Cost of Living Comparison Between Neuchatel and Solothurn Cost of Living Comparison Between Neuchatel and Solothurn

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,331 in Neuchatel versus $2,824 in Solothurn.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,093 in Neuchatel versus $4,426 in Solothurn.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,854 in Neuchatel versus $6,029 in Solothurn.

Living in Neuchatel is roughly 18% more expensive than Solothurn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Neuchatel 149% above, Solothurn 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.65 CHF 19.44

$30.88 CHF 24.35

-20.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 CHF 77.4

$143 CHF 113

-31.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.98 CHF 15.75

$20.70 CHF 16.32

-3.48%

Cappuccino

$4.84 CHF 3.81

$6.63 CHF 5.23

-27.00%

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

$4.72 CHF 3.72

$5.61 CHF 4.42

-15.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CHF 3.09

$5.13 CHF 4.04

-23.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.52 CHF 6.71

$6.64 CHF 5.24

28.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 CHF 4.73

$6.24 CHF 4.92

-4.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CHF 1.67

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-6.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.85 CHF 3.03

$3.43 CHF 2.70

12.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.26 CHF 3.35

$3.39 CHF 2.67

25.66%

Eggs

$7.34 CHF 5.79

$7.47 CHF 5.89

-1.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.76 CHF 24.25

$29.54 CHF 23.29

4.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.50 CHF 25.62

$30.76 CHF 24.25

5.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$48.62 CHF 38.33

$38.99 CHF 30.74

24.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 CHF 4.06

$4.22 CHF 3.33

22.04%

Banana (1kg)

$3.34 CHF 2.63

$2.90 CHF 2.28

15.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 CHF 2.22

$3.12 CHF 2.46

-9.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 CHF 4.52

$4.34 CHF 3.42

32.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 CHF 2.30

$1.93 CHF 1.52

51.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 CHF 1.87

$2.02 CHF 1.59

17.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 CHF 1.75

$2.50 CHF 1.97

-10.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 CHF 1.30

$1.06 CHF 0.84

55.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.89 CHF 8.59

$11.30 CHF 8.91

-3.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 CHF 9.93

$10.27 CHF 8.09

22.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 CHF 1.86

$2.65 CHF 2.09

-11.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 CHF 2.70

$2.43 CHF 1.92

40.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.17 CHF 2.50

$3.60 CHF 2.84

-11.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$90.1 CHF 71.0

$98.1 CHF 77.4

-8.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.39 CHF 7.40

$7.67 CHF 6.05

22.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 CHF 2.56

$4.19 CHF 3.30

-22.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$78.2 CHF 61.6

$73.1 CHF 57.6

6.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.13 CHF 1.68

$2.30 CHF 1.82

-7.39%

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

$39.6K CHF 31.2K

$38.3K CHF 30.2K

3.59%

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

$42.3K CHF 33.3K

$37.8K CHF 29.8K

11.89%

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

$285 CHF 225

$100 CHF 78.9

185.09%

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

$62.3 CHF 49.14

$30.95 CHF 24.40

101.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.08 CHF 29.24

$57.8 CHF 45.53

-35.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.0 CHF 71.0

$74.0 CHF 58.3

21.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.25 CHF 19.12

Cinema Ticket

$21.92 CHF 17.28

$24.39 CHF 19.23

-10.13%

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

$2,561 CHF 2,019

$3,424 CHF 2,700

-25.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.6K CHF 21.0K

$19.8K CHF 15.6K

34.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 CHF 107

$140 CHF 111

-3.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.0 CHF 53.6

$42.53 CHF 33.53

59.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$155 CHF 122

$99.3 CHF 78.3

55.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CHF 92.9

$188 CHF 148

-37.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,752 CHF 1,381

$1,265 CHF 997

38.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,442 CHF 1,137

$1,065 CHF 840

35.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,743 CHF 2,162

$1,854 CHF 1,462

47.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,393 CHF 1,887

$1,755 CHF 1,384

36.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.2K CHF 9,613

$10.3K CHF 8,088

18.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,798 CHF 6,937

$5,092 CHF 4,014

72.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,595 CHF 5,988

$7,149 CHF 5,636

6.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.42

2.09

15.79%

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

Last update for Neuchatel: June 1, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,752 in Neuchatel and $1,265 in Solothurn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Neuchatel pays 6% 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: $98.0 in Neuchatel vs $143 in Solothurn. Groceries flip the comparison at $678 vs $604, with Solothurn cheaper for home cooking.

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

Neuchatel vs Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Neuchatel and Solothurn differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($3,331 vs $2,824 including rent). Solothurn is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Neuchatel pays 6% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,752 in Neuchatel versus $1,265 in Solothurn. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Solothurn – a meal for two runs $143 versus $98.0 in Neuchatel. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,331 per month in Neuchatel versus $2,824 in Solothurn – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Solothurn is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Neuchatel and Solothurn are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Solothurn gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Neuchatel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.