Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreux and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,663 a month against $3,392 in Montreux, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Montreux
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,392
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreux and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montreux and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,392 in Montreux versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Montreux $3,392
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,203 in Montreux versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Montreux $5,203
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,015 in Montreux versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Montreux $7,015
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Montreux is roughly 27% more expensive than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreux 151% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreux
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.50 CHF 25.12
$20.77 $20.77
46.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$132 CHF 109
$84.6 $84.6
56.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.41 CHF 15.16
$12.32 $12.32
49.43%
Cappuccino
$5.93 CHF 4.89
$5.63 $5.63
5.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86 CHF 4.00
$3.72 $3.72
30.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 CHF 3.38
$2.50 $2.50
64.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.83 CHF 8.10
$8.05 $8.05
22.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 CHF 8.11
$9.01 $9.01
9.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreux
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 CHF 1.75
$1.12 $1.12
89.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.35 CHF 2.76
$3.75 $3.75
-10.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.23 CHF 2.66
$3.26 $3.26
-0.92%
Eggs
$7.08 CHF 5.83
$4.17 $4.17
69.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.74 CHF 20.37
$12.90 $12.90
91.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$28.15 CHF 23.19
$14.16 $14.16
98.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$39.23 CHF 32.31
$16.22 $16.22
141.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.47 CHF 2.86
$4.33 $4.33
-19.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 CHF 1.35
$1.46 $1.46
11.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.43 CHF 2.00
$4.51 $4.51
-46.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.62 CHF 3.81
$4.34 $4.34
6.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 CHF 1.47
$2.58 $2.58
-30.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 CHF 1.58
$2.35 $2.35
-18.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 CHF 1.61
$1.78 $1.78
10.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 CHF 1.42
$2.22 $2.22
-22.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.67 CHF 8.79
$9.88 $9.88
8.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.98 CHF 9.87
$15.08 $15.08
-20.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 CHF 2.22
$2.92 $2.92
-7.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 CHF 2.60
$3.46 $3.46
-8.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreux
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.54 CHF 3.74
$1.49 $1.49
204.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 CHF 82.8
$41.72 $41.72
140.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.52 CHF 6.20
$2.73 $2.73
175.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.95 CHF 3.25
$1.66 $1.66
137.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.4 CHF 51.4
$35.30 $35.30
76.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.30 CHF 1.89
$0.95 $0.95
142.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K CHF 31.4K
$36.0K $36.0K
5.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K CHF 32.0K
$27.1K $27.1K
43.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreux
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$285 CHF 234
$229 $229
24.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.64 CHF 30.18
$59.4 $59.4
-38.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.9 CHF 41.94
$69.9 $69.9
-27.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreux
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$88.5 CHF 72.9
$57.2 $57.2
54.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.52 CHF 37.49
$16.33 $16.33
178.75%
Cinema Ticket
$23.83 CHF 19.63
$14.28 $14.28
66.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreux
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,416 CHF 1,990
$1,506 $1,506
60.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.8K CHF 29.5K
$21.5K $21.5K
66.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreux
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137 CHF 113
$52.8 $52.8
159.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.0 CHF 62.6
$43.82 $43.82
73.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$163 CHF 134
$84.8 $84.8
91.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$185 CHF 152
$103 $103
79.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreux
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,673 CHF 1,378
$1,907 $1,907
-12.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,440 CHF 1,186
$1,274 $1,274
13.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,879 CHF 2,371
$3,664 $3,664
-21.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,458 CHF 2,025
$2,538 $2,538
-3.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K CHF 12.9K
$7,614 $7,614
105.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$12.1K CHF 9,982
$3,157 $3,157
283.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreux
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,082 CHF 6,657
$5,121 $5,121
57.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.95
6.79
-71.28%

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

Last update for Montreux: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreux
$1.4K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 11.5% $166
Groceries & Markets
Montreux
$570
Austin, TX
$405 29% $165
Eating Out
Montreux
$475
Austin, TX
$354 25.5% $121
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreux
$372
Austin, TX
$358 3.7% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Montreux
$252
Austin, TX
$128 49.3% $124
Getting Around
Montreux
$146
Austin, TX
$59 59.8% $87
Sport & Entertainment
Montreux
$136
Austin, TX
$86 37% $50

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Montreux and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreux pays 58% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $132 in Montreux vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $570 vs $405 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Montreux
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
05:21 5:21 AM
22:21 10:21 PM
7 h behind Montreux
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
26,208
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreux Austin, TX 8,630 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreux
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Montreux vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreux or Austin, TX?
Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Montreux. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montreux or in Austin, TX?
Average pay runs 58% higher in Montreux, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montreux compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Montreux versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Montreux compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $3,392 per month in Montreux versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Montreux compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 141% less than in Montreux. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreux or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreux or Austin, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,663 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.
How safe is Montreux compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Montreux and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Montreux. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Montreux vs other spots: cost of living compared

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