🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,390 in Rapperswil versus $3,900 in Lausanne.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,153 in Rapperswil versus $5,943 in Lausanne.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,915 in Rapperswil versus $7,986 in Lausanne.
🌍Living in Rapperswil costs roughly 13% less than in Lausanne, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rapperswil146% above, Lausanne183% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rapperswil
Lausanne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.98CHF 20.39
$30.85CHF 25.18
-19.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.7CHF 80.6
$120CHF 97.9
-17.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.65CHF 13.58
$18.94CHF 15.45
-12.09%
Cappuccino
$6.31CHF 5.15
$6.21CHF 5.07
1.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97CHF 4.06
$5.26CHF 4.30
-5.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81CHF 3.93
$4.32CHF 3.53
11.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.81CHF 7.19
$10.68CHF 8.72
-17.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15CHF 5.02
$9.99CHF 8.15
-38.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rapperswil
Lausanne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24CHF 1.83
$2.25CHF 1.84
-0.44%
White Bread(500g)
$3.49CHF 2.85
$4.07CHF 3.32
-14.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.33CHF 3.53
$3.32CHF 2.71
30.42%
Eggs
$7.98CHF 6.51
$7.13CHF 5.82
11.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.06CHF 22.08
$24.97CHF 20.38
8.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$26.59CHF 21.70
$28.48CHF 23.25
-6.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$40.99CHF 33.45
$40.00CHF 32.65
2.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69CHF 3.01
$3.73CHF 3.04
-1.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11CHF 1.72
$2.17CHF 1.77
-2.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63CHF 2.15
$2.62CHF 2.14
0.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.81CHF 3.93
$4.76CHF 3.88
1.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09CHF 1.71
$1.81CHF 1.48
15.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28CHF 1.86
$1.99CHF 1.62
14.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.49CHF 2.03
$2.05CHF 1.68
21.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39CHF 1.13
$1.71CHF 1.39
-18.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.15CHF 9.10
$10.90CHF 8.90
2.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.57CHF 11.08
$15.21CHF 12.42
-10.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25CHF 1.84
$2.74CHF 2.23
-17.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82CHF 2.30
$3.33CHF 2.72
-15.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Rapperswil
Lausanne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.25CHF 3.47
$4.55CHF 3.72
-6.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$104CHF 85.3
$95.4CHF 77.8
9.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.67CHF 6.26
$7.80CHF 6.36
-1.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.08CHF 4.15
$4.71CHF 3.85
7.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.8CHF 72.4
$85.7CHF 69.9
3.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.28CHF 1.86
$2.27CHF 1.85
0.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.2KCHF 35.2K
$44.2KCHF 36.1K
-2.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7KCHF 32.4K
$40.0KCHF 32.7K
-0.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rapperswil
Lausanne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238CHF 194
$295CHF 240
-19.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.75CHF 26.73
$37.56CHF 30.65
-12.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.8CHF 55.3
$51.2CHF 41.78
32.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rapperswil
Lausanne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.5CHF 67.3
$72.5CHF 59.2
13.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.95CHF 38.31
$50.4CHF 41.15
-6.88%
Cinema Ticket
$22.15CHF 18.08
$24.31CHF 19.84
-8.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rapperswil
Lausanne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,865CHF 2,338
$3,018CHF 2,463
-5.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$45.2KCHF 36.9K
$37.2KCHF 30.3K
21.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rapperswil
Lausanne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$142CHF 116
$145CHF 118
-2.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$88.2CHF 72.0
$78.1CHF 63.8
12.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$149CHF 122
$144CHF 118
3.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$177CHF 144
$217CHF 177
-18.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rapperswil
Lausanne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,906CHF 1,556
$2,280CHF 1,861
-16.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,503CHF 1,226
$1,848CHF 1,508
-18.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,946CHF 2,404
$4,387CHF 3,580
-32.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,475CHF 2,020
$3,275CHF 2,672
-24.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$17.2KCHF 14.0K
$18.8KCHF 15.3K
-8.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.6KCHF 9,443
$14.5KCHF 11.8K
-20.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rapperswil
Lausanne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$7,014CHF 5,724
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.72
1.95
-11.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rapperswil: September 5, 2026
Last update for Lausanne: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,906 in Rapperswil and $2,280 in Lausanne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $99.0 in Rapperswil vs $120 in Lausanne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $591 vs $597 per month, with Rapperswil cheaper across the board.
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
Rapperswil vs Lausanne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rapperswil and in Lausanne?
Rapperswil and Lausanne differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($3,390 vs $3,900 including rent). Rapperswil is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Rapperswil compared to Lausanne?
You'd need roughly $5,085 in Rapperswil and $5,850 in Lausanne to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Rapperswil and in Lausanne?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,906 in Rapperswil versus $2,280 in Lausanne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Rapperswil – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $120 in Lausanne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Rapperswil or Lausanne?
All in, you'll spend $3,390 per month in Rapperswil versus $3,900 in Lausanne – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Rapperswil is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Rapperswil and Lausanne?
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.
Is Rapperswil or Lausanne safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rapperswil and Lausanne are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Rapperswil or Lausanne?
Expats usually find Rapperswil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Lausanne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rapperswil vs other spots: cost of living compared