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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,482 per month in Meilen vs $4,131 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,449 per month in Meilen vs $6,472 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,416 per month in Meilen vs $8,814 in Geneva, rent included.

Meilen is about 16% cheaper than Geneva, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Meilen and Geneva sit above the global median – Meilen by 162%, Geneva by 210%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.45 CHF 24.58

$36.23 CHF 29.24

-15.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 CHF 117

$147 CHF 118

-0.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.82 CHF 15.19

$18.77 CHF 15.14

0.27%

Cappuccino

$6.46 CHF 5.21

$6.00 CHF 4.84

7.67%

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

$6.03 CHF 4.86

$5.44 CHF 4.39

10.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 CHF 4.15

$4.83 CHF 3.90

6.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.76 CHF 7.07

$10.03 CHF 8.09

-12.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.43 CHF 5.99

$8.48 CHF 6.85

-12.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 CHF 1.76

$2.21 CHF 1.78

-1.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 CHF 2.72

$3.97 CHF 3.21

-14.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.97 CHF 3.20

$4.30 CHF 3.47

-7.67%

Eggs

$7.44 CHF 6.01

$7.60 CHF 6.13

-2.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.03 CHF 23.43

$26.80 CHF 21.62

8.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.05 CHF 26.67

$32.90 CHF 26.55

0.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.7 CHF 40.94

$53.1 CHF 42.87

-4.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.04 CHF 3.26

$3.58 CHF 2.89

12.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 CHF 1.95

$2.51 CHF 2.03

-3.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.10 CHF 2.50

$2.97 CHF 2.40

4.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 CHF 4.01

$6.26 CHF 5.05

-20.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 CHF 2.12

$2.55 CHF 2.05

3.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 CHF 1.89

$2.32 CHF 1.87

0.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CHF 2.07

$2.61 CHF 2.10

-1.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 CHF 0.93

$1.33 CHF 1.08

-13.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.25 CHF 9.08

$10.95 CHF 8.83

2.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 CHF 10.58

$12.42 CHF 10.03

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 CHF 1.78

$3.35 CHF 2.70

-34.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 CHF 1.85

$3.78 CHF 3.05

-39.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.03 CHF 3.25

$3.60 CHF 2.91

11.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 CHF 79.8

$85.0 CHF 68.6

16.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 CHF 5.33

$7.37 CHF 5.94

-10.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.16 CHF 3.35

$3.51 CHF 2.83

18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$79.5 CHF 64.2

$63.9 CHF 51.6

24.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.79

$2.21 CHF 1.78

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

$40.2K CHF 32.4K

$40.1K CHF 32.4K

0.11%

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

$39.3K CHF 31.8K

$49.5K CHF 40.0K

-20.58%

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

$251 CHF 202

$259 CHF 209

-3.11%

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

$60.4 CHF 48.72

$47.91 CHF 38.67

26.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 CHF 48.02

$64.2 CHF 51.8

-7.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.5 CHF 69.8

$80.9 CHF 65.3

6.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.78 CHF 37.75

$36.86 CHF 29.75

26.91%

Cinema Ticket

$26.94 CHF 21.74

$24.51 CHF 19.78

9.91%

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

$2,850 CHF 2,300

$3,517 CHF 2,838

-18.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.1K CHF 32.3K

$33.7K CHF 27.2K

18.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 113

$139 CHF 112

0.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.7 CHF 48.96

$79.6 CHF 64.3

-23.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$148 CHF 120

$166 CHF 134

-10.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$201 CHF 162

$209 CHF 168

-3.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,679 CHF 1,355

$2,353 CHF 1,899

-28.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 CHF 1,205

$2,079 CHF 1,678

-28.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,862 CHF 2,309

$4,650 CHF 3,753

-38.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,474 CHF 1,996

$3,813 CHF 3,077

-35.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.6K CHF 11.8K

$22.7K CHF 18.3K

-35.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.4K CHF 9,986

$15.7K CHF 12.7K

-21.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,239 CHF 6,649

$7,297 CHF 5,888

12.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

2.46

-15.04%

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

Last update for Meilen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Geneva: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,679 in Meilen versus $2,353 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 13% 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 $146 in Meilen versus $147 in Geneva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $656 vs $678 – 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 Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,223 per month in Meilen and $6,197 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 3% 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 $146 in Meilen and $147 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 $3,482 in Meilen and $4,131 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.