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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,863 per month in Solothurn vs $4,731 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,556 per month in Solothurn vs $7,187 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,248 per month in Solothurn vs $9,642 in Zurich, rent included.

Solothurn is about 39% cheaper than Zurich, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Solothurn and Zurich sit above the global median – Solothurn by 108%, Zurich by 244%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.05 CHF 25.24

$37.35 CHF 30.37

-16.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 121

0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.21 CHF 14.81

$18.46 CHF 15.01

-1.35%

Cappuccino

$6.67 CHF 5.42

$7.03 CHF 5.72

-5.12%

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

$5.64 CHF 4.58

$5.88 CHF 4.78

-4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 CHF 4.51

$5.40 CHF 4.39

2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 CHF 5.59

$9.98 CHF 8.11

-31.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.07 CHF 4.93

$8.85 CHF 7.19

-31.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.82

$2.16 CHF 1.75

3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.93 CHF 3.20

$4.06 CHF 3.30

-3.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.62 CHF 2.94

$3.98 CHF 3.23

-9.05%

Eggs

$8.64 CHF 7.02

$8.69 CHF 7.06

-0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.03 CHF 18.72

$27.65 CHF 22.48

-16.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.95 CHF 21.91

$27.77 CHF 22.58

-2.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$60.8 CHF 49.45

$61.1 CHF 49.70

-0.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 CHF 2.43

$4.08 CHF 3.32

-26.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 CHF 1.19

$2.92 CHF 2.38

-50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.45 CHF 2.80

$3.59 CHF 2.92

-3.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CHF 3.43

$4.94 CHF 4.02

-14.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 CHF 1.32

$2.62 CHF 2.13

-37.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 CHF 1.51

$2.30 CHF 1.87

-19.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 CHF 1.33

$2.60 CHF 2.11

-36.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 CHF 0.81

$1.29 CHF 1.05

-23.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.14 CHF 9.06

$10.92 CHF 8.88

2.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.73 CHF 11.16

$13.57 CHF 11.04

1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CHF 2.31

$2.89 CHF 2.35

-1.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 CHF 2.61

$3.14 CHF 2.55

2.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.89 CHF 3.98

$5.57 CHF 4.53

-12.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 CHF 87.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 CHF 6.59

$8.13 CHF 6.61

-0.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.80 CHF 3.90

$4.82 CHF 3.92

-0.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$90.1 CHF 73.2

$92.7 CHF 75.3

-2.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.85

$2.32 CHF 1.89

-2.16%

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

$31.0K CHF 25.2K

$40.2K CHF 32.7K

-23.03%

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

$35.8K CHF 29.1K

$39.8K CHF 32.4K

-9.97%

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

$98.5 CHF 80.0

$290 CHF 235

-65.99%

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

$31.23 CHF 25.39

$39.27 CHF 31.93

-20.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.0 CHF 47.19

$57.5 CHF 46.78

0.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.1 CHF 74.9

$91.0 CHF 74.0

1.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.96 CHF 13.79

$63.6 CHF 51.7

-73.31%

Cinema Ticket

$18.50 CHF 15.04

$25.00 CHF 20.33

-26.00%

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

$3,686 CHF 2,997

$3,759 CHF 3,056

-1.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.1K CHF 16.3K

$42.8K CHF 34.8K

-53.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$148 CHF 120

$143 CHF 116

3.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.58 CHF 34.62

$60.5 CHF 49.18

-29.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$168 CHF 136

$167 CHF 136

0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$258 CHF 210

$263 CHF 214

-1.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 CHF 973

$3,126 CHF 2,542

-61.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 CHF 872

$2,503 CHF 2,035

-57.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CHF 1,534

$6,322 CHF 5,140

-70.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,796 CHF 1,460

$4,166 CHF 3,387

-56.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K CHF 8,171

$28.2K CHF 23.0K

-64.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,885 CHF 3,971

$16.4K CHF 13.3K

-70.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,084 CHF 5,759

$8,301 CHF 6,749

-14.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.07

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

Last update for Solothurn: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zurich: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,197 in Solothurn versus $3,126 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 17% 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 $149 in Solothurn versus $149 in Zurich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $631 vs $681 – 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: $2,863 in Solothurn, $4,731 in Zurich – roughly 65% apart. Zurich costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,295 per month in Solothurn and $7,096 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $149 in Solothurn and $149 in Zurich. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Zurich, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,863 in Solothurn and $4,731 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 $2,863 in Solothurn to $4,731 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.