Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Dubendorf

For one person, living is cheaper in Dubendorf: $3,678 a month against $3,986 in London, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in London outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

London
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$3,986
/mo nomad
Dubendorf
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,678
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in London and in Dubendorf

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in London and in Dubendorf actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,986 in London versus $3,678 in Dubendorf.

  • London $3,986
  • Dubendorf $3,678

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,791 in London versus $5,457 in Dubendorf.

  • London $5,791
  • Dubendorf $5,457

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,595 in London versus $7,236 in Dubendorf.

  • London $7,595
  • Dubendorf $7,236

Living in London is roughly 8% more expensive than in Dubendorf, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: London 195% above, Dubendorf 172% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
London
Dubendorf
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.93 £19.45
$29.44 CHF 24.24
-11.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$107 £79.9
$118 CHF 97.4
-9.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.71 £8.03
$16.26 CHF 13.39
-34.13%
Cappuccino
$5.47 £4.11
$5.92 CHF 4.88
-7.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 £2.23
$5.47 CHF 4.50
-45.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 £1.65
$4.88 CHF 4.02
-54.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.13 £6.85
$8.23 CHF 6.78
10.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 £5.96
$6.44 CHF 5.30
23.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
London
Dubendorf
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 £1.40
$2.10 CHF 1.73
-11.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 £1.55
$3.92 CHF 3.23
-47.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 £1.81
$4.62 CHF 3.81
-47.62%
Eggs
$5.09 £3.82
$7.33 CHF 6.04
-30.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.87 £9.66
$32.45 CHF 26.72
-60.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.43 £7.82
$26.18 CHF 21.56
-60.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.87 £12.66
$42.54 CHF 35.03
-60.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 £2.33
$3.57 CHF 2.94
-12.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 £1.05
$2.10 CHF 1.73
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.08 £2.31
$3.11 CHF 2.56
-0.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 £2.45
$7.00 CHF 5.76
-53.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 £1.19
$2.49 CHF 2.05
-36.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 £1.31
$2.16 CHF 1.78
-19.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 £1.05
$2.52 CHF 2.07
-44.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 £1.35
$1.40 CHF 1.15
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.28 £17.46
$10.91 CHF 8.98
113.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.03 £9.77
$13.34 CHF 10.98
-2.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.17 £2.38
$2.34 CHF 1.93
35.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 £3.32
$3.44 CHF 2.83
28.49%
🚌 Getting Around
London
Dubendorf
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.07 £3.05
$2.34 CHF 1.93
73.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$247 £185
$48.20 CHF 39.69
411.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.58 £4.18
$5.37 CHF 4.42
3.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.36 £2.52
$3.43 CHF 2.82
-2.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$56.8 £42.58
$60.6 CHF 49.90
-6.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 £1.60
$2.25 CHF 1.86
-5.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K £28.6K
$41.8K CHF 34.5K
-8.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9K £30.7K
$39.0K CHF 32.1K
4.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
Dubendorf
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$372 £279
$235 CHF 194
58.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.82 £13.37
$31.38 CHF 25.84
-43.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.37 £30.29
$65.2 CHF 53.7
-38.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
London
Dubendorf
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.0 £44.99
$121 CHF 99.5
-50.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.29 £15.97
$78.7 CHF 64.8
-72.95%
Cinema Ticket
$17.74 £13.31
$24.26 CHF 19.98
-26.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
London
Dubendorf
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,864 £2,149
$1,777 CHF 1,463
61.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.3K £26.5K
$32.4K CHF 26.7K
9.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
London
Dubendorf
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114 £85.5
$140 CHF 115
-18.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3 £40.71
$87.0 CHF 71.6
-37.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 £93.2
$146 CHF 120
-14.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 £122
$173 CHF 142
-5.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
London
Dubendorf
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,869 £2,152
$1,805 CHF 1,486
58.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,233 £1,675
$1,775 CHF 1,462
25.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,266 £3,951
$2,812 CHF 2,316
87.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,778 £2,835
$2,763 CHF 2,275
36.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.3K £13.8K
$12.0K CHF 9,902
52.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,024 £6,020
$7,098 CHF 5,846
13.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
London
Dubendorf
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,037 £3,779
$3,844 CHF 3,166
31.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.74
2.48
91.13%

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

Last update for London: October 10, 2026

Last update for Dubendorf: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
London
$2.2K
Dubendorf
$1.8K 20.5% $458
Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
$430
Dubendorf
$332 22.9% $99
Eating Out
London
$388
Dubendorf
$451 16.3% $63
Groceries & Markets
London
$349
Dubendorf
$626 79% $276
Getting Around
London
$285
Dubendorf
$80 71.9% $205
Clothing & Footwear
London
$205
Dubendorf
$245 19.7% $40
Sport & Entertainment
London
$95
Dubendorf
$169 77.3% $74

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,869 in London and $1,805 in Dubendorf. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

London pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $107 in London vs $118 in Dubendorf for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $626 per month, with London cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇧 London
🇨🇭 Dubendorf
🕒 Local time
08:56 8:56 AM
09:56 9:56 AM
1 h ahead of London
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,908,083 Capital
26,759
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • London Dubendorf 780 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • London
  • Dubendorf

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
London vs Dubendorf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in London and in Dubendorf?
London and Dubendorf differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($3,986 vs $3,678 including rent). Dubendorf is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: London or Dubendorf?
Average pay runs 31% higher in London, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in London and in Dubendorf?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,869 in London versus $1,805 in Dubendorf. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: London or Dubendorf?
All in, you'll spend $3,986 per month in London versus $3,678 in Dubendorf – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in London and in Dubendorf?
A monthly transit pass in Dubendorf runs roughly 412% less than in London. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Dubendorf 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 London and Dubendorf?
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 London or Dubendorf safer for residents?
Safety-wise, London and Dubendorf 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: London or Dubendorf?
Expats usually find Dubendorf gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

London vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?