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

😐 Solo nomad: Zurich is 46.7% more expensive than Locarno without rent, and 51.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Zurich is 44% more expensive than Locarno without rent, and 32.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.12 CHF 25.3
$27.63 CHF 22.47
12.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$148 CHF 120
$145 CHF 118
1.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.93 CHF 17.02
$16.36 CHF 13.3
27.93%
Cappuccino
$6.67 CHF 5.43
$4.93 CHF 4.01
35.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.1 CHF 4.96
$4.97 CHF 4.04
22.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18 CHF 4.21
$4.54 CHF 3.69
14.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.93 CHF 8.08
$7.47 CHF 6.08
32.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.68 CHF 7.05
$7.25 CHF 5.89
19.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 CHF 1.77
$1.88 CHF 1.53
15.43%
White Bread (500g)
$3.4 CHF 2.77
$2.71 CHF 2.2
25.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.94 CHF 3.2
$2.51 CHF 2.04
56.97%
Eggs
$7.42 CHF 6.03
$6.07 CHF 4.94
22.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$29.63 CHF 24.09
$27.25 CHF 22.16
8.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$33.86 CHF 27.53
$14.52 CHF 11.8
133.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$49.36 CHF 40.13
$36.28 CHF 29.5
36.05%
Apples (1kg)
$4.12 CHF 3.35
$2.67 CHF 2.17
54.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 CHF 2.3
$1.82 CHF 1.48
55.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.01 CHF 2.45
$1.86 CHF 1.51
61.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$5 CHF 4.06
$3.03 CHF 2.46
65.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 CHF 2.26
$1.32 CHF 1.07
110.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 CHF 1.94
$1.89 CHF 1.54
25.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 CHF 2.1
$1.9 CHF 1.55
35.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 CHF 1.35
$0.73 CHF 0.59
127.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.87 CHF 8.84
$10.91 CHF 8.87
-0.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.34 CHF 12.48
$19.14 CHF 15.56
-19.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 CHF 2.15
$2.28 CHF 1.85
15.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 CHF 2.62
$2.39 CHF 1.94
35.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.89 CHF 3.98
$2.75 CHF 2.24
77.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$107 CHF 87.3
$97.6 CHF 79.4
9.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.55 CHF 6.14
$6.58 CHF 5.35
14.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.32 CHF 3.52
$4.3 CHF 3.49
0.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$86.9 CHF 70.7
$78.9 CHF 64.2
10.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 CHF 1.88
$2.11 CHF 1.71
9.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K CHF 32.2K
$34K CHF 27.6K
16.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K CHF 32.7K
$42.1K CHF 34.2K
-4.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 CHF 206
$327 CHF 266
-22.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.2 CHF 29.43
$25.11 CHF 20.42
44.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.7 CHF 46.92
$46.4 CHF 37.73
24.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.6 CHF 72.9
$74.4 CHF 60.5
20.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$49.81 CHF 40.5
$31.09 CHF 25.28
60.21%
Cinema Ticket
$25.08 CHF 20.39
$20.87 CHF 16.97
20.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,449 CHF 2,805
$1,457 CHF 1,184
136.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.4K CHF 32.1K
$19.2K CHF 15.6K
105.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140 CHF 114
$113 CHF 92.1
23.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.2 CHF 50.5
$59.4 CHF 48.26
4.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$145 CHF 118
$121 CHF 98.6
19.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$198 CHF 161
$121 CHF 98.6
63.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,766 CHF 2,249
$1,032 CHF 839
168.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,234 CHF 1,816
$1,052 CHF 855
112.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,875 CHF 3,964
$2,472 CHF 2,010
97.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,725 CHF 3,029
$2,222 CHF 1,807
67.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$24.6K CHF 20K
$8,430 CHF 6,854
191.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$18K CHF 14.7K
$6,394 CHF 5,199
182.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,196 CHF 6,664
$6,946 CHF 5,647
18.01%
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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Locarno: October 28, 2025

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