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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,552 per month in Meilen vs $3,886 in Bellinzona, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,476 per month in Meilen vs $5,897 in Bellinzona, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,400 per month in Meilen vs $7,908 in Bellinzona, rent included.

Meilen is about 9% cheaper than Bellinzona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Meilen and Bellinzona sit above the global median – Meilen by 166%, Bellinzona by 191%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.90 CHF 24.93

$30.64 CHF 24.72

0.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 120

$112 CHF 90.8

32.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.67 CHF 15.06

$18.84 CHF 15.20

-0.90%

Cappuccino

$6.29 CHF 5.07

$4.47 CHF 3.61

40.72%

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

$5.90 CHF 4.76

$4.78 CHF 3.85

23.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 CHF 4.15

$3.99 CHF 3.22

29.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.53 CHF 6.89

$7.59 CHF 6.12

12.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.34 CHF 5.92

$6.08 CHF 4.91

20.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CHF 1.82

$2.21 CHF 1.78

1.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.30 CHF 2.66

$3.89 CHF 3.14

-15.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.12 CHF 3.32

$5.30 CHF 4.27

-22.26%

Eggs

$7.22 CHF 5.83

$8.00 CHF 6.45

-9.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.95 CHF 24.17

$29.22 CHF 23.58

2.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.90 CHF 26.55

$37.01 CHF 29.86

-11.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$49.64 CHF 40.06

$47.21 CHF 38.09

5.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 CHF 3.40

$3.70 CHF 2.99

13.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 2.01

$2.12 CHF 1.71

17.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 CHF 2.55

$2.86 CHF 2.31

10.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.99 CHF 4.03

$7.61 CHF 6.14

-34.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 CHF 2.11

$2.26 CHF 1.83

15.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 CHF 1.84

$2.43 CHF 1.96

-6.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CHF 2.07

$2.54 CHF 2.05

1.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CHF 0.89

$1.68 CHF 1.36

-33.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.06 CHF 8.92

$11.08 CHF 8.94

-0.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.69 CHF 11.05

$18.37 CHF 14.83

-25.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 CHF 1.78

$3.95 CHF 3.18

-44.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 CHF 1.90

$4.33 CHF 3.49

-45.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.99 CHF 3.22

$6.08 CHF 4.91

-34.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.3 CHF 79.3

$97.7 CHF 78.8

0.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 CHF 5.59

$6.98 CHF 5.63

-0.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.31 CHF 3.48

$4.47 CHF 3.60

-3.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$80.4 CHF 64.9

$60.6 CHF 48.90

32.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.22 CHF 1.79

$2.13 CHF 1.72

4.23%

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

$40.3K CHF 32.5K

$40.5K CHF 32.7K

-0.52%

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

$39.4K CHF 31.8K

$37.8K CHF 30.5K

4.09%

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

$258 CHF 208

$296 CHF 239

-12.88%

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

$58.9 CHF 47.52

$68.2 CHF 55.1

-13.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.0 CHF 47.57

$58.1 CHF 46.90

1.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.4 CHF 72.1

$112 CHF 90.6

-20.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.5 CHF 51.2

$64.7 CHF 52.2

-1.93%

Cinema Ticket

$26.92 CHF 21.72

$23.08 CHF 18.62

16.64%

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

$2,828 CHF 2,282

$1,862 CHF 1,503

51.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.6K CHF 31.2K

$34.9K CHF 28.1K

10.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 112

$122 CHF 98.5

13.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.1 CHF 50.1

$48.48 CHF 39.12

27.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$146 CHF 118

$157 CHF 126

-6.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$199 CHF 161

$189 CHF 153

5.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,724 CHF 1,391

$1,865 CHF 1,505

-7.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 CHF 1,183

$1,745 CHF 1,408

-16.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,868 CHF 2,314

$2,832 CHF 2,285

1.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,461 CHF 1,986

$3,010 CHF 2,429

-18.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.9K CHF 12.8K

$13.8K CHF 11.2K

14.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.6K CHF 10.2K

$10.5K CHF 8,469

20.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,271 CHF 6,674

$6,045 CHF 4,878

36.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

2.5

-16.40%

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

Last update for Meilen: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bellinzona: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,724 in Meilen versus $1,865 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 37% 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 $149 in Meilen versus $112 in Bellinzona. Groceries tell a different story – $657 in Meilen vs $716 in Bellinzona – so Meilen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $3,552 in Meilen, $3,886 in Bellinzona – roughly 9% apart. Bellinzona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,328 per month in Meilen and $5,829 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 $3,552 in Meilen and $3,886 in Bellinzona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% 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 $3,552 in Meilen and $3,886 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.