Cost of Living Comparison Between Planken and Balzers Cost of Living Comparison Between Planken and Balzers

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $92.1 in Planken versus $3,202 in Balzers.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $143 in Planken versus $5,093 in Balzers.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $193 in Planken versus $6,983 in Balzers.

Living in Planken costs roughly 97% less than in Balzers, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Planken is 93% below, Balzers is 138% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.88 CHF 24.51

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$124 CHF 98.3

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.11 CHF 17.55

Cappuccino

$5.67 CHF 4.50

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

$6.04 CHF 4.80

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.61 CHF 4.45

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.49 CHF 5.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.30 CHF 5.79

Milk (1 liter)

$2.74 CHF 2.18

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 CHF 2.50

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.91 CHF 2.31

Eggs

$12.19 CHF 9.68

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.81 CHF 20.49

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.43 CHF 19.39

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.8 CHF 40.35

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 CHF 2.76

Banana (1kg)

$3.92 CHF 3.11

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 CHF 3.17

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 CHF 2.10

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 CHF 1.91

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 CHF 1.73

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 CHF 1.76

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 CHF 1.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.52 CHF 9.94

Wine (Bottle)

$14.07 CHF 11.17

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 CHF 1.63

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CHF 1.40

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.35 CHF 5.84

$3.47 CHF 2.75

111.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.3 CHF 48.70

$83.1 CHF 66.0

-26.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 CHF 1.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.65 CHF 6.87

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.18 CHF 1.73

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

$35.7K CHF 28.3K

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

$32.9K CHF 26.1K

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

$216 CHF 172

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

$40.39 CHF 32.06

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 CHF 57.3

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.9 CHF 74.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.77 CHF 19.66

Cinema Ticket

$24.66 CHF 19.57

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

$306 CHF 243

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,946 CHF 7,103

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$129 CHF 103

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 CHF 41.74

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$177 CHF 141

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$224 CHF 178

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 CHF 796

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 CHF 1,047

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,963 CHF 2,352

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,394 CHF 1,901

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.0K CHF 13.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,283 CHF 4,194

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$12.6K CHF 10.0K

$8,926 CHF 7,086

41.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.1

7.55

7.28%

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

Last update for Planken: June 6, 2026

Last update for Balzers: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Planken pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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

Planken vs Balzers: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Planken is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 3377% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Planken pays 41% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

A monthly transit pass in Planken runs roughly 35% less than in Balzers. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $92.1 per month in Planken versus $3,202 in Balzers – a 3377% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $92.1 in Planken versus $3,202 in Balzers, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Planken but tight or insufficient in Balzers. The gap between the two cities makes Planken the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Planken and Balzers 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 Planken gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3377% less than in Balzers. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.