Cost of Living Comparison Between Meilen and Zurich Cost of Living Comparison Between Meilen and Zurich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,552 per month in Meilen vs $4,270 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,476 per month in Meilen vs $6,491 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,400 per month in Meilen vs $8,712 in Zurich, rent included.

Meilen is about 17% cheaper than Zurich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Meilen and Zurich sit above the global median – Meilen by 166%, Zurich by 220%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.90 CHF 24.93

$30.84 CHF 24.88

0.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 120

$147 CHF 119

1.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.67 CHF 15.06

$20.72 CHF 16.72

-9.89%

Cappuccino

$6.29 CHF 5.07

$6.94 CHF 5.60

-9.37%

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

$5.90 CHF 4.76

$6.04 CHF 4.88

-2.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 CHF 4.15

$5.24 CHF 4.23

-1.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.53 CHF 6.89

$9.83 CHF 7.94

-13.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.34 CHF 5.92

$8.52 CHF 6.87

-13.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CHF 1.82

$2.18 CHF 1.76

3.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.30 CHF 2.66

$3.25 CHF 2.62

1.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.12 CHF 3.32

Eggs

$7.22 CHF 5.83

$7.26 CHF 5.85

-0.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.95 CHF 24.17

$30.00 CHF 24.21

-0.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.90 CHF 26.55

$34.06 CHF 27.49

-3.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$49.64 CHF 40.06

$50.2 CHF 40.48

-1.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 CHF 3.40

$4.09 CHF 3.30

2.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 2.01

$2.91 CHF 2.34

-14.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 CHF 2.55

$3.02 CHF 2.44

4.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.99 CHF 4.03

$4.98 CHF 4.02

0.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 CHF 2.11

$2.75 CHF 2.22

-5.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 CHF 1.84

$2.34 CHF 1.89

-2.56%

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

$1.72 CHF 1.39

-35.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.06 CHF 8.92

$11.29 CHF 9.11

-2.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.69 CHF 11.05

$13.58 CHF 10.96

0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 CHF 1.78

$2.63 CHF 2.12

-15.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 CHF 1.90

$3.23 CHF 2.60

-27.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.99 CHF 3.22

$5.02 CHF 4.05

-20.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.3 CHF 79.3

$107 CHF 86.4

-8.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 CHF 5.59

$7.81 CHF 6.30

-11.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.31 CHF 3.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$80.4 CHF 64.9

$86.9 CHF 70.1

-7.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.22 CHF 1.79

$2.24 CHF 1.80

-0.89%

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

$40.3K CHF 32.5K

$39.7K CHF 32.0K

1.57%

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

$39.4K CHF 31.8K

$39.8K CHF 32.1K

-1.04%

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

$258 CHF 208

-0.05%

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

$58.9 CHF 47.52

$36.31 CHF 29.30

62.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.0 CHF 47.57

$59.4 CHF 47.92

-0.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.4 CHF 72.1

$89.5 CHF 72.2

-0.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.5 CHF 51.2

$50.1 CHF 40.41

26.76%

Cinema Ticket

$26.92 CHF 21.72

$24.81 CHF 20.02

8.50%

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

$2,828 CHF 2,282

$3,344 CHF 2,698

-15.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.6K CHF 31.2K

$39.1K CHF 31.6K

-1.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 112

$138 CHF 111

0.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.1 CHF 50.1

$61.7 CHF 49.80

0.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$146 CHF 118

$147 CHF 119

-0.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$199 CHF 161

$200 CHF 161

-0.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,724 CHF 1,391

$2,721 CHF 2,195

-36.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 CHF 1,183

$2,227 CHF 1,797

-34.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,868 CHF 2,314

$5,054 CHF 4,078

-43.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,461 CHF 1,986

$3,797 CHF 3,064

-35.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.9K CHF 12.8K

$27.3K CHF 22.0K

-41.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.6K CHF 10.2K

$16.4K CHF 13.2K

-22.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,271 CHF 6,674

$8,287 CHF 6,687

-0.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

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

Last update for Meilen: July 12, 2026

Last update for Zurich: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,724 in Meilen versus $2,721 in Zurich. 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 0% higher in Zurich, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $149 in Meilen versus $147 in Zurich. Groceries tell a different story – $657 in Meilen vs $676 in Zurich – 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 Zurich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zurich costs about 20% more than Meilen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,328 per month in Meilen and $6,406 in Zurich. 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.

Public transport costs about 9% less in Meilen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,828 per month in Meilen and $3,344 in Zurich. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,552 in Meilen and $4,270 in Zurich. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Meilen costs $3,552 versus $4,270 in Zurich. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Zurich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.