Cost of Living Comparison Between Meilen and Geneva Cost of Living Comparison Between Meilen and Geneva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,456 per month in Meilen vs $4,121 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,967 per month in Meilen vs $6,298 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,477 per month in Meilen vs $8,476 in Geneva, rent included.

Meilen is about 16% cheaper than Geneva, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Meilen and Geneva sit above the global median – Meilen by 153%, Geneva by 201%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.64 CHF 25.29

$30.82 CHF 25.44

-0.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 CHF 100

$133 CHF 110

-8.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.67 CHF 13.76

$18.06 CHF 14.91

-7.70%

Cappuccino

$6.26 CHF 5.17

$6.51 CHF 5.37

-3.84%

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

$5.55 CHF 4.58

$5.07 CHF 4.19

9.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.04 CHF 4.16

$4.30 CHF 3.55

17.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.43 CHF 6.96

$9.69 CHF 8.00

-13.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.54 CHF 7.05

$9.53 CHF 7.87

-10.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CHF 1.84

$2.40 CHF 1.98

-7.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 CHF 2.92

$3.44 CHF 2.84

2.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.04 CHF 3.33

$3.33 CHF 2.75

21.32%

Eggs

$7.97 CHF 6.57

$7.86 CHF 6.49

1.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.40 CHF 22.62

$25.58 CHF 21.12

7.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.64 CHF 21.99

$28.71 CHF 23.70

-7.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.75 CHF 34.46

$42.27 CHF 34.89

-1.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 CHF 3.02

$3.56 CHF 2.94

2.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 CHF 1.71

$1.68 CHF 1.39

23.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 CHF 2.20

$2.77 CHF 2.29

-3.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 CHF 4.01

$4.85 CHF 4.00

0.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 CHF 1.73

$1.58 CHF 1.30

32.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 CHF 1.82

$2.15 CHF 1.77

2.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 CHF 1.96

$2.18 CHF 1.80

9.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 CHF 1.06

$1.62 CHF 1.34

-20.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.10 CHF 9.16

$11.13 CHF 9.19

-0.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.39 CHF 11.05

$12.07 CHF 9.96

10.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 CHF 1.82

$3.29 CHF 2.72

-32.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 CHF 2.34

$3.52 CHF 2.91

-19.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.59 CHF 3.79

$3.70 CHF 3.05

24.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$102 CHF 84.2

$91.9 CHF 75.9

10.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.97 CHF 6.58

$7.72 CHF 6.37

3.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.74 CHF 3.91

$4.02 CHF 3.32

17.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$88.0 CHF 72.7

$65.0 CHF 53.6

35.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.81

$2.33 CHF 1.92

-6.01%

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

$39.8K CHF 32.8K

$39.2K CHF 32.4K

1.30%

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

$40.5K CHF 33.5K

$40.3K CHF 33.2K

0.72%

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

$240 CHF 198

$288 CHF 238

-16.67%

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

$39.33 CHF 32.46

$37.66 CHF 31.08

4.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 CHF 54.5

$58.3 CHF 48.10

13.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.6 CHF 76.4

$75.2 CHF 62.1

23.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.24 CHF 38.17

$45.11 CHF 37.23

2.50%

Cinema Ticket

$22.49 CHF 18.56

$24.37 CHF 20.12

-7.71%

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

$2,882 CHF 2,379

$2,401 CHF 1,982

20.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$44.1K CHF 36.4K

$36.2K CHF 29.9K

22.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 115

$138 CHF 114

1.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.3 CHF 49.80

$80.9 CHF 66.8

-25.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$150 CHF 124

$166 CHF 137

-9.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 CHF 143

$187 CHF 155

-7.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,772 CHF 1,462

$2,833 CHF 2,338

-37.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 CHF 1,232

$2,110 CHF 1,742

-29.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,847 CHF 2,350

$4,745 CHF 3,916

-40.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,086 CHF 3,373

$3,727 CHF 3,076

9.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.1K CHF 13.3K

$22.5K CHF 18.6K

-28.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.3K CHF 10.2K

$16.1K CHF 13.3K

-23.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,471 CHF 6,992

$7,207 CHF 5,948

17.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

1.98

-13.13%

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

Last update for Meilen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Geneva: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,772 in Meilen versus $2,833 in Geneva. 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 18% 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 $133 in Geneva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $591 vs $598 – 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 Geneva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,184 per month in Meilen and $6,181 in Geneva. 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.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Geneva, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Meilen and $133 in Geneva. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,456 in Meilen and $4,121 in Geneva. 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, Geneva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.