Cost of Living Comparison Between Schaffhausen and La Chaux-de-Fonds Cost of Living Comparison Between Schaffhausen and La Chaux-de-Fonds

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,151 per month in Schaffhausen vs $3,172 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,931 per month in Schaffhausen vs $5,040 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,712 per month in Schaffhausen vs $6,909 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

Schaffhausen is about 1% cheaper than La Chaux-de-Fonds, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Schaffhausen and La Chaux-de-Fonds sit above the global median – Schaffhausen by 135%, La Chaux-de-Fonds by 137%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.31 CHF 24.55

$24.32 CHF 19.07

28.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$125 CHF 98.1

$87.5 CHF 68.6

43.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.86 CHF 12.43

$18.72 CHF 14.67

-15.28%

Cappuccino

$5.43 CHF 4.26

$4.82 CHF 3.78

12.66%

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

$5.42 CHF 4.25

$3.64 CHF 2.86

48.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 CHF 3.47

$4.69 CHF 3.68

-5.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 CHF 6.43

$7.34 CHF 5.75

11.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.59 CHF 5.95

$6.04 CHF 4.73

25.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 CHF 1.49

$2.17 CHF 1.70

-12.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.79 CHF 2.97

$3.98 CHF 3.12

-4.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.55 CHF 2.79

$4.48 CHF 3.51

-20.76%

Eggs

$7.66 CHF 6.01

$7.50 CHF 5.88

2.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.66 CHF 23.25

$27.03 CHF 21.19

9.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.28 CHF 27.66

$33.08 CHF 25.94

6.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$51.8 CHF 40.59

$53.0 CHF 41.58

-2.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.77 CHF 2.95

$3.48 CHF 2.72

8.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 CHF 1.76

$2.43 CHF 1.91

-7.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 CHF 2.25

$3.09 CHF 2.42

-7.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.02 CHF 4.72

$6.17 CHF 4.84

-2.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CHF 1.93

$2.65 CHF 2.07

-7.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 CHF 1.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 CHF 2.10

$2.60 CHF 2.04

2.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 CHF 1.01

$1.36 CHF 1.07

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.29 CHF 8.85

$11.10 CHF 8.70

1.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CHF 10.90

$12.59 CHF 9.87

10.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 CHF 1.07

$2.53 CHF 1.98

-46.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 CHF 2.15

$3.78 CHF 2.97

-27.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.79 CHF 2.97

$3.02 CHF 2.37

25.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.1 CHF 66.7

$161 CHF 127

-47.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.08 CHF 7.91

$7.50 CHF 5.88

34.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.11 CHF 3.22

$3.53 CHF 2.76

16.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$62.3 CHF 48.83

$64.2 CHF 50.3

-2.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.15 CHF 1.69

$2.29 CHF 1.79

-6.11%

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

$40.9K CHF 32.0K

$39.7K CHF 31.2K

2.79%

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

$42.5K CHF 33.3K

$49.3K CHF 38.7K

-13.88%

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

$242 CHF 190

$263 CHF 206

-7.91%

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

$28.69 CHF 22.49

$48.25 CHF 37.83

-40.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.53 CHF 34.13

$63.6 CHF 49.82

-31.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 CHF 85.7

$74.5 CHF 58.4

46.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.51 CHF 37.25

Cinema Ticket

$22.50 CHF 17.64

$24.58 CHF 19.27

-8.46%

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

$3,325 CHF 2,607

$3,073 CHF 2,409

8.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.6K CHF 34.1K

$20.6K CHF 16.1K

111.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$112 CHF 87.9

$139 CHF 109

-19.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 CHF 53.5

$78.9 CHF 61.9

-13.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 CHF 102

$161 CHF 126

-19.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 CHF 124

$209 CHF 164

-24.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 CHF 952

$1,449 CHF 1,136

-16.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 CHF 957

$1,102 CHF 864

10.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 CHF 2,159

$3,991 CHF 3,129

-31.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,163 CHF 1,696

$2,438 CHF 1,911

-11.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,567 CHF 6,717

$15.1K CHF 11.8K

-43.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,910 CHF 5,417

$9,461 CHF 7,418

-26.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,437 CHF 7,398

$5,374 CHF 4,213

75.62%

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 La Chaux-de-Fonds: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,214 in Schaffhausen versus $1,449 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. 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 76% 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 $87 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Groceries tell a different story – $675 in Schaffhausen vs $675 in La Chaux-de-Fonds – so Schaffhausen 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 La Chaux-de-Fonds: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Chaux-de-Fonds costs about 1% more than Schaffhausen, 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 $4,726 per month in Schaffhausen and $4,758 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $125 in Schaffhausen and $87.0 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,151 in Schaffhausen and $3,172 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,151 in Schaffhausen and $3,172 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. 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, La Chaux-de-Fonds makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.