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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,863 per month in Solothurn vs $3,182 in Mendrisio, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,556 per month in Solothurn vs $3,897 in Mendrisio, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,248 per month in Solothurn vs $4,612 in Mendrisio, rent included.

Solothurn is about 10% cheaper than Mendrisio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Solothurn and Mendrisio sit above the global median – Solothurn by 108%, Mendrisio by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.05 CHF 25.24

$35.50 CHF 28.86

-12.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 121

$177 CHF 144

-15.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.21 CHF 14.81

$20.33 CHF 16.53

-10.43%

Cappuccino

$6.67 CHF 5.42

$4.56 CHF 3.71

46.27%

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

$5.64 CHF 4.58

$5.22 CHF 4.24

8.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 CHF 4.51

$3.99 CHF 3.24

38.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 CHF 5.59

$8.80 CHF 7.16

-21.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.07 CHF 4.93

$7.40 CHF 6.01

-17.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.82

$2.26 CHF 1.84

-0.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.93 CHF 3.20

$3.77 CHF 3.07

4.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.62 CHF 2.94

$4.25 CHF 3.46

-14.82%

Eggs

$8.64 CHF 7.02

$7.39 CHF 6.00

16.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.03 CHF 18.72

$26.48 CHF 21.52

-13.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.95 CHF 21.91

$29.91 CHF 24.32

-9.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$60.8 CHF 49.45

$41.00 CHF 33.33

48.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 CHF 2.43

$3.40 CHF 2.76

-12.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 CHF 1.19

$1.72 CHF 1.40

-15.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.45 CHF 2.80

$2.54 CHF 2.06

35.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CHF 3.43

$6.32 CHF 5.14

-33.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 CHF 1.32

$1.82 CHF 1.48

-10.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 CHF 1.51

$2.22 CHF 1.81

-16.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 CHF 1.33

$2.52 CHF 2.05

-34.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 CHF 0.81

$1.18 CHF 0.96

-16.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.14 CHF 9.06

$11.18 CHF 9.09

-0.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.73 CHF 11.16

$12.65 CHF 10.29

8.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CHF 2.31

$2.95 CHF 2.40

-3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 CHF 2.61

$4.14 CHF 3.36

-22.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.89 CHF 3.98

$3.13 CHF 2.55

56.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 CHF 6.59

$7.25 CHF 5.89

11.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.80 CHF 3.90

$5.81 CHF 4.72

-17.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$90.1 CHF 73.2

$80.3 CHF 65.3

12.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.85

$2.29 CHF 1.86

-0.87%

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

$31.0K CHF 25.2K

$36.3K CHF 29.5K

-14.61%

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

$35.8K CHF 29.1K

$40.4K CHF 32.9K

-11.38%

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

$98.5 CHF 80.0

$294 CHF 239

-66.47%

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

$31.23 CHF 25.39

$22.75 CHF 18.49

37.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.0 CHF 47.19

$49.39 CHF 40.15

17.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.1 CHF 74.9

$74.0 CHF 60.2

24.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.96 CHF 13.79

Cinema Ticket

$18.50 CHF 15.04

$20.28 CHF 16.49

-8.78%

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

$3,686 CHF 2,997

$1,216 CHF 989

203.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.1K CHF 16.3K

$34.7K CHF 28.2K

-42.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$148 CHF 120

$164 CHF 133

-9.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.58 CHF 34.62

$58.8 CHF 47.83

-27.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$168 CHF 136

$196 CHF 159

-14.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$258 CHF 210

$152 CHF 124

69.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 CHF 973

$1,432 CHF 1,164

-16.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 CHF 872

$1,257 CHF 1,022

-14.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CHF 1,534

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,796 CHF 1,460

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K CHF 8,171

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,885 CHF 3,971

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,084 CHF 5,759

$6,940 CHF 5,643

2.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.07

2.37

-12.66%

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

Last update for Solothurn: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mendrisio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,197 in Solothurn versus $1,432 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 2% higher in Solothurn, 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 $149 in Solothurn versus $177 in Mendrisio. Groceries tell a different story – $631 in Solothurn vs $610 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

Yes – Mendrisio is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $4,772 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,863 in Solothurn and $3,182 in Mendrisio. 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 $1,216 in Mendrisio. 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 $3,182 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.