Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Bern Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Bern

😐 Solo nomad: Zurich is 5.2% more expensive than Bern without rent, and 24.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Zurich is 8% more expensive than Bern without rent, and 18.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zurich
Bern
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.12 CHF 25.3
$28.32 CHF 23.03
9.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$148 CHF 120
$110 CHF 89.3
34.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.93 CHF 17.02
$17.37 CHF 14.12
20.50%
Cappuccino
$6.67 CHF 5.43
$5.8 CHF 4.72
15.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.1 CHF 4.96
$4.78 CHF 3.89
27.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18 CHF 4.21
$4.77 CHF 3.88
8.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.93 CHF 8.08
$8.08 CHF 6.57
22.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.68 CHF 7.05
$6.27 CHF 5.09
38.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zurich
Bern
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 CHF 1.77
$2.24 CHF 1.82
-3.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.4 CHF 2.77
$3.29 CHF 2.68
3.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.94 CHF 3.2
$4.08 CHF 3.32
-3.43%
Eggs
$7.42 CHF 6.03
$6.93 CHF 5.64
7.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$29.63 CHF 24.09
$28.01 CHF 22.77
5.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$33.86 CHF 27.53
$35.98 CHF 29.26
-5.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$49.36 CHF 40.13
$41.51 CHF 33.75
18.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.12 CHF 3.35
$3.49 CHF 2.84
18.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 CHF 2.3
$2.13 CHF 1.73
32.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.01 CHF 2.45
$2.78 CHF 2.26
8.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$5 CHF 4.06
$7.02 CHF 5.7
-28.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 CHF 2.26
$2.23 CHF 1.81
24.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 CHF 1.94
$2.22 CHF 1.8
7.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 CHF 2.1
$2.53 CHF 2.06
1.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 CHF 1.35
$1.11 CHF 0.9
49.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.87 CHF 8.84
$11.5 CHF 9.35
-5.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.34 CHF 12.48
$12.65 CHF 10.29
21.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 CHF 2.15
$1.87 CHF 1.52
41.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 CHF 2.62
$2.26 CHF 1.83
42.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Zurich
Bern
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.89 CHF 3.98
$3.59 CHF 2.92
36.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$107 CHF 87.3
$96 CHF 78
11.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.55 CHF 6.14
$8.03 CHF 6.53
-5.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.32 CHF 3.52
$4.32 CHF 3.52
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$86.9 CHF 70.7
$92.7 CHF 75.4
-6.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 CHF 1.88
$2.2 CHF 1.79
5.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K CHF 32.2K
$40.2K CHF 32.7K
-1.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K CHF 32.7K
$57.5K CHF 46.7K
-30.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zurich
Bern
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 CHF 206
$377 CHF 307
-32.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.2 CHF 29.43
$59 CHF 47.97
-38.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.7 CHF 46.92
$58.1 CHF 47.2
-0.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zurich
Bern
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.6 CHF 72.9
$82.8 CHF 67.4
8.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$49.81 CHF 40.5
$47.33 CHF 38.49
5.24%
Cinema Ticket
$25.08 CHF 20.39
$24.24 CHF 19.71
3.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zurich
Bern
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,449 CHF 2,805
$3,311 CHF 2,692
4.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.4K CHF 32.1K
$39.8K CHF 32.4K
-0.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zurich
Bern
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140 CHF 114
$152 CHF 124
-8.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.2 CHF 50.5
$67 CHF 54.5
-7.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$145 CHF 118
$173 CHF 141
-16.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$198 CHF 161
$189 CHF 153
5.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zurich
Bern
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,766 CHF 2,249
$1,884 CHF 1,532
46.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,234 CHF 1,816
$1,282 CHF 1,042
74.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,875 CHF 3,964
$3,314 CHF 2,694
47.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,725 CHF 3,029
$2,401 CHF 1,952
55.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$24.6K CHF 20K
$22.6K CHF 18.4K
8.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$18K CHF 14.7K
$17.7K CHF 14.4K
2.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zurich
Bern
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,196 CHF 6,664
$7,599 CHF 6,178
7.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.09
2.52
-17.06%

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

Last update for Zurich: October 27, 2025

Last update for Bern: October 27, 2025

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