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 $4,065 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,931 per month in Schaffhausen vs $6,486 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,712 per month in Schaffhausen vs $8,908 in Geneva, rent included.

Schaffhausen is about 22% cheaper than Geneva, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Schaffhausen and Geneva sit above the global median – Schaffhausen by 135%, Geneva by 203%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.31 CHF 24.55

$36.37 CHF 28.51

-13.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$125 CHF 98.1

$147 CHF 116

-15.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.86 CHF 12.43

$18.44 CHF 14.46

-13.99%

Cappuccino

$5.43 CHF 4.26

$5.98 CHF 4.69

-9.20%

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

$5.42 CHF 4.25

$5.47 CHF 4.29

-0.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 CHF 3.47

$4.88 CHF 3.82

-9.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 CHF 6.43

$9.82 CHF 7.70

-16.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.59 CHF 5.95

$8.65 CHF 6.78

-12.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 CHF 1.49

$2.29 CHF 1.79

-17.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.79 CHF 2.97

$3.80 CHF 2.98

-0.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.55 CHF 2.79

$4.40 CHF 3.45

-19.32%

Eggs

$7.66 CHF 6.01

$7.34 CHF 5.76

4.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.66 CHF 23.25

$27.18 CHF 21.31

9.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.28 CHF 27.66

$33.05 CHF 25.91

6.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$51.8 CHF 40.59

$51.7 CHF 40.54

0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.77 CHF 2.95

$3.46 CHF 2.71

8.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 CHF 1.76

$2.41 CHF 1.89

-7.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 CHF 2.25

$3.00 CHF 2.35

-4.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.02 CHF 4.72

$6.38 CHF 5.01

-5.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CHF 1.93

$2.65 CHF 2.08

-7.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 CHF 1.92

$2.42 CHF 1.90

0.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 CHF 2.10

$2.50 CHF 1.96

6.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 CHF 1.01

$1.39 CHF 1.09

-7.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.29 CHF 8.85

$10.96 CHF 8.59

3.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CHF 10.90

$12.88 CHF 10.09

7.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 CHF 1.07

$3.23 CHF 2.53

-57.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 CHF 2.15

$3.67 CHF 2.88

-25.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.79 CHF 2.97

$3.66 CHF 2.87

3.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.1 CHF 66.7

$85.6 CHF 67.1

-0.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.08 CHF 7.91

$7.43 CHF 5.82

35.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.11 CHF 3.22

$3.66 CHF 2.87

12.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$62.3 CHF 48.83

$64.4 CHF 50.5

-3.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.15 CHF 1.69

$2.31 CHF 1.81

-6.93%

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

$40.9K CHF 32.0K

$41.2K CHF 32.3K

-0.79%

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

$42.5K CHF 33.3K

$49.8K CHF 39.0K

-14.61%

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

$242 CHF 190

$258 CHF 202

-6.09%

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

$28.69 CHF 22.49

$48.14 CHF 37.74

-40.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.53 CHF 34.13

$63.7 CHF 49.93

-31.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 CHF 85.7

$80.9 CHF 63.4

35.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.51 CHF 37.25

$37.39 CHF 29.32

27.07%

Cinema Ticket

$22.50 CHF 17.64

$24.66 CHF 19.33

-8.76%

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

$3,325 CHF 2,607

$3,395 CHF 2,662

-2.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.6K CHF 34.1K

$33.0K CHF 25.9K

32.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$112 CHF 87.9

$137 CHF 107

-18.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 CHF 53.5

$82.4 CHF 64.6

-17.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 CHF 102

$166 CHF 131

-22.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 CHF 124

$215 CHF 168

-26.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 CHF 952

$2,308 CHF 1,810

-47.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 CHF 957

$2,016 CHF 1,581

-39.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 CHF 2,159

$4,626 CHF 3,627

-40.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,163 CHF 1,696

$3,904 CHF 3,061

-44.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,567 CHF 6,717

$23.2K CHF 18.2K

-63.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,910 CHF 5,417

$17.7K CHF 13.9K

-61.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,437 CHF 7,398

$7,773 CHF 6,094

21.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

2.46

1.63%

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

Last update for Schaffhausen: April 20, 2026

Last update for Geneva: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,214 in Schaffhausen versus $2,308 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 21% 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 $125 in Schaffhausen versus $147 in Geneva. Groceries tell a different story – $675 in Schaffhausen vs $674 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 29%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,726 per month in Schaffhausen and $6,097 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 0% 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 $125 in Schaffhausen and $147 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 $4,065 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.