Cost of Living Comparison Between Locarno and San Jose, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Locarno and San Jose, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Locarno is 12.5% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 36.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Locarno is 7.8% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 22.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Locarno
San Jose, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.63 CHF 22.47
$20.3 $20.3
36.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$145 CHF 118
$100 $100
45.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.36 CHF 13.3
$11.54 $11.54
41.77%
Cappuccino
$4.93 CHF 4.01
$5.79 $5.79
-14.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97 CHF 4.04
$3.22 $3.22
54.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 CHF 3.69
$2.47 $2.47
83.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.47 CHF 6.08
$8.8 $8.8
-15.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.25 CHF 5.89
$10.92 $10.92
-33.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Locarno
San Jose, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 CHF 1.53
$1.46 $1.46
28.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 CHF 2.2
$4.94 $4.94
-45.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 CHF 2.04
$3.19 $3.19
-21.32%
Eggs
$6.07 CHF 4.94
$4.85 $4.85
25.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.25 CHF 22.16
$21.13 $21.13
28.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.52 CHF 11.8
$15.17 $15.17
-4.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$36.28 CHF 29.5
$22.45 $22.45
61.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 CHF 2.17
$6.08 $6.08
-56.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 CHF 1.48
$2.46 $2.46
-26.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 CHF 1.51
$4.79 $4.79
-61.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 CHF 2.46
$6.75 $6.75
-55.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 CHF 1.07
$3.44 $3.44
-61.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 CHF 1.54
$4.28 $4.28
-55.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.9 CHF 1.55
$2.97 $2.97
-36.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 CHF 0.59
$2.77 $2.77
-73.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.91 CHF 8.87
$11.32 $11.32
-3.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.14 CHF 15.56
$14.95 $14.95
28.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 CHF 1.85
$2.35 $2.35
-2.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 CHF 1.94
$3.35 $3.35
-28.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Locarno
San Jose, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.75 CHF 2.24
$2.53 $2.53
8.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.6 CHF 79.4
$89 $89
9.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.58 CHF 5.35
$3.42 $3.42
92.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.3 CHF 3.49
$1.89 $1.89
127.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$78.9 CHF 64.2
$29.82 $29.82
164.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 CHF 1.71
$1.31 $1.31
61.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34K CHF 27.6K
$30.2K $30.2K
12.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.1K CHF 34.2K
$27K $27K
55.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Locarno
San Jose, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$327 CHF 266
$292 $292
11.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.11 CHF 20.42
$49.13 $49.13
-48.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.4 CHF 37.73
$67.9 $67.9
-31.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Locarno
San Jose, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.4 CHF 60.5
$122 $122
-38.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.09 CHF 25.28
$30.12 $30.12
3.22%
Cinema Ticket
$20.87 CHF 16.97
$15.45 $15.45
35.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Locarno
San Jose, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,457 CHF 1,184
$1,985 $1,985
-26.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K CHF 15.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-26.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Locarno
San Jose, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 CHF 92.1
$52.5 $52.5
115.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 CHF 48.26
$43.85 $43.85
35.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 CHF 98.6
$89.8 $89.8
35.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 CHF 98.6
$138 $138
-12.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Locarno
San Jose, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,032 CHF 839
$3,022 $3,022
-65.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 CHF 855
$2,672 $2,672
-60.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,472 CHF 2,010
$5,283 $5,283
-53.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,222 CHF 1,807
$4,622 $4,622
-51.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,430 CHF 6,854
$10.6K $10.6K
-20.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,394 CHF 5,199
$9,587 $9,587
-33.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Locarno
San Jose, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,946 CHF 5,647
$5,864 $5,864
18.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.17
6.51
-66.67%

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

Last update for Locarno: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose, CA: October 28, 2025

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