Cost of Living Comparison Between Locarno and Zurich Cost of Living Comparison Between Locarno and Zurich

🙂 Solo nomad: Locarno is 31.9% cheaper than Zurich without rent, and 33.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Locarno is 30.5% cheaper than Zurich without rent, and 24.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Locarno
Zurich
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.63 CHF 22.47
$31.12 CHF 25.3
-11.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$145 CHF 118
$148 CHF 120
-1.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.36 CHF 13.3
$20.93 CHF 17.02
-21.83%
Cappuccino
$4.93 CHF 4.01
$6.67 CHF 5.43
-26.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97 CHF 4.04
$6.1 CHF 4.96
-18.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 CHF 3.69
$5.18 CHF 4.21
-12.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.47 CHF 6.08
$9.93 CHF 8.08
-24.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.25 CHF 5.89
$8.68 CHF 7.05
-16.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Locarno
Zurich
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 CHF 1.53
$2.17 CHF 1.77
-13.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 CHF 2.2
$3.4 CHF 2.77
-20.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 CHF 2.04
$3.94 CHF 3.2
-36.29%
Eggs
$6.07 CHF 4.94
$7.42 CHF 6.03
-18.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.25 CHF 22.16
$29.63 CHF 24.09
-8.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.52 CHF 11.8
$33.86 CHF 27.53
-57.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$36.28 CHF 29.5
$49.36 CHF 40.13
-26.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 CHF 2.17
$4.12 CHF 3.35
-35.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 CHF 1.48
$2.83 CHF 2.3
-35.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 CHF 1.51
$3.01 CHF 2.45
-38.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 CHF 2.46
$5 CHF 4.06
-39.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 CHF 1.07
$2.78 CHF 2.26
-52.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 CHF 1.54
$2.38 CHF 1.94
-20.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.9 CHF 1.55
$2.58 CHF 2.1
-26.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 CHF 0.59
$1.66 CHF 1.35
-56.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.91 CHF 8.87
$10.87 CHF 8.84
0.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.14 CHF 15.56
$15.34 CHF 12.48
24.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 CHF 1.85
$2.64 CHF 2.15
-13.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 CHF 1.94
$3.23 CHF 2.62
-26.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Locarno
Zurich
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.75 CHF 2.24
$4.89 CHF 3.98
-43.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.6 CHF 79.4
$107 CHF 87.3
-9.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.58 CHF 5.35
$7.55 CHF 6.14
-12.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.3 CHF 3.49
$4.32 CHF 3.52
-0.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$78.9 CHF 64.2
$86.9 CHF 70.7
-9.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 CHF 1.71
$2.32 CHF 1.88
-9.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34K CHF 27.6K
$39.6K CHF 32.2K
-14.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.1K CHF 34.2K
$40.2K CHF 32.7K
4.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Locarno
Zurich
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$327 CHF 266
$253 CHF 206
29.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.11 CHF 20.42
$36.2 CHF 29.43
-30.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.4 CHF 37.73
$57.7 CHF 46.92
-19.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Locarno
Zurich
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.4 CHF 60.5
$89.6 CHF 72.9
-17.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.09 CHF 25.28
$49.81 CHF 40.5
-37.58%
Cinema Ticket
$20.87 CHF 16.97
$25.08 CHF 20.39
-16.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Locarno
Zurich
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,457 CHF 1,184
$3,449 CHF 2,805
-57.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K CHF 15.6K
$39.4K CHF 32.1K
-51.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Locarno
Zurich
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 CHF 92.1
$140 CHF 114
-18.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 CHF 48.26
$62.2 CHF 50.5
-4.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 CHF 98.6
$145 CHF 118
-16.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 CHF 98.6
$198 CHF 161
-38.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Locarno
Zurich
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,032 CHF 839
$2,766 CHF 2,249
-62.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 CHF 855
$2,234 CHF 1,816
-52.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,472 CHF 2,010
$4,875 CHF 3,964
-49.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,222 CHF 1,807
$3,725 CHF 3,029
-40.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,430 CHF 6,854
$24.6K CHF 20K
-65.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,394 CHF 5,199
$18K CHF 14.7K
-64.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Locarno
Zurich
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,946 CHF 5,647
$8,196 CHF 6,664
-15.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.17
2.09
3.83%

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

Last update for Locarno: October 28, 2025

Last update for Zurich: October 27, 2025

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