Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Locarno Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Locarno

😐 Solo nomad: Zurich is 24.7% more expensive than Locarno without rent, and 56.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Zurich is 16.4% more expensive than Locarno without rent, and 37.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.39 CHF 24.58
$27.33 CHF 21.40
14.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$148 CHF 116
$151 CHF 118
-1.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.60 CHF 16.13
$16.32 CHF 12.78
26.23%
Cappuccino
$6.90 CHF 5.40
$4.80 CHF 3.76
43.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83 CHF 4.57
$5.14 CHF 4.03
13.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30 CHF 4.15
$4.50 CHF 3.52
17.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.74 CHF 7.62
$7.28 CHF 5.70
33.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.44 CHF 6.61
$7.11 CHF 5.56
18.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 CHF 1.69
$1.80 CHF 1.41
20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.40 CHF 2.66
$2.67 CHF 2.09
27.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.94 CHF 3.08
$2.50 CHF 1.96
57.60%
Eggs
$7.57 CHF 5.93
$6.05 CHF 4.74
25.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$29.08 CHF 22.77
$27.69 CHF 21.68
5.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$33.28 CHF 26.06
$14.95 CHF 11.71
122.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$50.8 CHF 39.76
$37.03 CHF 28.99
37.13%
Apples (1kg)
$4.01 CHF 3.14
$2.79 CHF 2.18
43.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 CHF 2.21
$1.81 CHF 1.42
55.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 CHF 2.38
$1.80 CHF 1.41
68.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.17 CHF 4.05
$3.03 CHF 2.37
70.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 CHF 2.14
$1.37 CHF 1.08
99.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 CHF 1.85
$1.83 CHF 1.44
29.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 CHF 2.02
$1.80 CHF 1.41
43.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 CHF 1.30
$0.76 CHF 0.60
118.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.15 CHF 8.73
$10.73 CHF 8.40
3.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.52 CHF 12.15
$11.48 CHF 8.99
35.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 CHF 2.15
$2.28 CHF 1.79
20.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 CHF 2.61
$2.37 CHF 1.85
40.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.96 CHF 3.88
$2.84 CHF 2.22
74.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$109 CHF 85.7
$98.6 CHF 77.2
10.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.63 CHF 5.97
$6.95 CHF 5.44
9.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.13 CHF 3.24
$4.17 CHF 3.27
-0.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$89.0 CHF 69.7
$79.2 CHF 62.0
12.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.24 CHF 1.75
$2.21 CHF 1.73
1.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K CHF 31.4K
$34.5K CHF 27.0K
16.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K CHF 30.9K
$41.7K CHF 32.7K
-5.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 CHF 198
$333 CHF 260
-23.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.07 CHF 27.46
$24.92 CHF 19.51
40.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.2 CHF 45.54
$46.39 CHF 36.32
25.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$90.5 CHF 70.9
$73.6 CHF 57.6
23.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.94 CHF 38.32
$30.36 CHF 23.77
61.20%
Cinema Ticket
$24.92 CHF 19.51
$20.78 CHF 16.27
19.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,471 CHF 2,718
$1,462 CHF 1,145
137.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K CHF 30.7K
$19.3K CHF 15.1K
103.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137 CHF 108
$116 CHF 91.1
17.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1 CHF 47.82
$59.2 CHF 46.39
3.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$149 CHF 117
$120 CHF 93.6
24.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$201 CHF 157
$118 CHF 92.5
69.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,726 CHF 2,134
$1,035 CHF 810
163.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,225 CHF 1,742
$1,051 CHF 823
111.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,974 CHF 3,894
$2,471 CHF 1,935
101.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,694 CHF 2,893
$2,209 CHF 1,730
67.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$24.7K CHF 19.4K
$8,535 CHF 6,683
189.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.4K CHF 12.8K
$6,571 CHF 5,145
149.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,573 CHF 6,713
$7,237 CHF 5,667
18.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.09
2.17
-3.69%

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

Last update for Zurich: February 28, 2026

Last update for Locarno: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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