Cost of Living Comparison Between Noumea and Locarno Cost of Living Comparison Between Noumea and Locarno

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,487 per month in Noumea vs $2,989 in Locarno, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,896 per month in Noumea vs $4,758 in Locarno, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,304 per month in Noumea vs $6,527 in Locarno, rent included.

Noumea is about 17% cheaper than Locarno, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Noumea and Locarno sit above the global median – Noumea by 80%, Locarno by 117%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.65 CFPF 2,218

$27.28 CHF 22.28

-20.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$117 CFPF 12.0K

$123 CHF 100

-4.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.32 CFPF 1,467

$18.75 CHF 15.31

-23.63%

Cappuccino

$4.68 CFPF 479

$5.32 CHF 4.35

-12.03%

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

$2.00 CFPF 205

$5.23 CHF 4.27

-61.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 CFPF 132

$4.22 CHF 3.45

-69.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.80 CFPF 1,004

$8.43 CHF 6.88

16.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.69 CFPF 788

$6.13 CHF 5.01

25.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 CFPF 131

$2.17 CHF 1.78

-41.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 CFPF 366

$3.96 CHF 3.23

-9.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 CFPF 239

$3.18 CHF 2.60

-26.73%

Eggs

$6.60 CFPF 676

$7.60 CHF 6.20

-13.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.08 CFPF 3,184

$27.02 CHF 22.07

15.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$28.78 CFPF 2,949

$16.49 CHF 13.46

74.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$29.18 CFPF 2,990

$36.96 CHF 30.18

-21.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 CFPF 500

$3.13 CHF 2.56

55.91%

Banana (1kg)

$7.30 CFPF 747

$1.65 CHF 1.35

342.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.51 CFPF 667

$2.19 CHF 1.79

197.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.45 CFPF 866

$3.76 CHF 3.07

124.73%

Potato (1kg)

$5.83 CFPF 597

$1.29 CHF 1.05

351.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.85 CFPF 394

$1.87 CHF 1.53

105.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.12 CFPF 423

$1.93 CHF 1.58

113.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CFPF 158

$1.20 CHF 0.98

28.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.16 CFPF 2,065

$11.16 CHF 9.11

80.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.57 CFPF 1,800

$13.40 CHF 10.94

31.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.80 CFPF 594

$3.12 CHF 2.55

85.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 CHF 2.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.82 CFPF 493

$2.80 CHF 2.29

72.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 CHF 82.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.42 CFPF 760

$12.23 CHF 9.98

-39.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 CFPF 119

$2.45 CHF 2.00

-52.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.18 CFPF 2,272

$62.4 CHF 51.0

-64.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 CFPF 174

$2.22 CHF 1.81

-23.42%

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

$33.2K CFPF 3.4M

$39.2K CHF 32.0K

-15.28%

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

$38.2K CFPF 3.9M

$40.0K CHF 32.6K

-4.30%

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

$206 CFPF 21.1K

$491 CHF 401

-57.99%

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

$44.91 CFPF 4,601

$27.32 CHF 22.31

64.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 CFPF 5,195

$58.7 CHF 47.97

-13.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.8 CFPF 5,204

$75.4 CHF 61.6

-32.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.97 CFPF 919

$30.73 CHF 25.09

-70.81%

Cinema Ticket

$14.48 CFPF 1,483

$20.08 CHF 16.40

-27.89%

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

$791 CFPF 81.1K

$1,489 CHF 1,216

-46.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,549 CFPF 978.3K

$19.5K CHF 16.0K

-51.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$113 CFPF 11.6K

$100 CHF 82.0

12.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.3 CFPF 6,899

$59.6 CHF 48.64

13.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CFPF 10.7K

$97.7 CHF 79.8

6.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$257 CFPF 26.4K

$120 CHF 98.0

114.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 CFPF 78.6K

$1,062 CHF 868

-27.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$792 CFPF 81.2K

$1,071 CHF 874

-25.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 CFPF 158.9K

$2,396 CHF 1,957

-35.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,373 CFPF 140.7K

$2,266 CHF 1,850

-39.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,962 CFPF 508.3K

$8,068 CHF 6,588

-38.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,551 CFPF 363.8K

$6,293 CHF 5,139

-43.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,780 CFPF 284.8K

$6,900 CHF 5,635

-59.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.13

1.93

62.18%

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

Last update for Noumea: September 7, 2026

Last update for Locarno: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $767 in Noumea versus $1,062 in Locarno. 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 148% higher in Locarno, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $117 in Noumea versus $123 in Locarno. Groceries tell a different story – $670 in Noumea vs $510 in Locarno – so Locarno 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

Noumea vs Locarno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Locarno 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 $3,730 per month in Noumea and $4,483 in Locarno. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Noumea, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $117 in Noumea and $123 in Locarno. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 31% cheaper in Locarno – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Noumea, where all-in costs run around $2,487, than in Locarno at $2,989. In Noumea it covers expenses comfortably, while in Locarno it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Noumea – 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 Noumea. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Locarno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.