Cost of Living Comparison Between Lucerne and Zurich Cost of Living Comparison Between Lucerne and Zurich

😐 Solo nomad: Lucerne is 4.8% more expensive than Zurich without rent, and 7.2% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lucerne is 1% more expensive than Zurich without rent, and 7.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lucerne
Zurich
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$36.59 CHF 29.75
$31.12 CHF 25.3
17.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 CHF 117
$148 CHF 120
-2.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.2 CHF 13.17
$20.93 CHF 17.02
-22.60%
Cappuccino
$6.68 CHF 5.43
$6.67 CHF 5.43
0.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38 CHF 4.38
$6.1 CHF 4.96
-11.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23 CHF 3.44
$5.18 CHF 4.21
-18.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.56 CHF 6.96
$9.93 CHF 8.08
-13.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.58 CHF 6.17
$8.68 CHF 7.05
-12.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lucerne
Zurich
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CHF 1.81
$2.17 CHF 1.77
2.30%
White Bread (500g)
$3.85 CHF 3.13
$3.4 CHF 2.77
13.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.18 CHF 3.4
$3.94 CHF 3.2
6.09%
Eggs
$7.57 CHF 6.16
$7.42 CHF 6.03
2.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$30.18 CHF 24.54
$29.63 CHF 24.09
1.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$35.64 CHF 28.98
$33.86 CHF 27.53
5.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$50.8 CHF 41.33
$49.36 CHF 40.13
2.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 CHF 2.99
$4.12 CHF 3.35
-10.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 CHF 1.82
$2.83 CHF 2.3
-20.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.01 CHF 2.44
$3.01 CHF 2.45
-
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 CHF 5.3
$5 CHF 4.06
30.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.49 CHF 2.02
$2.78 CHF 2.26
-10.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 CHF 1.98
$2.38 CHF 1.94
2.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.6 CHF 2.11
$2.58 CHF 2.1
0.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 CHF 1.04
$1.66 CHF 1.35
-22.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.23 CHF 9.13
$10.87 CHF 8.84
3.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.15 CHF 12.32
$15.34 CHF 12.48
-1.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 CHF 1.98
$2.64 CHF 2.15
-7.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 CHF 2.71
$3.23 CHF 2.62
3.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Lucerne
Zurich
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.83 CHF 3.93
$4.89 CHF 3.98
-1.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.6 CHF 81
$107 CHF 87.3
-7.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 CHF 6.58
$7.55 CHF 6.14
7.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.54 CHF 3.69
$4.32 CHF 3.52
5.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$87.4 CHF 71.1
$86.9 CHF 70.7
0.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 CHF 1.72
$2.32 CHF 1.88
-8.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8K CHF 32.3K
$39.6K CHF 32.2K
0.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.8K CHF 34.8K
$40.2K CHF 32.7K
6.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lucerne
Zurich
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$251 CHF 204
$253 CHF 206
-1.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.1 CHF 59.4
$36.2 CHF 29.43
101.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7 CHF 45.3
$57.7 CHF 46.92
-3.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lucerne
Zurich
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$94.6 CHF 77
$89.6 CHF 72.9
5.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.9 CHF 36.51
$49.81 CHF 40.5
-9.86%
Cinema Ticket
$21.88 CHF 17.79
$25.08 CHF 20.39
-12.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lucerne
Zurich
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,907 CHF 2,364
$3,449 CHF 2,805
-15.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$43.6K CHF 35.4K
$39.4K CHF 32.1K
10.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lucerne
Zurich
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$136 CHF 111
$140 CHF 114
-2.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.4 CHF 62.1
$62.2 CHF 50.5
22.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 CHF 107
$145 CHF 118
-9.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 CHF 128
$198 CHF 161
-20.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lucerne
Zurich
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,018 CHF 1,641
$2,766 CHF 2,249
-27.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,798 CHF 1,462
$2,234 CHF 1,816
-19.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,996 CHF 2,436
$4,875 CHF 3,964
-38.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,912 CHF 2,368
$3,725 CHF 3,029
-21.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.1K CHF 13.1K
$24.6K CHF 20K
-34.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,086 CHF 7,388
$18K CHF 14.7K
-49.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lucerne
Zurich
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,226 CHF 5,875
$8,196 CHF 6,664
-11.84%
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 Lucerne: October 29, 2025

Last update for Zurich: October 27, 2025

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