Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sion and Bellinzona

For one person, living is cheaper in Sion: $3,235 a month against $3,509 in Bellinzona, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Sion
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,235
/mo nomad
Bellinzona
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,509
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sion and in Bellinzona

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sion and in Bellinzona actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,235 per month in Sion vs $3,509 in Bellinzona, rent included.

  • Sion $3,235
  • Bellinzona $3,509

A couple spends around $4,857 per month in Sion vs $5,423 in Bellinzona, rent included.

  • Sion $4,857
  • Bellinzona $5,423

A family of three spends $6,479 per month in Sion vs $7,337 in Bellinzona, rent included.

  • Sion $6,479
  • Bellinzona $7,337

Sion is about 8% cheaper than Bellinzona, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Sion and Bellinzona sit above the global median – Sion by 140%, Bellinzona by 160%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.97 CHF 23.86
$34.40 CHF 28.33
-15.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6 CHF 73.8
$120 CHF 98.7
-25.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.15 CHF 15.77
$17.66 CHF 14.54
8.44%
Cappuccino
$4.60 CHF 3.79
$4.85 CHF 4.00
-5.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09 CHF 4.19
$5.55 CHF 4.57
-8.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 CHF 3.52
$4.42 CHF 3.64
-3.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.36 CHF 6.06
$9.51 CHF 7.83
-22.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29 CHF 6.00
$6.68 CHF 5.50
9.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 CHF 1.60
$2.23 CHF 1.83
-13.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.54 CHF 2.92
$4.18 CHF 3.44
-15.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.19 CHF 3.45
$4.11 CHF 3.38
1.95%
Eggs
$7.13 CHF 5.87
$7.89 CHF 6.50
-9.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.01 CHF 21.42
$27.08 CHF 22.30
-3.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$22.69 CHF 18.69
$30.85 CHF 25.41
-26.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$40.09 CHF 33.02
$41.72 CHF 34.36
-3.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 CHF 2.59
$3.64 CHF 3.00
-13.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 CHF 1.40
$2.02 CHF 1.66
-15.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 CHF 2.09
$2.70 CHF 2.23
-6.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.20 CHF 5.11
$6.45 CHF 5.31
-3.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 CHF 1.53
$1.97 CHF 1.62
-6.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 CHF 1.78
$2.09 CHF 1.72
3.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 CHF 2.00
$2.45 CHF 2.02
-0.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 CHF 0.97
$1.28 CHF 1.06
-8.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.85 CHF 8.94
$10.61 CHF 8.74
2.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CHF 11.74
$17.75 CHF 14.62
-19.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 CHF 1.45
$2.87 CHF 2.36
-38.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 CHF 1.57
$3.92 CHF 3.22
-51.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.24 CHF 4.32
$2.78 CHF 2.29
88.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$179 CHF 148
$121 CHF 99.7
48.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.94 CHF 4.89
$7.24 CHF 5.97
-17.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.29 CHF 4.36
$5.67 CHF 4.67
-6.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.12 CHF 39.63
$36.42 CHF 30.00
32.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.21 CHF 1.82
$2.29 CHF 1.89
-3.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K CHF 28.2K
$35.1K CHF 28.9K
-2.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K CHF 31.0K
$39.1K CHF 32.2K
-3.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$308 CHF 254
$300 CHF 247
2.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.86 CHF 20.48
$35.26 CHF 29.04
-29.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.64 CHF 40.89
$62.5 CHF 51.4
-20.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$135 CHF 111
$143 CHF 117
-5.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$54.5 CHF 44.88
$54.2 CHF 44.66
0.48%
Cinema Ticket
$20.28 CHF 16.70
$23.18 CHF 19.09
-12.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$953 CHF 785
$3,198 CHF 2,634
-70.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.7K CHF 31.1K
$34.8K CHF 28.7K
8.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109 CHF 89.7
$200 CHF 165
-45.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.21 CHF 39.71
$48.63 CHF 40.05
-0.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$161 CHF 133
$164 CHF 135
-1.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 CHF 136
$165 CHF 136
-0.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 CHF 1,005
$1,569 CHF 1,292
-22.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CHF 1,021
$1,368 CHF 1,127
-9.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,323 CHF 1,913
$2,485 CHF 2,047
-6.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,072 CHF 1,707
$2,459 CHF 2,025
-15.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,339 CHF 6,045
$13.2K CHF 10.9K
-44.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,532 CHF 4,556
$10.3K CHF 8,443
-46.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,826 CHF 4,798
$6,494 CHF 5,349
-10.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.15
2.23
-3.59%

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

Last update for Sion: October 11, 2026

Last update for Bellinzona: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sion
$1.2K
Bellinzona
$1.4K 10.4% $128
Groceries & Markets
Sion
$554
Bellinzona
$639 15.4% $85
Eating Out
Sion
$433
Bellinzona
$487 12.5% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sion
$383
Bellinzona
$398 4% $15
Getting Around
Sion
$233
Bellinzona
$168 28% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Sion
$217
Bellinzona
$260 19.7% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Sion
$175
Bellinzona
$189 7.7% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,221 in Sion versus $1,569 in Bellinzona. 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 11% higher in Bellinzona, 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 $90.0 in Sion versus $120 in Bellinzona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $639 – making Sion the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Sion
🇨🇭 Bellinzona
🕒 Local time
06:16 6:16 AM
06:16 6:16 AM
Same time as Sion
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
34,599
43,785
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sion Bellinzona 130 km
From you
  • Sion
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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
Sion vs Bellinzona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sion and in Bellinzona compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,235 in Sion, $3,509 in Bellinzona – roughly 8% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Sion compared to Bellinzona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,853 per month in Sion and $5,264 in Bellinzona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sion and Bellinzona?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sion, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sion or Bellinzona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,235 in Sion and $3,509 in Bellinzona. That's a gap of about 8%.
How do commuting costs compare in Sion and in Bellinzona?
Public transport costs about 48% less in Sion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,235 in Sion and $3,509 in Bellinzona. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Sion or Bellinzona?
Families tend to lean toward Sion – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Sion or Bellinzona safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Sion and Bellinzona?
If budget matters most, go with Sion. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bellinzona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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