Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Thun and Geneva

For one person, living is cheaper in Thun: $3,388 a month against $4,051 in Geneva, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Thun
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,388
/mo nomad
Geneva
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$4,051
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Thun and in Geneva

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Thun and in Geneva actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,388 per month in Thun vs $4,051 in Geneva, rent included.

  • Thun $3,388
  • Geneva $4,051

A couple spends around $5,170 per month in Thun vs $6,137 in Geneva, rent included.

  • Thun $5,170
  • Geneva $6,137

A family of three spends $6,952 per month in Thun vs $8,222 in Geneva, rent included.

  • Thun $6,952
  • Geneva $8,222

Thun is about 16% cheaper than Geneva, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Thun and Geneva sit above the global median – Thun by 151%, Geneva by 200%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thun
Geneva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.31 CHF 23.32
$30.11 CHF 24.80
-5.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 CHF 100
$132 CHF 108
-7.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.51 CHF 12.77
$18.29 CHF 15.06
-15.20%
Cappuccino
$6.45 CHF 5.31
$6.12 CHF 5.04
5.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.28 CHF 5.17
$4.69 CHF 3.86
33.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 CHF 4.84
$4.25 CHF 3.50
38.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.85 CHF 7.29
$9.69 CHF 7.98
-8.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.67 CHF 6.32
$9.65 CHF 7.95
-20.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thun
Geneva
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 CHF 1.76
$2.25 CHF 1.85
-5.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.99 CHF 2.46
$3.36 CHF 2.77
-11.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.13 CHF 2.58
$3.40 CHF 2.80
-7.94%
Eggs
$7.60 CHF 6.26
$7.86 CHF 6.47
-3.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.82 CHF 19.62
$24.91 CHF 20.52
-4.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$26.88 CHF 22.14
$29.00 CHF 23.88
-7.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$39.26 CHF 32.34
$41.83 CHF 34.45
-6.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 CHF 2.92
$3.56 CHF 2.93
-0.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 CHF 1.61
$1.64 CHF 1.35
19.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 CHF 2.18
$2.69 CHF 2.21
-1.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 CHF 3.90
$4.76 CHF 3.92
-0.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 CHF 1.28
$1.62 CHF 1.34
-3.70%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 CHF 1.65
$2.15 CHF 1.77
-6.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 CHF 1.80
$2.21 CHF 1.82
-0.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 CHF 1.05
$1.59 CHF 1.31
-19.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.25 CHF 9.26
$10.98 CHF 9.05
2.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.09 CHF 9.96
$11.85 CHF 9.76
2.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 CHF 1.86
$3.08 CHF 2.54
-26.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 CHF 2.41
$3.31 CHF 2.73
-11.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Thun
Geneva
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.49 CHF 3.70
$3.70 CHF 3.04
21.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$100 CHF 82.6
$90.4 CHF 74.5
10.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.04 CHF 6.62
$7.49 CHF 6.17
7.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.53 CHF 3.73
$3.94 CHF 3.25
14.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$82.9 CHF 68.3
$62.5 CHF 51.5
32.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.38 CHF 1.96
$2.30 CHF 1.89
3.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.5K CHF 35.0K
$37.9K CHF 31.2K
12.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K CHF 32.5K
$38.2K CHF 31.5K
3.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thun
Geneva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$289 CHF 238
$281 CHF 231
2.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.36 CHF 38.18
$36.24 CHF 29.85
27.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.8 CHF 51.7
$57.8 CHF 47.62
8.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thun
Geneva
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.8 CHF 74.0
$75.9 CHF 62.5
18.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.01 CHF 37.89
$44.57 CHF 36.71
3.23%
Cinema Ticket
$23.22 CHF 19.12
$23.65 CHF 19.48
-1.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thun
Geneva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,058 CHF 2,519
$2,349 CHF 1,935
30.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K CHF 25.1K
$35.0K CHF 28.8K
-12.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thun
Geneva
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$144 CHF 119
$137 CHF 113
5.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$78.8 CHF 64.9
$79.4 CHF 65.4
-0.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$159 CHF 131
$163 CHF 134
-2.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$192 CHF 158
$185 CHF 152
3.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thun
Geneva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,685 CHF 1,388
$2,816 CHF 2,320
-40.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 CHF 1,180
$2,103 CHF 1,732
-31.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,842 CHF 2,341
$4,789 CHF 3,945
-40.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,457 CHF 2,023
$3,670 CHF 3,023
-33.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.2K CHF 13.4K
$22.3K CHF 18.4K
-27.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.8K CHF 9,721
$15.7K CHF 12.9K
-24.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thun
Geneva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,785 CHF 4,765
$7,268 CHF 5,986
-20.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.42
1.98
22.22%

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

Last update for Thun: October 11, 2026

Last update for Geneva: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Thun
$1.4K
Geneva
$2.1K 46.8% $670
Groceries & Markets
Thun
$556
Geneva
$591 6.4% $36
Eating Out
Thun
$459
Geneva
$473 3.1% $14
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thun
$398
Geneva
$375 5.9% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Thun
$258
Geneva
$254 1.7% $4.3
Getting Around
Thun
$149
Geneva
$132 11.1% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Thun
$136
Geneva
$123 9.6% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,685 in Thun versus $2,816 in Geneva. 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 Geneva, 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 $122 in Thun versus $132 in Geneva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $556 vs $591 – making Thun the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Thun
🇨🇭 Geneva
🕒 Local time
10:41 10:41 AM
10:41 10:41 AM
Same time as Thun
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
43,905
191,557
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Thun Geneva 130 km
From you
  • Thun
  • Geneva

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Thun vs Geneva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Geneva cheaper than Thun?
Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 20%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,083 per month in Thun and $6,077 in Geneva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Thun, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Thun and in Geneva?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Geneva, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Thun or in Geneva?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Thun and $132 in Geneva. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Thun or in Geneva?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,388 in Thun and $4,051 in Geneva. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Thun or Geneva more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Thun – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Thun or Geneva?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Thun. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Geneva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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