Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Affoltern am Albis Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Affoltern am Albis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,624 per month in Zurich vs $3,472 in Affoltern am Albis, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in Zurich vs $5,397 in Affoltern am Albis, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,337 per month in Zurich vs $7,322 in Affoltern am Albis, rent included.

Zurich costs about 33% more than Affoltern am Albis, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zurich and Affoltern am Albis sit above the global median – Zurich by 238%, Affoltern am Albis by 154%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$34.81 CHF 28.60

$30.35 CHF 24.94

14.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 CHF 121

$172 CHF 141

-14.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.67 CHF 15.34

$18.42 CHF 15.13

1.36%

Cappuccino

$7.34 CHF 6.03

$6.12 CHF 5.03

19.93%

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

$5.73 CHF 4.71

$5.43 CHF 4.46

5.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.24 CHF 4.30

$4.80 CHF 3.94

9.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.85 CHF 8.10

$8.76 CHF 7.20

12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.77 CHF 7.21

$6.96 CHF 5.72

26.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CHF 1.83

$2.32 CHF 1.91

-4.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.85 CHF 3.16

$3.95 CHF 3.25

-2.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.00 CHF 3.28

$4.24 CHF 3.49

-5.66%

Eggs

$8.75 CHF 7.19

$7.71 CHF 6.33

13.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.45 CHF 22.56

$27.63 CHF 22.71

-0.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.85 CHF 22.89

$30.13 CHF 24.76

-7.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$61.8 CHF 50.8

$43.31 CHF 35.59

42.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CHF 3.38

$3.80 CHF 3.12

8.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 CHF 2.34

$2.06 CHF 1.69

37.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.59 CHF 2.95

$2.80 CHF 2.30

28.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 CHF 3.85

$5.38 CHF 4.42

-12.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 CHF 2.12

$2.09 CHF 1.72

23.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 CHF 1.79

$2.15 CHF 1.77

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 CHF 2.02

$2.42 CHF 1.98

1.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 CHF 1.10

$1.20 CHF 0.99

11.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.89 CHF 8.95

$11.04 CHF 9.07

-1.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.38 CHF 11.00

$13.33 CHF 10.96

0.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 CHF 2.27

$2.93 CHF 2.41

-5.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CHF 2.69

$4.10 CHF 3.37

-20.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.48 CHF 4.50

$4.59 CHF 3.77

19.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 CHF 87.9

$103 CHF 84.7

3.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.46 CHF 6.96

$5.57 CHF 4.58

51.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.75 CHF 3.91

$3.56 CHF 2.93

33.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$90.4 CHF 74.3

$60.8 CHF 49.97

48.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.34 CHF 1.93

$2.30 CHF 1.89

1.74%

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

$40.3K CHF 33.1K

$43.4K CHF 35.7K

-7.15%

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

$39.8K CHF 32.7K

$40.1K CHF 32.9K

-0.68%

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

$281 CHF 231

$229 CHF 188

22.65%

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

$38.53 CHF 31.66

$32.42 CHF 26.65

18.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 CHF 47.91

$63.3 CHF 52.0

-7.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.6 CHF 74.4

$90.7 CHF 74.5

-0.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$62.4 CHF 51.2

$46.81 CHF 38.46

33.20%

Cinema Ticket

$24.90 CHF 20.47

$23.88 CHF 19.62

4.27%

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

$3,639 CHF 2,991

$1,855 CHF 1,524

96.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.6K CHF 35.8K

$33.5K CHF 27.6K

30.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$144 CHF 118

$167 CHF 137

-13.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 CHF 49.23

$68.6 CHF 56.3

-12.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$167 CHF 137

$192 CHF 158

-13.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$265 CHF 218

$188 CHF 155

41.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,062 CHF 2,517

$1,727 CHF 1,419

77.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,474 CHF 2,033

$1,488 CHF 1,223

66.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,216 CHF 5,108

$2,905 CHF 2,387

113.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,209 CHF 3,459

$2,504 CHF 2,058

68.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$26.9K CHF 22.1K

$16.2K CHF 13.3K

66.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.2K CHF 13.3K

$12.1K CHF 9,955

33.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,334 CHF 6,849

$8,090 CHF 6,648

3.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.07

1.9

8.95%

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

Last update for Zurich: September 14, 2026

Last update for Affoltern am Albis: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,062 in Zurich versus $1,727 in Affoltern am Albis. 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 3% 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 $147 in Zurich versus $172 in Affoltern am Albis. Groceries tell a different story – $679 in Zurich vs $628 in Affoltern am Albis – so Affoltern am Albis 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

Zurich vs Affoltern am Albis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zurich costs about 33% more than Affoltern am Albis, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,935 per month in Zurich and $5,207 in Affoltern am Albis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 4% less in Affoltern am Albis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,639 per month in Zurich and $1,855 in Affoltern am Albis. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,624 in Zurich and $3,472 in Affoltern am Albis. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Affoltern am Albis costs $3,472 versus $4,624 in Zurich. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Affoltern am Albis. 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.