Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Gallen and Chur Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Gallen and Chur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,743 per month in St. Gallen vs $3,357 in Chur, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,379 per month in St. Gallen vs $5,203 in Chur, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,016 per month in St. Gallen vs $7,049 in Chur, rent included.

St. Gallen costs about 12% more than Chur, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both St. Gallen and Chur sit above the global median – St. Gallen by 171%, Chur by 143%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.37 CHF 23.97

$30.23 CHF 24.67

-2.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 CHF 123

$112 CHF 91.5

34.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.38 CHF 15.00

$16.93 CHF 13.82

8.56%

Cappuccino

$6.27 CHF 5.12

$5.77 CHF 4.71

8.67%

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

$6.07 CHF 4.96

$5.75 CHF 4.70

5.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 CHF 4.30

$5.15 CHF 4.20

2.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.17 CHF 7.49

$8.82 CHF 7.20

3.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.51 CHF 5.31

$8.87 CHF 7.24

-26.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.83

$2.18 CHF 1.78

2.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 CHF 2.60

$3.47 CHF 2.83

-8.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.92 CHF 3.20

$4.35 CHF 3.55

-9.89%

Eggs

$7.80 CHF 6.37

$7.91 CHF 6.46

-1.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.19 CHF 21.38

$27.49 CHF 22.43

-4.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$29.72 CHF 24.26

$27.03 CHF 22.06

9.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$39.85 CHF 32.52

$39.69 CHF 32.39

0.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 CHF 2.59

$3.52 CHF 2.87

-9.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 CHF 1.35

$2.17 CHF 1.77

-23.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 CHF 2.02

$2.75 CHF 2.24

-9.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.25 CHF 5.10

$4.68 CHF 3.82

33.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 CHF 1.38

$1.99 CHF 1.62

-15.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 CHF 1.79

$2.33 CHF 1.90

-6.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 CHF 1.88

$2.48 CHF 2.03

-7.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CHF 1.00

$1.46 CHF 1.19

-16.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.97 CHF 8.96

$11.20 CHF 9.14

-2.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.52 CHF 9.40

$13.20 CHF 10.77

-12.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 CHF 1.80

$2.33 CHF 1.90

-5.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 CHF 1.97

$2.86 CHF 2.33

-15.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.38 CHF 3.57

$5.60 CHF 4.57

-21.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$129 CHF 105

$190 CHF 155

-32.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 CHF 5.59

$7.84 CHF 6.40

-12.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.88 CHF 3.98

$5.08 CHF 4.15

-3.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$79.3 CHF 64.7

$88.2 CHF 72.0

-10.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.82

$2.21 CHF 1.81

0.90%

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

$36.2K CHF 29.5K

$42.7K CHF 34.9K

-15.33%

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

$39.7K CHF 32.4K

$38.2K CHF 31.2K

3.81%

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

$314 CHF 256

$236 CHF 193

32.78%

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

$38.80 CHF 31.67

$33.11 CHF 27.02

17.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.7 CHF 45.41

$56.5 CHF 46.07

-1.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.0 CHF 67.0

$81.0 CHF 66.1

1.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$97.4 CHF 79.5

$34.56 CHF 28.20

181.89%

Cinema Ticket

$30.46 CHF 24.86

$22.29 CHF 18.19

36.65%

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

$2,327 CHF 1,899

$2,455 CHF 2,003

-5.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.4K CHF 26.4K

$44.6K CHF 36.4K

-27.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$149 CHF 122

$94.1 CHF 76.8

58.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.6 CHF 54.4

$48.79 CHF 39.82

36.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$151 CHF 123

$123 CHF 100

22.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$185 CHF 151

$180 CHF 147

3.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,838 CHF 1,500

$1,764 CHF 1,440

4.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,747 CHF 1,426

$1,391 CHF 1,135

25.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,878 CHF 2,349

$2,957 CHF 2,413

-2.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,221 CHF 1,813

$2,647 CHF 2,160

-16.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.3K CHF 10.1K

$7,426 CHF 6,060

65.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,335 CHF 7,618

$5,489 CHF 4,479

70.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,935 CHF 5,659

$8,710 CHF 7,108

-20.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.1

1.72

22.09%

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

Last update for St. Gallen: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chur: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,838 in St. Gallen versus $1,764 in Chur. 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 26% higher in Chur, 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 $150 in St. Gallen versus $112 in Chur. Groceries tell a different story – $587 in St. Gallen vs $589 in Chur – so St. Gallen 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

St. Gallen vs Chur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,743 in St. Gallen, $3,357 in Chur – roughly 12% apart. St. Gallen costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,615 per month in St. Gallen and $5,036 in Chur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,327 per month in St. Gallen and $2,455 in Chur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in St. Gallen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,743 in St. Gallen and $3,357 in Chur. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. St. Gallen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,357 in Chur to $3,743 in St. Gallen. 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 Chur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, St. Gallen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.