Cost of Living Comparison Between Solothurn and Mendrisio Cost of Living Comparison Between Solothurn and Mendrisio

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,824 per month in Solothurn vs $2,891 in Mendrisio, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,426 per month in Solothurn vs $4,788 in Mendrisio, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,029 per month in Solothurn vs $6,685 in Mendrisio, rent included.

Solothurn is about 2% cheaper than Mendrisio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Solothurn and Mendrisio sit above the global median – Solothurn by 111%, Mendrisio by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.88 CHF 24.35

$31.18 CHF 24.58

-0.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 CHF 113

$187 CHF 148

-23.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.70 CHF 16.32

$18.74 CHF 14.77

10.46%

Cappuccino

$6.63 CHF 5.23

$4.32 CHF 3.40

53.47%

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

$5.61 CHF 4.42

$4.27 CHF 3.37

31.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 CHF 4.04

$3.79 CHF 2.98

35.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.64 CHF 5.24

$5.99 CHF 4.73

10.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.24 CHF 4.92

$6.29 CHF 4.96

-0.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.78

$1.26 CHF 0.99

79.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 CHF 2.70

$3.48 CHF 2.75

-1.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 CHF 2.67

$4.66 CHF 3.67

-27.25%

Eggs

$7.47 CHF 5.89

$3.65 CHF 2.88

104.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.54 CHF 23.29

$26.69 CHF 21.04

10.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$30.76 CHF 24.25

$15.17 CHF 11.96

102.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$38.99 CHF 30.74

$48.25 CHF 38.04

-19.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.22 CHF 3.33

$3.14 CHF 2.48

34.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 CHF 2.28

$2.04 CHF 1.61

42.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.12 CHF 2.46

$2.52 CHF 1.99

23.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 CHF 3.42

$5.46 CHF 4.31

-20.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 CHF 1.52

$2.17 CHF 1.71

-11.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 CHF 1.59

$2.34 CHF 1.85

-13.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 CHF 1.97

$2.62 CHF 2.07

-4.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 CHF 0.84

$1.29 CHF 1.02

-17.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.30 CHF 8.91

$11.10 CHF 8.75

1.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.27 CHF 8.09

$12.96 CHF 10.22

-20.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 CHF 2.09

$2.69 CHF 2.12

-1.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 CHF 1.92

$4.08 CHF 3.21

-40.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.60 CHF 2.84

$3.21 CHF 2.53

12.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.1 CHF 77.4

$99.3 CHF 78.3

-1.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 CHF 6.05

$6.88 CHF 5.42

11.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.19 CHF 3.30

$4.40 CHF 3.47

-4.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$73.1 CHF 57.6

$61.3 CHF 48.31

19.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.30 CHF 1.82

$2.23 CHF 1.75

3.14%

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

$38.3K CHF 30.2K

$39.7K CHF 31.3K

-3.55%

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

$37.8K CHF 29.8K

$37.2K CHF 29.4K

1.47%

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

$100 CHF 78.9

$203 CHF 160

-50.70%

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

$30.95 CHF 24.40

$29.92 CHF 23.59

3.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.8 CHF 45.53

$49.39 CHF 38.94

16.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 CHF 58.3

$74.2 CHF 58.5

-0.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.25 CHF 19.12

Cinema Ticket

$24.39 CHF 19.23

$18.16 CHF 14.32

34.31%

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

$3,424 CHF 2,700

$1,233 CHF 972

177.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.8K CHF 15.6K

$34.5K CHF 27.2K

-42.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 111

$123 CHF 96.6

14.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 CHF 33.53

$47.84 CHF 37.72

-11.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.3 CHF 78.3

$136 CHF 107

-26.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$188 CHF 148

$150 CHF 118

25.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CHF 997

$1,425 CHF 1,124

-11.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 CHF 840

$1,225 CHF 966

-13.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,854 CHF 1,462

$2,864 CHF 2,258

-35.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,755 CHF 1,384

$2,469 CHF 1,946

-28.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K CHF 8,088

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,092 CHF 4,014

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,149 CHF 5,636

$7,182 CHF 5,662

-0.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

2.5

-16.40%

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

Last update for Solothurn: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mendrisio: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,265 in Solothurn versus $1,425 in Mendrisio. 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 0% higher in Mendrisio, 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 $143 in Solothurn versus $187 in Mendrisio. Groceries tell a different story – $604 in Solothurn vs $531 in Mendrisio – so Mendrisio 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

Solothurn vs Mendrisio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mendrisio costs about 2% more than Solothurn, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,236 per month in Solothurn and $4,337 in Mendrisio. 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Mendrisio – 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 $143 in Solothurn and $187 in Mendrisio. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,824 in Solothurn and $2,891 in Mendrisio. 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, Mendrisio makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.