Cost of Living Comparison Between Princeton, NJ and Olten Cost of Living Comparison Between Princeton, NJ and Olten

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,734 per month in Princeton, NJ vs $2,941 in Olten, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,418 per month in Princeton, NJ vs $4,458 in Olten, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,101 per month in Princeton, NJ vs $5,975 in Olten, rent included.

Princeton, NJ costs about 27% more than Olten, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Princeton, NJ and Olten sit above the global median – Princeton, NJ by 179%, Olten by 119%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.67 $16.67

$30.87 CHF 24.36

-46.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$105 CHF 82.9

-24.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$17.57 CHF 13.86

-14.11%

Cappuccino

$5.09 $5.09

$5.47 CHF 4.31

-6.95%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$5.34 CHF 4.22

-55.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$4.62 CHF 3.65

-51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.86 $7.86

$6.88 CHF 5.43

14.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.29 CHF 4.97

27.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$2.09 CHF 1.65

-45.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.40 CHF 2.68

22.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.74 $8.74

$4.12 CHF 3.26

112.14%

Eggs

$4.21 $4.21

$7.54 CHF 5.95

-44.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.00 $26.00

$21.64 CHF 17.07

20.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.96 $23.96

$25.89 CHF 20.43

-7.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.58 $22.58

$40.22 CHF 31.74

-43.86%

Apples (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$4.04 CHF 3.19

66.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.40 CHF 1.90

5.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.24 $5.24

$2.97 CHF 2.35

76.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$5.05 CHF 3.99

20.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.75 CHF 2.17

-2.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.37 CHF 1.87

55.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.46 CHF 1.94

1.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.52 CHF 1.20

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.90 $10.90

$10.95 CHF 8.64

-0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$15.42 CHF 12.17

-2.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.15 CHF 1.70

-20.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.43 $6.43

$2.42 CHF 1.91

165.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.13 $2.13

$3.93 CHF 3.10

-45.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$196 $196

$100 CHF 79.0

95.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.01 $6.01

$7.53 CHF 5.94

-20.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$4.14 CHF 3.27

-67.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.18 $41.18

$61.5 CHF 48.53

-33.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$2.28 CHF 1.80

-63.16%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$40.7K CHF 32.1K

-25.12%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

-33.68%

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

$181 $181

$260 CHF 205

-30.42%

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

$50.2 $50.2

$33.65 CHF 26.56

49.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.4 $55.4

$57.7 CHF 45.54

-3.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$172 $172

$61.3 CHF 48.36

179.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.27 $32.27

$18.65 CHF 14.72

73.03%

Cinema Ticket

$14.79 $14.79

$24.88 CHF 19.64

-40.55%

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

$1,851 $1,851

$3,433 CHF 2,709

-46.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.7K $40.7K

$39.9K CHF 31.5K

2.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.91 $36.91

$141 CHF 111

-73.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.84 $23.84

$61.2 CHF 48.33

-61.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 $143

$150 CHF 118

-4.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$201 $201

$198 CHF 156

1.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,709 $2,709

$1,248 CHF 985

117.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,936 $1,936

$1,063 CHF 839

82.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,655 $4,655

$1,987 CHF 1,568

134.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,065 $3,065

$1,708 CHF 1,348

79.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,631 $5,631

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,494 $3,494

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,959 $5,959

$4,351 CHF 3,433

36.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

2.09

213.40%

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

Last update for Princeton, NJ: May 30, 2026

Last update for Olten: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,709 in Princeton, NJ versus $1,248 in Olten. 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 37% higher in Princeton, NJ, 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 $79.0 in Princeton, NJ versus $105 in Olten. Groceries tell a different story – $584 in Princeton, NJ vs $576 in Olten – so Olten 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

Princeton, NJ vs Olten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Princeton, NJ costs about 27% more than Olten, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,602 per month in Princeton, NJ and $4,411 in Olten. 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 1% more in Princeton, NJ, 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 $79.0 in Princeton, NJ and $105 in Olten. 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 $3,734 in Princeton, NJ and $2,941 in Olten. 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, Princeton, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.