Cost of Living Comparison Between Solothurn and Zurich Cost of Living Comparison Between Solothurn and Zurich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,824 per month in Solothurn vs $4,254 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,426 per month in Solothurn vs $6,409 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,029 per month in Solothurn vs $8,563 in Zurich, rent included.

Solothurn is about 34% cheaper than Zurich, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Solothurn and Zurich sit above the global median – Solothurn by 111%, Zurich by 217%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.88 CHF 24.35

$31.04 CHF 24.47

-0.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 CHF 113

$149 CHF 118

-4.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.70 CHF 16.32

$20.83 CHF 16.42

-0.62%

Cappuccino

$6.63 CHF 5.23

$6.72 CHF 5.29

-1.34%

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

$5.61 CHF 4.42

$5.90 CHF 4.65

-4.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 CHF 4.04

$5.35 CHF 4.22

-4.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.64 CHF 5.24

$9.85 CHF 7.76

-32.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.24 CHF 4.92

$8.82 CHF 6.95

-29.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.78

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 CHF 2.70

$3.29 CHF 2.60

4.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 CHF 2.67

$4.12 CHF 3.25

-17.72%

Eggs

$7.47 CHF 5.89

$7.19 CHF 5.67

3.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.54 CHF 23.29

$29.88 CHF 23.56

-1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$30.76 CHF 24.25

$33.59 CHF 26.48

-8.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$38.99 CHF 30.74

$49.65 CHF 39.14

-21.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.22 CHF 3.33

$4.04 CHF 3.18

4.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 CHF 2.28

$2.90 CHF 2.29

Oranges (1kg)

$3.12 CHF 2.46

$3.05 CHF 2.40

2.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 CHF 3.42

$5.24 CHF 4.13

-17.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 CHF 1.52

$2.85 CHF 2.25

-32.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 CHF 1.59

$2.38 CHF 1.88

-15.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 CHF 1.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 CHF 0.84

$1.70 CHF 1.34

-37.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.30 CHF 8.91

$10.96 CHF 8.64

3.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.27 CHF 8.09

$15.06 CHF 11.87

-31.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 CHF 2.09

$2.62 CHF 2.07

1.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 CHF 1.92

$3.23 CHF 2.55

-24.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.60 CHF 2.84

$4.82 CHF 3.80

-25.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.1 CHF 77.4

$106 CHF 83.7

-7.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 CHF 6.05

$7.55 CHF 5.95

1.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.19 CHF 3.30

$4.15 CHF 3.27

0.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$73.1 CHF 57.6

$89.1 CHF 70.2

-17.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.30 CHF 1.82

$2.29 CHF 1.81

0.44%

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

$38.3K CHF 30.2K

$41.1K CHF 32.4K

-6.88%

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

$37.8K CHF 29.8K

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

-3.97%

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

$100 CHF 78.9

$259 CHF 204

-61.32%

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

$30.95 CHF 24.40

$35.51 CHF 28.00

-12.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.8 CHF 45.53

$58.5 CHF 46.08

-1.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 CHF 58.3

$88.8 CHF 70.0

-16.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.25 CHF 19.12

$48.84 CHF 38.50

-50.35%

Cinema Ticket

$24.39 CHF 19.23

$25.07 CHF 19.77

-2.71%

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

$3,424 CHF 2,700

$3,470 CHF 2,736

-1.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.8K CHF 15.6K

$39.0K CHF 30.8K

-49.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 111

$137 CHF 108

2.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 CHF 33.53

$62.3 CHF 49.13

-31.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.3 CHF 78.3

$148 CHF 117

-32.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$188 CHF 148

$202 CHF 159

-7.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CHF 997

$2,686 CHF 2,118

-52.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 CHF 840

$2,205 CHF 1,738

-51.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,854 CHF 1,462

$4,902 CHF 3,865

-62.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,755 CHF 1,384

$3,702 CHF 2,919

-52.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K CHF 8,088

$26.1K CHF 20.6K

-60.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,092 CHF 4,014

$16.5K CHF 13.0K

-69.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,149 CHF 5,636

$8,722 CHF 6,876

-18.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

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

Last update for Solothurn: May 30, 2026

Last update for Zurich: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,265 in Solothurn versus $2,686 in Zurich. 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 22% higher in Zurich, 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 $149 in Zurich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $604 vs $677 – making Solothurn 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 Zurich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,824 in Solothurn, $4,254 in Zurich – roughly 51% apart. Zurich costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,236 per month in Solothurn and $6,382 in Zurich. 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 $2,824 in Solothurn and $4,254 in Zurich. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Solothurn. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,824 in Solothurn and $4,254 in Zurich. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Zurich has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,824 in Solothurn to $4,254 in Zurich. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Zurich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.