πA single person spends $2,809 per month in Sion vs $3,822 in Bellinzona, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,764 per month in Sion vs $5,855 in Bellinzona, rent included.
πA family of three spends $6,719 per month in Sion vs $7,889 in Bellinzona, rent included.
πSion is about 26% cheaper than Bellinzona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Sion and Bellinzona sit above the global median β Sion by 110%, Bellinzona by 185%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.49CHFΒ 24.04
$30.37CHFΒ 23.95
0.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122CHFΒ 96.0
$112CHFΒ 88.4
8.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.18CHFΒ 14.33
$18.75CHFΒ 14.79
-3.04%
Cappuccino
$4.59CHFΒ 3.62
$4.43CHFΒ 3.49
3.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12CHFΒ 4.03
$4.85CHFΒ 3.82
5.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23CHFΒ 3.33
$4.19CHFΒ 3.30
0.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.17CHFΒ 5.65
$7.20CHFΒ 5.68
-0.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45CHFΒ 5.88
$6.34CHFΒ 5.00
17.51%
π Groceries & Markets
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83CHFΒ 1.44
$2.22CHFΒ 1.75
-17.57%
White Bread(500g)
$3.86CHFΒ 3.04
$4.01CHFΒ 3.16
-3.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.92CHFΒ 3.88
$5.30CHFΒ 4.18
-7.17%
Eggs
$5.96CHFΒ 4.70
$7.93CHFΒ 6.26
-24.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.37CHFΒ 22.37
$28.51CHFΒ 22.48
-0.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$23.36CHFΒ 18.41
$36.99CHFΒ 29.16
-36.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$44.20CHFΒ 34.85
$48.13CHFΒ 37.95
-8.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40CHFΒ 2.68
$3.65CHFΒ 2.88
-6.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74CHFΒ 2.16
$2.08CHFΒ 1.64
31.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59CHFΒ 2.83
$2.77CHFΒ 2.18
29.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.13CHFΒ 4.84
$7.42CHFΒ 5.85
-17.39%
Potato(1kg)
$3.15CHFΒ 2.48
$2.27CHFΒ 1.79
38.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.98CHFΒ 2.35
$2.55CHFΒ 2.01
16.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.54CHFΒ 2.01
$2.65CHFΒ 2.09
-4.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20CHFΒ 0.95
$1.67CHFΒ 1.31
-28.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.20CHFΒ 8.83
$11.10CHFΒ 8.75
0.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.06CHFΒ 11.09
$19.21CHFΒ 15.14
-26.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87CHFΒ 1.47
$4.08CHFΒ 3.22
-54.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86CHFΒ 1.46
$4.29CHFΒ 3.38
-56.64%
π Getting Around
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.28CHFΒ 4.16
$6.26CHFΒ 4.93
-15.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$187CHFΒ 147
$97.7CHFΒ 77.0
90.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.20CHFΒ 4.89
$6.88CHFΒ 5.42
-9.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.26CHFΒ 3.36
$4.35CHFΒ 3.43
-2.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.76CHFΒ 39.23
$61.2CHFΒ 48.27
-18.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22CHFΒ 1.75
$2.15CHFΒ 1.69
3.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.0KCHFΒ 31.5K
$39.8KCHFΒ 31.4K
0.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4KCHFΒ 30.3K
$37.3KCHFΒ 29.4K
3.01%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$309CHFΒ 243
$295CHFΒ 233
4.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.41CHFΒ 29.50
$67.3CHFΒ 53.0
-44.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.4CHFΒ 47.62
$59.2CHFΒ 46.66
2.04%
π Sport & Entertainment
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$138CHFΒ 109
$113CHFΒ 89.0
22.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$54.6CHFΒ 43.07
$65.3CHFΒ 51.5
-16.34%
Cinema Ticket
$22.52CHFΒ 17.76
$23.10CHFΒ 18.21
-2.51%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$994CHFΒ 783
$1,866CHFΒ 1,471
-46.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.0KCHFΒ 27.6K
$34.7KCHFΒ 27.4K
0.65%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$135CHFΒ 107
$125CHFΒ 98.7
8.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.3CHFΒ 48.34
$48.78CHFΒ 38.46
25.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$161CHFΒ 127
$156CHFΒ 123
3.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$225CHFΒ 177
$189CHFΒ 149
19.37%
π Accommodation & Living
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$857CHFΒ 676
$1,868CHFΒ 1,473
-54.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$743CHFΒ 586
$1,730CHFΒ 1,364
-57.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,701CHFΒ 1,341
$2,797CHFΒ 2,205
-39.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,888CHFΒ 1,488
$3,071CHFΒ 2,421
-38.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,796CHFΒ 6,147
$17.0KCHFΒ 13.4K
-54.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,773CHFΒ 4,551
$12.2KCHFΒ 9,583
-52.50%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Sion
Bellinzona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,200CHFΒ 4,888
$6,300CHFΒ 4,967
-1.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
2.5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sion: June 1, 2026
Last update for Bellinzona: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $857 in Sion versus $1,868 in Bellinzona. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 2% higher in Bellinzona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Sion versus $112 in Bellinzona. Groceries tell a different story β $595 in Sion vs $719 in Bellinzona β so Sion 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
Sion vs Bellinzona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sion and Bellinzona compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,809 in Sion, $3,822 in Bellinzona β roughly 36% apart. Bellinzona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Sion compared to Bellinzona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,214 per month in Sion and $5,733 in Bellinzona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 $2,809 in Sion and $3,822 in Bellinzona. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Sion and Bellinzona?
Public transport costs about 91% less in Sion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sion, where all-in costs run around $2,809, than in Bellinzona at $3,822. In Sion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bellinzona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Sion or Bellinzona?
Families tend to lean toward Sion β 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 β 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.