Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Arbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Arbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,254 per month in Zurich vs $3,362 in Arbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,409 per month in Zurich vs $5,166 in Arbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,563 per month in Zurich vs $6,970 in Arbon, rent included.

Zurich costs about 27% more than Arbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zurich and Arbon sit above the global median – Zurich by 217%, Arbon by 151%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.04 CHF 24.47

$30.71 CHF 24.21

1.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 118

$140 CHF 110

6.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.83 CHF 16.42

$17.11 CHF 13.49

21.74%

Cappuccino

$6.72 CHF 5.29

$6.33 CHF 4.99

6.16%

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

$5.90 CHF 4.65

$5.27 CHF 4.15

11.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 CHF 4.22

$4.33 CHF 3.41

23.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.85 CHF 7.76

$7.71 CHF 6.08

27.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.82 CHF 6.95

$7.51 CHF 5.92

17.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.78

$2.17 CHF 1.71

4.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.29 CHF 2.60

$2.66 CHF 2.10

23.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.12 CHF 3.25

$3.64 CHF 2.87

13.19%

Eggs

$7.19 CHF 5.67

$7.87 CHF 6.20

-8.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.88 CHF 23.56

$27.41 CHF 21.61

9.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.59 CHF 26.48

$31.88 CHF 25.14

5.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$49.65 CHF 39.14

$40.41 CHF 31.86

22.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.04 CHF 3.18

$3.14 CHF 2.47

28.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 CHF 2.29

$1.84 CHF 1.45

57.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.05 CHF 2.40

$2.55 CHF 2.01

19.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 CHF 4.13

$6.51 CHF 5.14

-19.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 CHF 2.25

$2.50 CHF 1.97

14.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 CHF 1.88

$2.28 CHF 1.80

4.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 CHF 1.97

$2.55 CHF 2.01

-1.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 CHF 1.34

$1.15 CHF 0.90

47.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.96 CHF 8.64

$10.80 CHF 8.51

1.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 CHF 11.87

$11.87 CHF 9.36

26.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 CHF 2.07

$2.25 CHF 1.77

16.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CHF 2.55

$2.29 CHF 1.81

41.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.82 CHF 3.80

$3.90 CHF 3.07

23.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 CHF 83.7

$100 CHF 79.2

5.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.55 CHF 5.95

$6.74 CHF 5.32

12.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.15 CHF 3.27

$4.26 CHF 3.36

-2.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$89.1 CHF 70.2

$80.5 CHF 63.5

10.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.29 CHF 1.81

$2.11 CHF 1.66

8.53%

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

$41.1K CHF 32.4K

$40.5K CHF 31.9K

1.57%

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

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

$43.1K CHF 34.0K

-8.66%

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

$259 CHF 204

$248 CHF 196

4.06%

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

$35.51 CHF 28.00

$59.2 CHF 46.67

-40.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CHF 46.08

$53.7 CHF 42.31

8.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.8 CHF 70.0

$87.6 CHF 69.1

1.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$48.84 CHF 38.50

Cinema Ticket

$25.07 CHF 19.77

$22.44 CHF 17.69

11.72%

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

$3,470 CHF 2,736

$2,843 CHF 2,242

22.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K CHF 30.8K

$43.5K CHF 34.3K

-10.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 CHF 108

$140 CHF 111

-2.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.3 CHF 49.13

$65.8 CHF 51.9

-5.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$148 CHF 117

$133 CHF 105

11.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$202 CHF 159

$162 CHF 127

25.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,686 CHF 2,118

$1,683 CHF 1,327

59.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 CHF 1,738

$1,492 CHF 1,176

47.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,902 CHF 3,865

$2,865 CHF 2,259

71.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,702 CHF 2,919

$2,423 CHF 1,910

52.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$26.1K CHF 20.6K

$14.2K CHF 11.2K

83.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.5K CHF 13.0K

$11.6K CHF 9,140

42.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,722 CHF 6,876

$11.4K CHF 8,986

-23.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

2.5

-16.40%

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

Last update for Zurich: May 31, 2026

Last update for Arbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,686 in Zurich versus $1,683 in Arbon. 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 31% higher in Arbon, 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 $149 in Zurich versus $140 in Arbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $677 vs $602 – making Arbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Arbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,254 in Zurich, $3,362 in Arbon – roughly 27% apart. Zurich costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,382 per month in Zurich and $5,043 in Arbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,254 in Zurich and $3,362 in Arbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 6% less in Arbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,254 in Zurich and $3,362 in Arbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Zurich has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,362 in Arbon to $4,254 in Zurich. 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 Arbon. 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.