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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,270 per month in Zurich vs $3,361 in Arbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,491 per month in Zurich vs $5,221 in Arbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,712 per month in Zurich vs $7,082 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 220%, Arbon by 152%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.84 CHF 24.93

$30.53 CHF 24.68

1.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 CHF 119

$139 CHF 112

5.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.72 CHF 16.75

$17.34 CHF 14.02

19.49%

Cappuccino

$6.94 CHF 5.61

$6.16 CHF 4.98

12.66%

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

$6.04 CHF 4.88

$5.35 CHF 4.32

12.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.24 CHF 4.24

$4.35 CHF 3.52

20.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.83 CHF 7.95

$7.72 CHF 6.24

27.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.52 CHF 6.88

$7.19 CHF 5.82

18.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 CHF 1.76

$2.28 CHF 1.84

-4.39%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 CHF 2.63

$2.57 CHF 2.08

26.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.12 CHF 3.33

$3.63 CHF 2.93

13.50%

Eggs

$7.26 CHF 5.87

$7.91 CHF 6.39

-8.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.00 CHF 24.26

$27.75 CHF 22.43

8.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$34.06 CHF 27.54

$32.72 CHF 26.46

4.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.2 CHF 40.56

$41.18 CHF 33.29

21.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 CHF 3.31

$3.19 CHF 2.58

28.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 CHF 2.35

$1.83 CHF 1.48

59.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 CHF 2.44

$2.49 CHF 2.02

21.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 CHF 4.02

$6.36 CHF 5.14

-21.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 CHF 2.22

$2.49 CHF 2.01

10.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 CHF 1.89

$2.38 CHF 1.92

-1.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 CHF 2.06

$2.58 CHF 2.09

-1.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 CHF 1.39

$1.15 CHF 0.93

49.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.29 CHF 9.13

$10.80 CHF 8.73

4.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 CHF 10.98

$11.17 CHF 9.03

21.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 CHF 2.12

$2.25 CHF 1.82

16.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CHF 2.61

$2.33 CHF 1.88

38.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.02 CHF 4.06

$3.89 CHF 3.15

29.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 CHF 86.6

$97.0 CHF 78.4

10.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 CHF 6.31

$6.71 CHF 5.42

16.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.31 CHF 3.48

$4.24 CHF 3.43

1.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.9 CHF 70.2

$78.8 CHF 63.7

10.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.81

$2.17 CHF 1.76

3.23%

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

$39.7K CHF 32.1K

$39.8K CHF 32.1K

-0.09%

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

$39.8K CHF 32.2K

$42.9K CHF 34.7K

-7.30%

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

$258 CHF 209

$251 CHF 203

2.86%

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

$36.31 CHF 29.36

$59.3 CHF 47.97

-38.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 CHF 48.02

$54.0 CHF 43.68

9.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.5 CHF 72.3

$89.4 CHF 72.3

0.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.1 CHF 40.49

Cinema Ticket

$24.81 CHF 20.06

$22.30 CHF 18.03

11.26%

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

$3,344 CHF 2,703

$2,789 CHF 2,255

19.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.1K CHF 31.6K

$42.8K CHF 34.6K

-8.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 CHF 111

$137 CHF 111

0.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 CHF 49.90

$64.4 CHF 52.1

-4.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 CHF 119

$131 CHF 106

12.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$200 CHF 162

$161 CHF 130

24.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 CHF 2,200

$1,702 CHF 1,376

59.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,227 CHF 1,800

$1,445 CHF 1,169

54.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,054 CHF 4,086

$2,874 CHF 2,324

75.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,797 CHF 3,070

$2,437 CHF 1,971

55.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$27.3K CHF 22.0K

$14.8K CHF 12.0K

83.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K CHF 13.3K

$10.6K CHF 8,587

54.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,287 CHF 6,700

$11.3K CHF 9,150

-26.77%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Arbon: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,721 in Zurich versus $1,702 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 37% 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 $147 in Zurich versus $139 in Arbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $676 vs $608 – 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: $4,270 in Zurich, $3,361 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 $6,406 per month in Zurich and $5,041 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 $4,270 in Zurich and $3,361 in Arbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 10% 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 $4,270 in Zurich and $3,361 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 $3,361 in Arbon to $4,270 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.