Cost of Living Comparison Between Meilen and Bellinzona Cost of Living Comparison Between Meilen and Bellinzona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,432 per month in Meilen vs $3,580 in Bellinzona, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,009 per month in Meilen vs $5,462 in Bellinzona, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,587 per month in Meilen vs $7,343 in Bellinzona, rent included.

Meilen is about 4% cheaper than Bellinzona, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Meilen and Bellinzona sit above the global median – Meilen by 150%, Bellinzona by 161%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.03 CHF 25.22

$30.83 CHF 25.06

0.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 CHF 99.3

$125 CHF 102

-2.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.91 CHF 13.75

$18.22 CHF 14.82

-7.19%

Cappuccino

$6.59 CHF 5.35

$4.81 CHF 3.91

37.01%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 CHF 4.73

$5.27 CHF 4.29

10.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.37 CHF 4.36

$4.57 CHF 3.72

17.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.83 CHF 7.18

$7.52 CHF 6.11

17.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.97 CHF 7.29

$6.00 CHF 4.88

49.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.82

$2.21 CHF 1.80

1.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 CHF 2.80

$4.06 CHF 3.30

-15.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.99 CHF 3.24

$4.34 CHF 3.53

-8.06%

Eggs

$8.14 CHF 6.62

$7.88 CHF 6.41

3.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.70 CHF 22.52

$27.10 CHF 22.04

2.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.04 CHF 21.17

$31.49 CHF 25.60

-17.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.39 CHF 33.65

$42.78 CHF 34.78

-3.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CHF 3.00

$3.71 CHF 3.01

-0.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 CHF 1.72

$2.00 CHF 1.62

6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 CHF 2.19

$2.86 CHF 2.32

-5.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.65 CHF 3.78

$6.31 CHF 5.13

-26.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 CHF 1.65

$2.00 CHF 1.62

1.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 CHF 1.83

$2.20 CHF 1.79

2.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 CHF 2.04

$2.53 CHF 2.05

-1.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 CHF 1.06

$1.35 CHF 1.09

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.11 CHF 9.03

$11.27 CHF 9.16

-1.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.63 CHF 11.08

$18.82 CHF 15.30

-27.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 CHF 1.88

$2.95 CHF 2.40

-21.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 CHF 2.33

$4.00 CHF 3.25

-28.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.38 CHF 3.56

$2.86 CHF 2.32

53.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$104 CHF 84.2

$123 CHF 100

-15.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.00 CHF 6.50

$7.47 CHF 6.07

7.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.70 CHF 3.82

$5.70 CHF 4.63

-17.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$88.6 CHF 72.0

$81.2 CHF 66.0

9.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.28 CHF 1.85

$2.27 CHF 1.85

0.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.7K CHF 33.1K

$35.1K CHF 28.5K

16.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.3K CHF 33.6K

$40.9K CHF 33.3K

0.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$209 CHF 170

$301 CHF 245

-30.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$39.15 CHF 31.83

$37.65 CHF 30.61

3.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.4 CHF 54.8

$64.8 CHF 52.7

4.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.6 CHF 76.1

$151 CHF 123

-37.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.36 CHF 37.69

$56.3 CHF 45.76

-17.64%

Cinema Ticket

$22.36 CHF 18.18

$24.17 CHF 19.65

-7.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,888 CHF 2,348

$1,845 CHF 1,500

56.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.4K CHF 34.4K

$34.8K CHF 28.3K

21.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 CHF 115

$167 CHF 136

-15.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.1 CHF 48.83

$57.7 CHF 46.94

4.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 CHF 124

$192 CHF 156

-20.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$175 CHF 142

$152 CHF 123

15.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 CHF 1,452

$1,592 CHF 1,295

12.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,480 CHF 1,203

$1,413 CHF 1,149

4.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,927 CHF 2,380

$2,541 CHF 2,066

15.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,153 CHF 3,377

$2,601 CHF 2,115

59.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.7K CHF 13.5K

$13.7K CHF 11.2K

21.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.7K CHF 10.3K

$10.6K CHF 8,637

19.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,450 CHF 6,870

$6,876 CHF 5,590

22.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

2.23

-22.87%

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

Last update for Meilen: August 31, 2026

Last update for Bellinzona: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,786 in Meilen versus $1,592 in Bellinzona. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Meilen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Meilen versus $125 in Bellinzona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $589 vs $649 – making Meilen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Meilen vs Bellinzona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,432 in Meilen, $3,580 in Bellinzona – roughly 4% apart. Bellinzona costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,148 per month in Meilen and $5,370 in Bellinzona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Meilen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,432 in Meilen and $3,580 in Bellinzona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Meilen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,432 in Meilen and $3,580 in Bellinzona. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Meilen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Meilen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bellinzona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.