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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,494 per month in Meilen vs $4,254 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,413 per month in Meilen vs $6,409 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,333 per month in Meilen vs $8,563 in Zurich, rent included.

Meilen is about 18% cheaper than Zurich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Meilen and Zurich sit above the global median – Meilen by 161%, Zurich by 217%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.27 CHF 23.86

$31.04 CHF 24.47

-2.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 CHF 116

$149 CHF 118

-1.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.53 CHF 14.61

$20.83 CHF 16.42

-11.04%

Cappuccino

$6.47 CHF 5.10

$6.72 CHF 5.29

-3.72%

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

$6.01 CHF 4.74

$5.90 CHF 4.65

1.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.21 CHF 4.11

$5.35 CHF 4.22

-2.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.55 CHF 6.74

$9.85 CHF 7.76

-13.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.49 CHF 5.91

$8.82 CHF 6.95

-15.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.74

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-2.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 CHF 2.57

$3.29 CHF 2.60

-0.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.13 CHF 3.26

$4.12 CHF 3.25

0.24%

Eggs

$7.43 CHF 5.86

$7.19 CHF 5.67

3.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.80 CHF 23.49

$29.88 CHF 23.56

-0.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.74 CHF 26.60

$33.59 CHF 26.48

0.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.6 CHF 39.86

$49.65 CHF 39.14

1.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.15 CHF 3.27

$4.04 CHF 3.18

2.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 1.96

$2.90 CHF 2.29

-14.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 CHF 2.39

$3.05 CHF 2.40

-0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 CHF 4.03

$5.24 CHF 4.13

-2.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 CHF 1.98

$2.85 CHF 2.25

-11.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 CHF 1.83

$2.38 CHF 1.88

-2.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 CHF 1.94

$2.50 CHF 1.97

-1.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CHF 0.89

$1.70 CHF 1.34

-33.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.06 CHF 8.72

$10.96 CHF 8.64

0.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.47 CHF 12.20

$15.06 CHF 11.87

2.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 CHF 1.70

$2.62 CHF 2.07

-17.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 CHF 1.79

$3.23 CHF 2.55

-29.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.84 CHF 3.03

$4.82 CHF 3.80

-20.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 CHF 77.9

$106 CHF 83.7

-6.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.88 CHF 5.43

$7.55 CHF 5.95

-8.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.30 CHF 3.39

$4.15 CHF 3.27

3.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$79.0 CHF 62.3

$89.1 CHF 70.2

-11.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.30 CHF 1.82

$2.29 CHF 1.81

0.44%

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

$39.9K CHF 31.4K

$41.1K CHF 32.4K

-2.97%

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

$38.7K CHF 30.5K

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

-1.51%

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

$252 CHF 198

$259 CHF 204

-2.70%

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

$58.5 CHF 46.11

$35.51 CHF 28.00

64.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 CHF 47.09

$58.5 CHF 46.08

2.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.3 CHF 68.0

$88.8 CHF 70.0

-2.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.8 CHF 50.3

$48.84 CHF 38.50

30.69%

Cinema Ticket

$27.45 CHF 21.64

$25.07 CHF 19.77

9.49%

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

$2,830 CHF 2,231

$3,470 CHF 2,736

-18.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.7K CHF 31.3K

$39.0K CHF 30.8K

1.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 CHF 111

$137 CHF 108

3.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.6 CHF 48.53

$62.3 CHF 49.13

-1.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 CHF 116

$148 CHF 117

-0.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$205 CHF 162

$202 CHF 159

1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,722 CHF 1,358

$2,686 CHF 2,118

-35.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 CHF 1,179

$2,205 CHF 1,738

-32.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,885 CHF 2,274

$4,902 CHF 3,865

-41.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,478 CHF 1,953

$3,702 CHF 2,919

-33.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.2K CHF 11.2K

$26.1K CHF 20.6K

-45.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.1K CHF 7,928

$16.5K CHF 13.0K

-38.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,615 CHF 6,792

$8,722 CHF 6,876

-1.22%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Zurich: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,722 in Meilen versus $2,686 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 1% 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 $147 in Meilen versus $149 in Zurich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $666 vs $677 – 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 Zurich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zurich costs about 22% 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 $5,241 per month in Meilen and $6,382 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 7% less in Meilen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,830 per month in Meilen and $3,470 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 $3,494 in Meilen and $4,254 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 $3,494 versus $4,254 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.