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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,058 per month in Montreux vs $4,060 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,760 per month in Montreux vs $6,383 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,462 per month in Montreux vs $8,707 in Geneva, rent included.

Montreux and Geneva have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Montreux and Geneva sit above the global median – Montreux by 203%, Geneva by 203%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.25 CHF 23.85

$37.68 CHF 29.71

-19.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 118

$150 CHF 118

-0.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.89 CHF 14.90

$18.64 CHF 14.69

1.34%

Cappuccino

$6.02 CHF 4.74

$5.97 CHF 4.71

0.84%

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

$5.59 CHF 4.41

$5.49 CHF 4.33

1.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 CHF 3.74

$4.92 CHF 3.88

-3.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.61 CHF 7.58

$10.13 CHF 7.99

-5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.67 CHF 6.84

$8.54 CHF 6.73

1.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.76

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-1.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 CHF 3.00

$3.88 CHF 3.06

-2.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 CHF 3.48

$4.44 CHF 3.50

-0.68%

Eggs

$7.04 CHF 5.55

$7.62 CHF 6.00

-7.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.06 CHF 22.91

$26.53 CHF 20.92

9.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$28.44 CHF 22.42

$33.26 CHF 26.22

-14.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.85 CHF 34.57

$52.6 CHF 41.45

-16.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 CHF 3.16

$3.49 CHF 2.75

14.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 CHF 1.70

$2.52 CHF 1.99

-14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 CHF 2.28

$3.07 CHF 2.42

-5.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 CHF 5.05

$6.26 CHF 4.93

2.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.17 CHF 2.50

$2.66 CHF 2.09

19.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 CHF 1.91

$2.32 CHF 1.83

4.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 CHF 1.99

$2.57 CHF 2.03

-1.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CHF 1.24

$1.36 CHF 1.07

15.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.89 CHF 8.59

$10.90 CHF 8.59

-0.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.17 CHF 11.17

$12.84 CHF 10.13

10.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 CHF 1.60

$3.26 CHF 2.57

-37.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 CHF 2.39

$3.63 CHF 2.87

-16.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.03 CHF 3.18

$3.60 CHF 2.83

11.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.5 CHF 70.6

$85.5 CHF 67.4

4.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.08 CHF 6.37

$7.53 CHF 5.94

7.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.12 CHF 3.25

$3.64 CHF 2.87

13.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$66.7 CHF 52.6

$65.6 CHF 51.7

1.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.78

$2.23 CHF 1.76

1.35%

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

$39.8K CHF 31.4K

$41.0K CHF 32.3K

-2.92%

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

$42.0K CHF 33.1K

$48.7K CHF 38.4K

-13.93%

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

$308 CHF 243

$262 CHF 207

17.67%

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

$50.1 CHF 39.46

$47.82 CHF 37.70

4.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CHF 45.81

$63.3 CHF 49.87

-8.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.5 CHF 63.4

$79.6 CHF 62.7

1.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.99 CHF 29.16

$35.97 CHF 28.36

2.84%

Cinema Ticket

$22.58 CHF 17.81

$24.48 CHF 19.30

-7.76%

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

$2,617 CHF 2,064

$3,514 CHF 2,770

-25.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.8K CHF 26.7K

$32.7K CHF 25.8K

3.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$109 CHF 86.0

$138 CHF 109

-20.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.6 CHF 54.1

$81.7 CHF 64.4

-16.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$176 CHF 139

$162 CHF 128

8.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$184 CHF 145

$214 CHF 169

-14.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,177 CHF 1,717

$2,329 CHF 1,836

-6.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,006 CHF 1,582

$2,049 CHF 1,615

-2.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,327 CHF 2,623

$4,631 CHF 3,651

-28.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,749 CHF 2,167

$3,922 CHF 3,092

-29.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.7K CHF 13.2K

$23.1K CHF 18.2K

-27.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,808 CHF 6,944

$16.4K CHF 12.9K

-46.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,425 CHF 6,642

$7,858 CHF 6,195

7.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

2.46

1.63%

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

Last update for Montreux: May 31, 2026

Last update for Geneva: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,177 in Montreux versus $2,329 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 7% higher in Montreux. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $149 in Montreux versus $150 in Geneva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $632 vs $678 – making Montreux 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

Montreux vs Geneva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,088 per month in Montreux and $6,090 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 7% more in Geneva, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $2,617 per month in Montreux and $3,514 in Geneva. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$4,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,058 in Montreux and $4,060 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.