😐A single person spends $3,182 per month in Mendrisio vs $2,863 in Solothurn, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,897 per month in Mendrisio vs $4,556 in Solothurn, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,612 per month in Mendrisio vs $6,248 in Solothurn, rent included.
😐Mendrisio costs about 11% more than Solothurn, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Mendrisio and Solothurn sit above the global median – Mendrisio by 132%, Solothurn by 108%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mendrisio
Solothurn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$35.50CHF 28.86
$31.05CHF 25.24
14.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$177CHF 144
$149CHF 121
18.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$20.33CHF 16.53
$18.21CHF 14.81
11.64%
Cappuccino
$4.56CHF 3.71
$6.67CHF 5.42
-31.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22CHF 4.24
$5.64CHF 4.58
-7.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99CHF 3.24
$5.54CHF 4.51
-27.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.80CHF 7.16
$6.87CHF 5.59
28.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40CHF 6.01
$6.07CHF 4.93
21.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mendrisio
Solothurn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26CHF 1.84
$2.24CHF 1.82
0.89%
White Bread(500g)
$3.77CHF 3.07
$3.93CHF 3.20
-4.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.25CHF 3.46
$3.62CHF 2.94
17.40%
Eggs
$7.39CHF 6.00
$8.64CHF 7.02
-14.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.48CHF 21.52
$23.03CHF 18.72
14.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$29.91CHF 24.32
$26.95CHF 21.91
10.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$41.00CHF 33.33
$60.8CHF 49.45
-32.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40CHF 2.76
$2.99CHF 2.43
13.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72CHF 1.40
$1.46CHF 1.19
17.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.54CHF 2.06
$3.45CHF 2.80
-26.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.32CHF 5.14
$4.22CHF 3.43
49.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82CHF 1.48
$1.63CHF 1.32
11.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22CHF 1.81
$1.86CHF 1.51
19.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.52CHF 2.05
$1.64CHF 1.33
53.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18CHF 0.96
$0.99CHF 0.81
19.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.18CHF 9.09
$11.14CHF 9.06
0.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.65CHF 10.29
$13.73CHF 11.16
-7.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95CHF 2.40
$2.84CHF 2.31
3.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14CHF 3.36
$3.21CHF 2.61
28.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Mendrisio
Solothurn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.13CHF 2.55
$4.89CHF 3.98
-35.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.25CHF 5.89
$8.11CHF 6.59
-10.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.81CHF 4.72
$4.80CHF 3.90
21.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$80.3CHF 65.3
$90.1CHF 73.2
-10.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29CHF 1.86
$2.27CHF 1.85
0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3KCHF 29.5K
$31.0KCHF 25.2K
17.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4KCHF 32.9K
$35.8KCHF 29.1K
12.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mendrisio
Solothurn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$294CHF 239
$98.5CHF 80.0
198.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.75CHF 18.49
$31.23CHF 25.39
-27.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.39CHF 40.15
$58.0CHF 47.19
-14.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mendrisio
Solothurn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.0CHF 60.2
$92.1CHF 74.9
-19.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.96CHF 13.79
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.28CHF 16.49
$18.50CHF 15.04
9.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mendrisio
Solothurn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,216CHF 989
$3,686CHF 2,997
-67.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.7KCHF 28.2K
$20.1KCHF 16.3K
72.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mendrisio
Solothurn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$164CHF 133
$148CHF 120
10.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.8CHF 47.83
$42.58CHF 34.62
38.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$196CHF 159
$168CHF 136
16.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152CHF 124
$258CHF 210
-41.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mendrisio
Solothurn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,432CHF 1,164
$1,197CHF 973
19.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,257CHF 1,022
$1,072CHF 872
17.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,886CHF 1,534
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,796CHF 1,460
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$10.0KCHF 8,171
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,885CHF 3,971
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mendrisio
Solothurn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,940CHF 5,643
$7,084CHF 5,759
-2.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.37
2.07
14.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mendrisio: August 31, 2026
Last update for Solothurn: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,432 in Mendrisio versus $1,197 in Solothurn. 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 2% higher in Solothurn, 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 $177 in Mendrisio versus $149 in Solothurn. Groceries tell a different story – $610 in Mendrisio vs $631 in Solothurn – so Mendrisio 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
Mendrisio vs Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solothurn cheaper than Mendrisio?
Yes – Mendrisio is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,772 per month in Mendrisio and $4,295 in Solothurn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Solothurn, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mendrisio and in Solothurn?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,182 in Mendrisio and $2,863 in Solothurn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,216 per month in Mendrisio and $3,686 in Solothurn. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Mendrisio or in Solothurn?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,182 in Mendrisio and $2,863 in Solothurn. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Mendrisio or Solothurn more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Solothurn – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mendrisio or Solothurn?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Solothurn. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mendrisio makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.