Cost of Living Comparison Between Switzerland and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Switzerland and United States

😐 Solo nomad: Switzerland is 54.9% more expensive than United States without rent, and 29.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Switzerland is 63.6% more expensive than United States without rent, and 40.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Switzerland
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.54 CHF 24.83
$20.33 $20.33
50.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$138 CHF 112
$74.4 $74.4
85.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.42 CHF 14.98
$11.49 $11.49
60.31%
Cappuccino
$6.15 CHF 5
$5.09 $5.09
20.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.52 CHF 4.49
$2.54 $2.54
117.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98 CHF 4.05
$2.11 $2.11
136.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.55 CHF 6.95
$6.09 $6.09
40.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.48 CHF 6.08
$7.1 $7.1
5.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Switzerland
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 CHF 1.74
$1.08 $1.08
98.15%
White Bread (500g)
$3.67 CHF 2.99
$3.7 $3.7
-0.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 CHF 3.51
$4.65 $4.65
-7.10%
Eggs
$7.22 CHF 5.87
$4.21 $4.21
71.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.99 CHF 22.76
$12.75 $12.75
119.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$32.84 CHF 26.7
$12.24 $12.24
168.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$49.09 CHF 39.92
$16.08 $16.08
205.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 CHF 2.98
$5.41 $5.41
-32.35%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 CHF 1.98
$1.73 $1.73
40.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 CHF 2.43
$4.37 $4.37
-31.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.17 CHF 5.02
$4.94 $4.94
24.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.6 CHF 2.11
$2.88 $2.88
-9.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 CHF 1.97
$3.07 $3.07
-21.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 CHF 2.05
$2.25 $2.25
12.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 CHF 1.16
$2.21 $2.21
-35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.07 CHF 9
$10.09 $10.09
9.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 CHF 12.21
$14.73 $14.73
1.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 CHF 2.17
$1.91 $1.91
39.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 CHF 2.49
$3.54 $3.54
-13.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Switzerland
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.27 CHF 3.47
$2.56 $2.56
66.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.7 CHF 81.1
$63.9 $63.9
56.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.78 CHF 6.33
$3.81 $3.81
104.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.45 CHF 3.62
$1.77 $1.77
151.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$84.7 CHF 68.9
$30.4 $30.4
178.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.18 CHF 1.78
$0.94 $0.94
131.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.2K CHF 32.7K
$30K $30K
34.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K CHF 33.7K
$25.8K $25.8K
60.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Switzerland
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$264 CHF 215
$209 $209
26.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.4 CHF 42.58
$57.9 $57.9
-9.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 CHF 49.28
$71.1 $71.1
-14.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Switzerland
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.7 CHF 72.9
$45.88 $45.88
95.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.92 CHF 38.96
$22.25 $22.25
115.37%
Cinema Ticket
$24.72 CHF 20.1
$14.14 $14.14
74.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Switzerland
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,021 CHF 2,456
$1,373 $1,373
120.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.3K CHF 28.7K
$22.4K $22.4K
57.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Switzerland
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$130 CHF 106
$51.5 $51.5
153.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.7 CHF 51.8
$41.96 $41.96
51.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$148 CHF 120
$88.3 $88.3
67.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$185 CHF 151
$112 $112
66.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Switzerland
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,032 CHF 1,652
$1,731 $1,731
17.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,691 CHF 1,375
$1,446 $1,446
16.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,634 CHF 2,954
$2,846 $2,846
27.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,982 CHF 2,425
$2,366 $2,366
26.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K CHF 15.7K
$3,245 $3,245
496.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$14.9K CHF 12.1K
$2,667 $2,667
459.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Switzerland
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,457 CHF 6,063
$4,312 $4,312
72.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.44
6.51
-62.52%

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

Last update for Switzerland: October 28, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.