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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,731 per month in Zurich vs $3,446 in Arbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,187 per month in Zurich vs $5,324 in Arbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,642 per month in Zurich vs $7,202 in Arbon, rent included.

Zurich costs about 37% more than Arbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zurich and Arbon sit above the global median – Zurich by 244%, Arbon by 151%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$37.35 CHF 30.37

$31.29 CHF 25.44

19.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 121

$150 CHF 122

-1.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.46 CHF 15.01

$19.92 CHF 16.19

-7.33%

Cappuccino

$7.03 CHF 5.72

$6.29 CHF 5.11

11.76%

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

$5.88 CHF 4.78

$6.09 CHF 4.95

-3.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.40 CHF 4.39

$5.47 CHF 4.44

-1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.98 CHF 8.11

$9.32 CHF 7.57

7.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.85 CHF 7.19

$6.35 CHF 5.16

39.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 CHF 1.75

$2.27 CHF 1.85

-4.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 CHF 3.30

$3.17 CHF 2.58

28.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 CHF 3.23

$3.73 CHF 3.04

6.70%

Eggs

$8.69 CHF 7.06

$8.07 CHF 6.56

7.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.65 CHF 22.48

$25.89 CHF 21.05

6.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.77 CHF 22.58

$28.96 CHF 23.54

-4.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$61.1 CHF 49.70

$42.89 CHF 34.87

42.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.08 CHF 3.32

$3.64 CHF 2.96

12.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 CHF 2.38

$2.02 CHF 1.64

44.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.59 CHF 2.92

$2.39 CHF 1.94

50.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 CHF 4.02

$5.35 CHF 4.35

-7.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 CHF 2.13

$2.00 CHF 1.62

31.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 CHF 1.87

$2.27 CHF 1.85

1.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CHF 2.11

$2.33 CHF 1.89

11.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 CHF 1.05

$1.22 CHF 1.00

5.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.92 CHF 8.88

$11.34 CHF 9.22

-3.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.57 CHF 11.04

$17.57 CHF 14.28

-22.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 CHF 2.35

$2.27 CHF 1.85

27.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 CHF 2.55

$2.32 CHF 1.88

35.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.57 CHF 4.53

$4.22 CHF 3.43

31.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 CHF 87.1

$91.0 CHF 74.0

17.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.13 CHF 6.61

$6.63 CHF 5.39

22.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.82 CHF 3.92

$4.70 CHF 3.82

2.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$92.7 CHF 75.3

$81.2 CHF 66.0

14.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 CHF 1.89

$2.33 CHF 1.89

-0.43%

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

$40.2K CHF 32.7K

$36.4K CHF 29.6K

10.63%

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

$39.8K CHF 32.4K

$40.9K CHF 33.3K

-2.77%

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

$290 CHF 235

$228 CHF 186

26.86%

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

$39.27 CHF 31.93

$38.84 CHF 31.58

1.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 CHF 46.78

$56.5 CHF 45.93

1.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.0 CHF 74.0

$79.5 CHF 64.6

14.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 CHF 51.7

$53.5 CHF 43.48

18.83%

Cinema Ticket

$25.00 CHF 20.33

$24.06 CHF 19.56

3.91%

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

$3,759 CHF 3,056

$2,309 CHF 1,877

62.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.8K CHF 34.8K

$32.3K CHF 26.2K

32.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$143 CHF 116

$146 CHF 118

-1.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.5 CHF 49.18

$66.2 CHF 53.8

-8.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$167 CHF 136

$149 CHF 121

11.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$263 CHF 214

$188 CHF 153

39.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,126 CHF 2,542

$1,556 CHF 1,265

100.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,503 CHF 2,035

$1,342 CHF 1,091

86.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,322 CHF 5,140

$2,878 CHF 2,340

119.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,166 CHF 3,387

$2,721 CHF 2,212

53.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.2K CHF 23.0K

$18.4K CHF 15.0K

53.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K CHF 13.3K

$11.5K CHF 9,379

42.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,301 CHF 6,749

$11.6K CHF 9,446

-28.55%

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 1, 2026

Last update for Arbon: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,126 in Zurich versus $1,556 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 40% 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 $150 in Arbon. Groceries tell a different story – $681 in Zurich vs $605 in Arbon – so Arbon 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 Arbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,731 in Zurich, $3,446 in Arbon – roughly 37% apart. Zurich costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,096 per month in Zurich and $5,170 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 $4,731 in Zurich and $3,446 in Arbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 18% 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 $4,731 in Zurich and $3,446 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 $3,446 in Arbon to $4,731 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.