lausanne
Stabio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$330CHF 259
$202CHF 158
63.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.88CHF 39.11
$68.4CHF 53.6
-27.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0CHF 45.44
$54.2CHF 42.46
7.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lausanne
Stabio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.1CHF 59.7
$86.9CHF 68.2
-12.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.53CHF 37.26
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$26.14CHF 20.50
$18.26CHF 14.32
43.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lausanne
Stabio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,812CHF 2,205
$1,226CHF 961
129.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.5KCHF 27.1K
$34.6KCHF 27.2K
-0.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lausanne
Stabio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110CHF 86.2
$107CHF 84.2
2.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.9CHF 54.0
$47.79CHF 37.47
44.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$150CHF 118
$136CHF 106
10.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$188CHF 147
$152CHF 120
23.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lausanne
Stabio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,853CHF 1,453
$1,708CHF 1,339
8.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496CHF 1,173
$1,486CHF 1,165
0.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,576CHF 2,803
$2,847CHF 2,232
25.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,917CHF 2,287
$2,457CHF 1,926
18.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$20.0KCHF 15.7K
$13.8KCHF 10.8K
45.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$15.3KCHF 12.0K
$12.1KCHF 9,451
26.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lausanne
Stabio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,994CHF 6,267
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
2.5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lausanne: April 21, 2026
Last update for Stabio: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,853 in Lausanne and $1,708 in Stabio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $148 in Lausanne vs $165 in Stabio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $653 vs $663 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 Stabio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lausanne and Stabio?
Lausanne and Stabio differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($3,497 vs $3,292 including rent). Stabio is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lausanne compared to Stabio?
You'd need roughly $5,246 in Lausanne and $4,938 in Stabio to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lausanne and Stabio?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,853 in Lausanne versus $1,708 in Stabio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Stabio – a meal for two runs $165 versus $148 in Lausanne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lausanne or Stabio?
All in, you'll spend $3,497 per month in Lausanne versus $3,292 in Stabio – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Stabio is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lausanne and Stabio?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lausanne or Stabio safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lausanne and Stabio are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lausanne or Stabio?
Expats usually find Stabio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Lausanne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.