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

🙂 Solo nomad: United States is 36.4% cheaper than Switzerland without rent, and 26% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: United States is 38.4% cheaper than Switzerland without rent, and 31.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Switzerland
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.97 $19.97
$30.42 CHF 23.70
-34.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 $74.7
$134 CHF 105
-44.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 $11.40
$18.34 CHF 14.29
-37.84%
Cappuccino
$5.37 $5.37
$5.94 CHF 4.63
-9.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$5.55 CHF 4.33
-52.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$5.00 CHF 3.90
-58.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.90 $5.90
$8.54 CHF 6.65
-30.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 $7.02
$7.25 CHF 5.65
-3.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Switzerland
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.15 CHF 1.67
-49.30%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$3.66 CHF 2.85
-3.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$4.17 CHF 3.25
13.43%
Eggs
$4.30 $4.30
$7.38 CHF 5.75
-41.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 $13.01
$28.59 CHF 22.28
-54.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.22 $12.22
$33.09 CHF 25.78
-63.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.36 $16.36
$48.17 CHF 37.53
-66.04%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$3.77 CHF 2.94
38.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$2.55 CHF 1.99
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$3.01 CHF 2.34
52.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$5.94 CHF 4.63
-16.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.52 CHF 1.96
18.25%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.40 CHF 1.87
26.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.52 CHF 1.97
-10.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.38 CHF 1.08
57.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.83 $9.83
$10.97 CHF 8.54
-10.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$15.13 CHF 11.79
0.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.56 CHF 1.99
-25.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.11 CHF 2.42
15.11%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Switzerland
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.49 $2.49
$4.15 CHF 3.24
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.1 $66.1
$98.2 CHF 76.5
-32.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 $3.82
$8.14 CHF 6.34
-53.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$4.29 CHF 3.34
-58.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.48 $29.48
$85.0 CHF 66.2
-65.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$2.27 CHF 1.77
-59.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$41.1K CHF 32.0K
-28.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$42.4K CHF 33.0K
-38.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Switzerland
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 $206
$265 CHF 207
-22.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.9 $56.9
$51.6 CHF 40.21
10.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$60.0 CHF 46.75
21.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Switzerland
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.23 $45.23
$89.3 CHF 69.5
-49.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.84 $21.84
$46.37 CHF 36.13
-52.90%
Cinema Ticket
$13.79 $13.79
$25.01 CHF 19.48
-44.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Switzerland
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,355 $1,355
$3,028 CHF 2,359
-55.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.6K $22.6K
$34.3K CHF 26.7K
-34.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Switzerland
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$131 CHF 102
-60.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.37 $42.37
$65.7 CHF 51.2
-35.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 $88.6
$149 CHF 116
-40.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$186 CHF 145
-38.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Switzerland
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 $1,763
$2,039 CHF 1,589
-13.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 $1,432
$1,687 CHF 1,315
-15.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,827 $2,827
$3,600 CHF 2,805
-21.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,358 $2,358
$3,007 CHF 2,343
-21.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,391 $3,391
$19.0K CHF 14.8K
-82.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$14.0K CHF 10.9K
-81.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Switzerland
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,326 $4,326
$7,693 CHF 5,993
-43.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
2.44
166.80%

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

Last update for United States: March 3, 2026

Last update for Switzerland: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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