Cost of Living Comparison Between Schaffhausen and Geneva Cost of Living Comparison Between Schaffhausen and Geneva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,151 per month in Schaffhausen vs $4,202 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,139 per month in Schaffhausen vs $6,374 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,126 per month in Schaffhausen vs $8,546 in Geneva, rent included.

Schaffhausen is about 25% cheaper than Geneva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Schaffhausen and Geneva sit above the global median – Schaffhausen by 129%, Geneva by 205%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.20 CHF 25.46

$30.87 CHF 25.19

1.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 CHF 99.0

$136 CHF 111

-10.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.87 CHF 15.40

$18.85 CHF 15.38

0.11%

Cappuccino

$5.75 CHF 4.69

$6.65 CHF 5.43

-13.53%

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

$5.47 CHF 4.47

$5.00 CHF 4.08

9.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.99 CHF 4.07

$4.17 CHF 3.41

19.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.73 CHF 7.13

$10.02 CHF 8.18

-12.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.46 CHF 6.09

$9.77 CHF 7.97

-23.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.81

$2.38 CHF 1.94

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 CHF 3.38

$3.49 CHF 2.85

18.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.36 CHF 3.55

$3.26 CHF 2.66

33.74%

Eggs

$7.84 CHF 6.40

$8.25 CHF 6.74

-4.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.35 CHF 23.14

$25.28 CHF 20.63

12.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.11 CHF 26.20

$30.09 CHF 24.56

6.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.79 CHF 35.74

$43.71 CHF 35.67

0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 CHF 3.20

$3.59 CHF 2.93

9.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 CHF 1.79

$1.68 CHF 1.37

30.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.17 CHF 2.59

$2.73 CHF 2.23

16.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.68 CHF 4.63

$4.81 CHF 3.93

18.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 CHF 2.05

$1.59 CHF 1.29

58.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 CHF 1.84

$2.13 CHF 1.74

5.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 CHF 2.00

$2.10 CHF 1.71

17.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 CHF 1.02

$1.70 CHF 1.39

-26.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.23 CHF 9.17

$11.27 CHF 9.20

-0.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.72 CHF 11.20

$12.19 CHF 9.95

12.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 CHF 2.48

$3.27 CHF 2.67

-7.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 CHF 3.24

$3.58 CHF 2.92

10.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.95 CHF 3.22

$3.69 CHF 3.01

7.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.4 CHF 81.1

$90.8 CHF 74.1

9.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.26 CHF 5.11

$7.83 CHF 6.39

-20.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.81 CHF 3.11

$3.91 CHF 3.19

-2.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$61.5 CHF 50.2

$65.7 CHF 53.6

-6.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.22 CHF 1.81

$2.38 CHF 1.95

-6.72%

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

$44.7K CHF 36.5K

$39.1K CHF 31.9K

14.28%

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

$40.8K CHF 33.3K

$40.1K CHF 32.8K

1.54%

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

$228 CHF 186

$287 CHF 234

-20.62%

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

$31.99 CHF 26.11

$39.09 CHF 31.91

-18.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.0 CHF 52.2

$58.1 CHF 47.39

10.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$112 CHF 91.1

$76.3 CHF 62.2

46.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.98 CHF 38.34

$46.89 CHF 38.26

0.19%

Cinema Ticket

$23.97 CHF 19.56

$24.65 CHF 20.12

-2.76%

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

$3,228 CHF 2,634

$2,449 CHF 1,999

31.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.3K CHF 27.1K

$36.8K CHF 30.0K

-9.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$170 CHF 138

$136 CHF 111

24.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 CHF 44.83

$81.8 CHF 66.7

-32.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$193 CHF 157

$169 CHF 138

14.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$157 CHF 128

$189 CHF 154

-17.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,362 CHF 1,112

$2,843 CHF 2,320

-52.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,200 CHF 980

$2,143 CHF 1,749

-43.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,710 CHF 2,212

$4,690 CHF 3,827

-42.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 CHF 1,967

$3,651 CHF 2,979

-33.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,369 CHF 6,830

$22.5K CHF 18.3K

-62.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,438 CHF 6,886

$16.0K CHF 13.0K

-47.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,296 CHF 5,954

$7,229 CHF 5,900

0.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.48

1.98

25.25%

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

Last update for Schaffhausen: September 5, 2026

Last update for Geneva: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,362 in Schaffhausen versus $2,843 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 1% higher in Schaffhausen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Schaffhausen versus $136 in Geneva. Groceries tell a different story – $651 in Schaffhausen vs $611 in Geneva – so Geneva 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

Schaffhausen vs Geneva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 33%, 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 $4,727 per month in Schaffhausen and $6,303 in Geneva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Geneva – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Schaffhausen and $136 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 $3,151 in Schaffhausen and $4,202 in Geneva. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Schaffhausen – 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 Schaffhausen. 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.