Cost of Living Comparison Between Olten and Geneva Cost of Living Comparison Between Olten and Geneva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,941 per month in Olten vs $4,060 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,458 per month in Olten vs $6,383 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,975 per month in Olten vs $8,707 in Geneva, rent included.

Olten is about 28% cheaper than Geneva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Olten and Geneva sit above the global median – Olten by 119%, Geneva by 203%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.87 CHF 24.36

$37.68 CHF 29.74

-18.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$105 CHF 82.9

$150 CHF 118

-30.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.57 CHF 13.86

$18.64 CHF 14.71

-5.74%

Cappuccino

$5.47 CHF 4.31

$5.97 CHF 4.71

-8.38%

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

$5.34 CHF 4.22

$5.49 CHF 4.33

-2.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 CHF 3.65

$4.92 CHF 3.88

-6.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 CHF 5.43

$10.13 CHF 7.99

-32.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.29 CHF 4.97

$8.54 CHF 6.74

-26.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 CHF 1.65

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-7.52%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 CHF 2.68

$3.88 CHF 3.06

-12.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.12 CHF 3.26

$4.44 CHF 3.50

-7.21%

Eggs

$7.54 CHF 5.95

$7.62 CHF 6.01

-1.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.64 CHF 17.07

$26.53 CHF 20.94

-18.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$25.89 CHF 20.43

$33.26 CHF 26.25

-22.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$40.22 CHF 31.74

$52.6 CHF 41.49

-23.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.04 CHF 3.19

$3.49 CHF 2.76

15.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 CHF 1.90

$2.52 CHF 1.99

-4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 CHF 2.35

$3.07 CHF 2.42

-3.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 CHF 3.99

$6.26 CHF 4.94

-19.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 CHF 2.17

$2.66 CHF 2.10

3.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 CHF 1.87

$2.32 CHF 1.83

2.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 CHF 1.94

$2.57 CHF 2.03

-4.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 CHF 1.20

$1.36 CHF 1.07

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.95 CHF 8.64

$10.90 CHF 8.60

0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.42 CHF 12.17

$12.84 CHF 10.14

20.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 CHF 1.70

$3.26 CHF 2.57

-34.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 CHF 1.91

$3.63 CHF 2.87

-33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.93 CHF 3.10

$3.60 CHF 2.84

9.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 CHF 79.0

$85.5 CHF 67.5

17.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.53 CHF 5.94

$7.53 CHF 5.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.14 CHF 3.27

$3.64 CHF 2.87

13.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$61.5 CHF 48.53

$65.6 CHF 51.7

-6.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.28 CHF 1.80

$2.23 CHF 1.76

2.24%

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

$40.7K CHF 32.1K

$41.0K CHF 32.4K

-0.89%

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

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

$48.7K CHF 38.5K

-19.35%

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

$260 CHF 205

$262 CHF 207

-0.68%

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

$33.65 CHF 26.56

$47.82 CHF 37.74

-29.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 CHF 45.54

$63.3 CHF 49.92

-8.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 CHF 48.36

$79.6 CHF 62.8

-23.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.65 CHF 14.72

$35.97 CHF 28.39

-48.15%

Cinema Ticket

$24.88 CHF 19.64

$24.48 CHF 19.32

1.63%

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

$3,433 CHF 2,709

$3,514 CHF 2,773

-2.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K CHF 31.5K

$32.7K CHF 25.8K

21.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 CHF 111

$138 CHF 109

2.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.2 CHF 48.33

$81.7 CHF 64.5

-25.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$150 CHF 118

$162 CHF 128

-7.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$198 CHF 156

$214 CHF 169

-7.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,248 CHF 985

$2,329 CHF 1,838

-46.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 CHF 839

$2,049 CHF 1,617

-48.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,987 CHF 1,568

$4,631 CHF 3,655

-57.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 CHF 1,348

$3,922 CHF 3,095

-56.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.1K CHF 18.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K CHF 12.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,351 CHF 3,433

$7,858 CHF 6,202

-44.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

2.46

-15.04%

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

Last update for Olten: May 30, 2026

Last update for Geneva: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,248 in Olten 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 81% higher in Geneva, 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 $105 in Olten versus $150 in Geneva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $576 vs $678 – making Olten 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

Olten vs Geneva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 38%, 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 $4,411 per month in Olten 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 Olten, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% 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 $105 in Olten and $150 in Geneva. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,941 in Olten and $4,060 in Geneva. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Olten – 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 Olten. 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.