Cost of Living Comparison Between Lugano and Zurich Cost of Living Comparison Between Lugano and Zurich

🙂 Solo nomad: Lugano is 3.7% cheaper than Zurich without rent, and 25.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lugano is 0.2% cheaper than Zurich without rent, and 10.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lugano
Zurich
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.54 CHF 24.83
$31.12 CHF 25.3
-1.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$184 CHF 149
$148 CHF 120
24.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.53 CHF 15.07
$20.93 CHF 17.02
-11.47%
Cappuccino
$4.24 CHF 3.45
$6.67 CHF 5.43
-36.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.7 CHF 3.82
$6.1 CHF 4.96
-22.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 CHF 3.3
$5.18 CHF 4.21
-21.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.18 CHF 5.84
$9.93 CHF 8.08
-27.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59 CHF 6.17
$8.68 CHF 7.05
-12.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lugano
Zurich
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 CHF 1.84
$2.17 CHF 1.77
4.15%
White Bread (500g)
$3.51 CHF 2.86
$3.4 CHF 2.77
3.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.72 CHF 3.84
$3.94 CHF 3.2
19.80%
Eggs
$6.69 CHF 5.44
$7.42 CHF 6.03
-9.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.42 CHF 22.29
$29.63 CHF 24.09
-7.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$37.36 CHF 30.38
$33.86 CHF 27.53
10.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$47.43 CHF 38.56
$49.36 CHF 40.13
-3.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 CHF 2.63
$4.12 CHF 3.35
-21.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 CHF 1.64
$2.83 CHF 2.3
-28.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.51 CHF 2.04
$3.01 CHF 2.45
-16.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.37 CHF 6
$5 CHF 4.06
47.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 CHF 1.78
$2.78 CHF 2.26
-21.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 CHF 1.84
$2.38 CHF 1.94
-5.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 CHF 2.08
$2.58 CHF 2.1
-0.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.3 CHF 1.05
$1.66 CHF 1.35
-21.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.78 CHF 8.76
$10.87 CHF 8.84
-0.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.91 CHF 8.87
$15.34 CHF 12.48
-28.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 CHF 2.16
$2.64 CHF 2.15
0.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 CHF 3.4
$3.23 CHF 2.62
29.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Lugano
Zurich
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.26 CHF 2.65
$4.89 CHF 3.98
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.8 CHF 70.5
$107 CHF 87.3
-19.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.6 CHF 5.37
$7.55 CHF 6.14
-12.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.47 CHF 3.64
$4.32 CHF 3.52
3.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.9 CHF 49.49
$86.9 CHF 70.7
-29.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.21 CHF 1.8
$2.32 CHF 1.88
-4.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8K CHF 32.3K
$39.6K CHF 32.2K
0.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K CHF 30.8K
$40.2K CHF 32.7K
-5.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lugano
Zurich
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$203 CHF 165
$253 CHF 206
-20.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.2 CHF 59.5
$36.2 CHF 29.43
102.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.1 CHF 44.78
$57.7 CHF 46.92
-4.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lugano
Zurich
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$111 CHF 90
$89.6 CHF 72.9
23.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$62 CHF 50.4
$49.81 CHF 40.5
24.39%
Cinema Ticket
$18.76 CHF 15.25
$25.08 CHF 20.39
-25.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lugano
Zurich
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,245 CHF 1,012
$3,449 CHF 2,805
-63.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.5K CHF 28.8K
$39.4K CHF 32.1K
-10.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lugano
Zurich
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$126 CHF 103
$140 CHF 114
-9.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.68 CHF 38.77
$62.2 CHF 50.5
-23.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 CHF 108
$145 CHF 118
-8.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 CHF 123
$198 CHF 161
-23.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lugano
Zurich
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,648 CHF 1,340
$2,766 CHF 2,249
-40.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 CHF 1,021
$2,234 CHF 1,816
-43.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,885 CHF 2,345
$4,875 CHF 3,964
-40.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,649 CHF 2,154
$3,725 CHF 3,029
-28.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$17.6K CHF 14.3K
$24.6K CHF 20K
-28.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$18.8K CHF 15.3K
$18K CHF 14.7K
3.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lugano
Zurich
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,350 CHF 5,976
$8,196 CHF 6,664
-10.33%
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 Lugano: October 28, 2025

Last update for Zurich: October 27, 2025

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