Cost of Living Comparison Between Solothurn and Geneva Cost of Living Comparison Between Solothurn and Geneva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,863 per month in Solothurn vs $4,177 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,556 per month in Solothurn vs $6,255 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,248 per month in Solothurn vs $8,333 in Geneva, rent included.

Solothurn is about 31% cheaper than Geneva, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Solothurn and Geneva sit above the global median – Solothurn by 108%, Geneva by 204%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.05 CHF 25.12

$30.77 CHF 24.89

0.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 121

$133 CHF 108

12.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.21 CHF 14.73

$18.66 CHF 15.09

-2.41%

Cappuccino

$6.67 CHF 5.40

$6.56 CHF 5.31

1.68%

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

$5.64 CHF 4.56

$4.98 CHF 4.03

13.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 CHF 4.48

$4.25 CHF 3.44

30.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 CHF 5.56

$9.63 CHF 7.79

-28.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.07 CHF 4.91

$9.97 CHF 8.06

-39.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.81

$2.39 CHF 1.93

-6.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.93 CHF 3.18

$3.50 CHF 2.83

12.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.62 CHF 2.93

$3.33 CHF 2.69

8.71%

Eggs

$8.64 CHF 6.99

$8.08 CHF 6.54

6.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.03 CHF 18.63

$25.34 CHF 20.50

-9.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.95 CHF 21.80

$29.32 CHF 23.72

-8.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$60.8 CHF 49.20

$42.61 CHF 34.47

42.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 CHF 2.42

$3.46 CHF 2.80

-13.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 CHF 1.18

$1.75 CHF 1.42

-16.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.45 CHF 2.79

$2.80 CHF 2.27

23.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CHF 3.41

$4.74 CHF 3.83

-10.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 CHF 1.32

$1.61 CHF 1.31

1.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 CHF 1.51

$2.19 CHF 1.77

-15.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 CHF 1.33

$2.13 CHF 1.72

-23.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 CHF 0.80

$1.73 CHF 1.40

-42.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.14 CHF 9.02

$11.15 CHF 9.02

-0.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.73 CHF 11.11

$12.17 CHF 9.85

12.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CHF 2.30

$3.43 CHF 2.77

-17.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 CHF 2.60

$3.51 CHF 2.84

-8.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.89 CHF 3.96

$3.64 CHF 2.95

34.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.7 CHF 74.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 CHF 6.56

$7.50 CHF 6.06

8.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.80 CHF 3.88

$4.06 CHF 3.29

18.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$90.1 CHF 72.9

$65.7 CHF 53.2

37.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.84

$2.36 CHF 1.91

-3.81%

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

$31.0K CHF 25.1K

$39.5K CHF 31.9K

-21.56%

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

$35.8K CHF 29.0K

$40.4K CHF 32.7K

-11.37%

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

$98.5 CHF 79.7

$288 CHF 233

-65.79%

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

$31.23 CHF 25.26

$38.71 CHF 31.31

-19.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.0 CHF 46.96

$57.0 CHF 46.10

1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.1 CHF 74.5

$78.6 CHF 63.6

17.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.96 CHF 13.72

$45.32 CHF 36.66

-62.58%

Cinema Ticket

$18.50 CHF 14.97

$24.59 CHF 19.89

-24.77%

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

$3,686 CHF 2,982

$2,455 CHF 1,986

50.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.1K CHF 16.2K

$36.0K CHF 29.1K

-44.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$148 CHF 120

$139 CHF 112

6.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.58 CHF 34.45

$80.4 CHF 65.0

-47.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$168 CHF 136

$170 CHF 137

-1.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$258 CHF 209

$192 CHF 155

34.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 CHF 968

$2,828 CHF 2,288

-57.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 CHF 867

$2,136 CHF 1,728

-49.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CHF 1,526

$4,724 CHF 3,822

-60.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,796 CHF 1,453

$3,738 CHF 3,024

-51.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K CHF 8,130

$22.5K CHF 18.2K

-55.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,885 CHF 3,952

$16.2K CHF 13.1K

-69.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,084 CHF 5,731

$7,375 CHF 5,967

-3.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.07

1.98

4.55%

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

Last update for Solothurn: August 31, 2026

Last update for Geneva: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,197 in Solothurn versus $2,828 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 4% higher in Geneva, 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 $149 in Solothurn versus $133 in Geneva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $631 vs $605 – making Geneva the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Solothurn vs Geneva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,295 per month in Solothurn and $6,266 in Geneva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,863 in Solothurn and $4,177 in Geneva. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,686 per month in Solothurn and $2,455 in Geneva. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,863 in Solothurn and $4,177 in Geneva. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Solothurn – 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 Solothurn. 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.