Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Dubendorf Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Dubendorf

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,731 in Zurich versus $3,867 in Dubendorf.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,187 in Zurich versus $5,690 in Dubendorf.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,642 in Zurich versus $7,513 in Dubendorf.

Living in Zurich is roughly 22% more expensive than in Dubendorf, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zurich 244% above, Dubendorf 181% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$37.35 CHF 30.37

$30.67 CHF 24.94

21.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 121

$121 CHF 98.6

22.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.46 CHF 15.01

$16.54 CHF 13.45

11.61%

Cappuccino

$7.03 CHF 5.72

$6.21 CHF 5.05

13.20%

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

$5.88 CHF 4.78

$5.47 CHF 4.45

7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.40 CHF 4.39

$4.94 CHF 4.01

9.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.98 CHF 8.11

$8.60 CHF 7.00

16.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.85 CHF 7.19

$6.71 CHF 5.45

31.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 CHF 1.75

$2.18 CHF 1.78

-0.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 CHF 3.30

$3.90 CHF 3.17

4.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 CHF 3.23

$4.70 CHF 3.82

-15.32%

Eggs

$8.69 CHF 7.06

$7.61 CHF 6.18

14.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.65 CHF 22.48

$33.49 CHF 27.22

-17.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.77 CHF 22.58

$27.04 CHF 21.99

2.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$61.1 CHF 49.70

$43.16 CHF 35.09

41.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.08 CHF 3.32

$3.56 CHF 2.89

14.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 CHF 2.38

$2.30 CHF 1.87

26.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.59 CHF 2.92

$3.34 CHF 2.72

7.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 CHF 4.02

$6.91 CHF 5.62

-28.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 CHF 2.13

$2.49 CHF 2.03

5.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 CHF 1.87

$2.22 CHF 1.80

3.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CHF 2.11

$2.57 CHF 2.09

1.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 CHF 1.05

$1.45 CHF 1.18

-11.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.92 CHF 8.88

$10.97 CHF 8.92

-0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.57 CHF 11.04

$13.40 CHF 10.90

1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 CHF 2.35

$2.22 CHF 1.81

30.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 CHF 2.55

$2.81 CHF 2.28

11.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.57 CHF 4.53

$2.49 CHF 2.02

123.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 CHF 87.1

$50.0 CHF 40.65

114.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.13 CHF 6.61

$5.43 CHF 4.41

49.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.82 CHF 3.92

$3.39 CHF 2.76

42.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$92.7 CHF 75.3

$61.7 CHF 50.2

50.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 CHF 1.89

$2.22 CHF 1.80

4.50%

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

$40.2K CHF 32.7K

$42.9K CHF 34.8K

-6.14%

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

$39.8K CHF 32.4K

$39.7K CHF 32.3K

0.35%

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

$290 CHF 235

$233 CHF 190

23.99%

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

$39.27 CHF 31.93

$32.72 CHF 26.60

20.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 CHF 46.78

$67.0 CHF 54.5

-14.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.0 CHF 74.0

$123 CHF 100

-26.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 CHF 51.7

$80.3 CHF 65.2

-20.81%

Cinema Ticket

$25.00 CHF 20.33

$24.97 CHF 20.30

0.12%

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

$3,759 CHF 3,056

$1,881 CHF 1,529

99.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.8K CHF 34.8K

$32.8K CHF 26.7K

30.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$143 CHF 116

$144 CHF 117

-0.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.5 CHF 49.18

$88.2 CHF 71.7

-31.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$167 CHF 136

$150 CHF 122

11.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$263 CHF 214

$177 CHF 144

48.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,126 CHF 2,542

$1,860 CHF 1,512

68.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,503 CHF 2,035

$1,884 CHF 1,532

32.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,322 CHF 5,140

$2,911 CHF 2,366

117.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,166 CHF 3,387

$2,875 CHF 2,337

44.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.2K CHF 23.0K

$12.3K CHF 9,988

129.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K CHF 13.3K

$7,334 CHF 5,962

123.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,301 CHF 6,749

$3,921 CHF 3,188

111.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.07

2.48

-16.53%

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

Last update for Zurich: September 1, 2026

Last update for Dubendorf: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,126 in Zurich and $1,860 in Dubendorf. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zurich pays 112% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $149 in Zurich vs $121 in Dubendorf for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $681 vs $638 per month, with Dubendorf cheaper across the board.

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 Dubendorf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zurich and Dubendorf differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($4,731 vs $3,867 including rent). Dubendorf is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 112% higher in Zurich, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,126 in Zurich versus $1,860 in Dubendorf. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,731 per month in Zurich versus $3,867 in Dubendorf – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dubendorf runs roughly 114% less than in Zurich. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Dubendorf is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Zurich and Dubendorf are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dubendorf gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Zurich. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.