😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,595 in Lausanne versus $3,432 in Wallisellen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,762 in Lausanne versus $5,253 in Wallisellen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,930 in Lausanne versus $7,073 in Wallisellen.
😐Living in Lausanne is roughly 5% more expensive than Wallisellen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lausanne167% above, Wallisellen155% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lausanne
Wallisellen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.90CHF 26.12
$30.74CHF 24.41
7.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$147CHF 117
$146CHF 116
1.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$19.29CHF 15.32
$18.41CHF 14.61
4.78%
Cappuccino
$5.98CHF 4.75
$6.37CHF 5.06
-6.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33CHF 4.23
$5.69CHF 4.51
-6.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95CHF 3.93
$5.22CHF 4.14
-5.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.60CHF 7.62
$7.73CHF 6.14
24.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.72CHF 6.93
$8.44CHF 6.70
3.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lausanne
Wallisellen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18CHF 1.73
$2.25CHF 1.78
-3.11%
White Bread(500g)
$4.13CHF 3.28
$3.32CHF 2.64
24.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.30CHF 3.41
$3.66CHF 2.91
17.49%
Eggs
$7.03CHF 5.58
$7.37CHF 5.85
-4.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.28CHF 20.87
$27.53CHF 21.85
-4.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$28.86CHF 22.91
$32.22CHF 25.58
-10.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$51.6CHF 41.00
$41.24CHF 32.74
25.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62CHF 2.87
$3.27CHF 2.59
10.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10CHF 1.67
$1.86CHF 1.48
12.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95CHF 2.34
$2.56CHF 2.03
15.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.67CHF 5.29
$5.27CHF 4.19
26.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.52CHF 2.00
$2.50CHF 1.98
0.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.43CHF 1.93
$2.35CHF 1.86
3.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.54CHF 2.01
$2.60CHF 2.06
-2.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47CHF 1.17
$1.14CHF 0.91
28.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.16CHF 8.86
$10.76CHF 8.54
3.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.23CHF 12.88
$11.78CHF 9.35
37.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11CHF 1.67
$2.24CHF 1.78
-5.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11CHF 2.47
$2.32CHF 1.84
34.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Lausanne
Wallisellen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.92CHF 3.90
$3.87CHF 3.07
27.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.3CHF 74.8
$97.1CHF 77.1
-2.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.89CHF 6.26
$6.67CHF 5.29
18.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.28CHF 2.61
$4.15CHF 3.29
-20.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$67.0CHF 53.2
$81.6CHF 64.8
-17.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25CHF 1.78
$2.14CHF 1.70
5.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.4KCHF 32.1K
$40.2KCHF 31.9K
0.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8KCHF 33.2K
$40.0KCHF 31.7K
4.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lausanne
Wallisellen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$325CHF 258
$255CHF 202
27.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.8CHF 40.33
$36.16CHF 28.71
40.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.8CHF 45.86
$52.7CHF 41.82
9.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lausanne
Wallisellen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.6CHF 62.4
$88.2CHF 70.0
-10.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.52CHF 37.73
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$26.56CHF 21.09
$24.69CHF 19.60
7.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lausanne
Wallisellen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,833CHF 2,249
$2,800CHF 2,223
1.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$33.8KCHF 26.8K
$39.3KCHF 31.2K
-14.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lausanne
Wallisellen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108CHF 85.5
$140CHF 111
-22.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.5CHF 56.0
$62.5CHF 49.63
12.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$148CHF 118
$147CHF 117
0.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$184CHF 146
$200CHF 158
-7.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lausanne
Wallisellen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,837CHF 1,459
$1,688CHF 1,340
8.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,445CHF 1,147
$1,461CHF 1,160
-1.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,615CHF 2,870
$2,864CHF 2,274
26.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,906CHF 2,307
$2,511CHF 1,994
15.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$19.8KCHF 15.7K
$17.8KCHF 14.1K
11.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$14.3KCHF 11.4K
$11.7KCHF 9,287
22.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lausanne
Wallisellen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,240CHF 5,748
$8,982CHF 7,131
-19.39%
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 6, 2026
Last update for Wallisellen: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,837 in Lausanne and $1,688 in Wallisellen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wallisellen pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $147 in Lausanne vs $146 in Wallisellen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $652 vs $607 per month, with Wallisellen 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 Wallisellen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lausanne and Wallisellen?
Lausanne and Wallisellen differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($3,595 vs $3,432 including rent). Wallisellen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Wallisellen earns 24% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lausanne and Wallisellen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,837 in Lausanne versus $1,688 in Wallisellen. 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 Wallisellen – a meal for two runs $146 versus $147 in Lausanne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lausanne or Wallisellen?
All in, you'll spend $3,595 per month in Lausanne versus $3,432 in Wallisellen – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Wallisellen 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 Wallisellen?
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 Wallisellen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lausanne and Wallisellen 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 Wallisellen?
Expats usually find Wallisellen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Lausanne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.