Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreux and Geneva Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreux and Geneva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,490 per month in Montreux vs $4,177 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,372 per month in Montreux vs $6,255 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,254 per month in Montreux vs $8,333 in Geneva, rent included.

Montreux is about 16% cheaper than Geneva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreux and Geneva sit above the global median – Montreux by 154%, Geneva by 204%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.64 CHF 25.72

$30.77 CHF 25.02

2.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$139 CHF 113

$133 CHF 108

4.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.45 CHF 15.00

$18.66 CHF 15.17

-1.13%

Cappuccino

$6.08 CHF 4.95

$6.56 CHF 5.33

-7.32%

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

$5.21 CHF 4.24

$4.98 CHF 4.05

4.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 CHF 3.43

$4.25 CHF 3.46

-0.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.10 CHF 8.21

$9.63 CHF 7.83

4.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.13 CHF 8.23

$9.97 CHF 8.10

1.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.82

$2.39 CHF 1.94

-6.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 CHF 2.46

$3.50 CHF 2.84

-13.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CHF 2.65

$3.33 CHF 2.71

-2.10%

Eggs

$7.08 CHF 5.75

$8.08 CHF 6.57

-12.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 CHF 20.58

$25.34 CHF 20.60

-0.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$28.79 CHF 23.40

$29.32 CHF 23.84

-1.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$40.42 CHF 32.86

$42.61 CHF 34.64

-5.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CHF 3.04

$3.46 CHF 2.82

8.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 CHF 1.43

$1.75 CHF 1.42

0.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 CHF 2.17

$2.80 CHF 2.28

-5.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.73 CHF 3.85

$4.74 CHF 3.85

-0.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 CHF 1.52

$1.61 CHF 1.31

16.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 CHF 1.63

$2.19 CHF 1.78

-8.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 CHF 1.74

$2.13 CHF 1.73

0.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 CHF 1.50

$1.73 CHF 1.41

6.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.39 CHF 9.26

$11.15 CHF 9.06

2.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 CHF 10.16

$12.17 CHF 9.90

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 CHF 2.32

$3.43 CHF 2.78

-16.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 CHF 2.72

$3.51 CHF 2.85

-4.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.32 CHF 3.51

$3.64 CHF 2.96

18.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$104 CHF 84.6

$91.7 CHF 74.6

13.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.94 CHF 6.45

$7.50 CHF 6.09

5.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.10 CHF 3.33

$4.06 CHF 3.30

0.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$64.7 CHF 52.6

$65.7 CHF 53.4

-1.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.30 CHF 1.87

$2.36 CHF 1.92

-2.54%

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

$39.7K CHF 32.3K

$39.5K CHF 32.1K

0.54%

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

$41.0K CHF 33.3K

$40.4K CHF 32.9K

1.42%

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

$292 CHF 238

$288 CHF 234

1.60%

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

$37.14 CHF 30.19

$38.71 CHF 31.47

-4.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 CHF 41.85

$57.0 CHF 46.33

-9.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.2 CHF 75.8

$78.6 CHF 63.9

18.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.83 CHF 38.89

$45.32 CHF 36.84

5.54%

Cinema Ticket

$24.60 CHF 20.00

$24.59 CHF 19.99

0.04%

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

$2,425 CHF 1,972

$2,455 CHF 1,996

-1.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.9K CHF 30.0K

$36.0K CHF 29.2K

2.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 CHF 112

$139 CHF 113

-0.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$79.0 CHF 64.3

$80.4 CHF 65.3

-1.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$172 CHF 140

$170 CHF 138

1.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$195 CHF 158

$192 CHF 156

1.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,845 CHF 1,500

$2,828 CHF 2,299

-34.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 CHF 1,227

$2,136 CHF 1,736

-29.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,890 CHF 2,350

$4,724 CHF 3,840

-38.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,503 CHF 2,035

$3,738 CHF 3,039

-33.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.3K CHF 13.3K

$22.5K CHF 18.3K

-27.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.4K CHF 10.1K

$16.2K CHF 13.2K

-23.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,329 CHF 6,771

$7,375 CHF 5,996

12.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.95

1.98

-1.52%

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

Last update for Montreux: August 30, 2026

Last update for Geneva: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,845 in Montreux versus $2,828 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 Montreux, 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 $139 in Montreux versus $133 in Geneva. Groceries tell a different story – $585 in Montreux vs $605 in Geneva – so Montreux 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

Montreux vs Geneva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,235 per month in Montreux and $6,266 in Geneva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreux, 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 $139 in Montreux and $133 in Geneva. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,490 in Montreux and $4,177 in Geneva. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Montreux – 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 Montreux. 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.