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

😐 Solo nomad: Zurich is 24.1% more expensive than Locarno without rent, and 52.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Zurich is 17.7% more expensive than Locarno without rent, and 37.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.84 CHF 24.09
$27.49 CHF 21.47
12.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$150 CHF 117
$147 CHF 115
2.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.90 CHF 16.32
$16.65 CHF 13.01
25.53%
Cappuccino
$6.84 CHF 5.35
$4.80 CHF 3.75
42.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 CHF 4.75
$5.17 CHF 4.04
17.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25 CHF 4.10
$4.56 CHF 3.56
15.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.10 CHF 7.89
$7.61 CHF 5.94
32.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.57 CHF 6.69
$6.93 CHF 5.41
23.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 CHF 1.69
$1.81 CHF 1.41
19.89%
White Bread (500g)
$3.36 CHF 2.63
$2.58 CHF 2.01
30.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.10 CHF 3.20
$2.48 CHF 1.94
65.32%
Eggs
$7.49 CHF 5.85
$5.76 CHF 4.50
30.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$29.78 CHF 23.25
$27.97 CHF 21.84
6.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$34.08 CHF 26.62
$14.94 CHF 11.67
128.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$49.33 CHF 38.53
$37.25 CHF 29.10
32.43%
Apples (1kg)
$4.01 CHF 3.13
$2.70 CHF 2.11
48.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 CHF 2.21
$1.86 CHF 1.46
52.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 CHF 2.33
$1.83 CHF 1.43
62.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.22 CHF 4.07
$3.10 CHF 2.42
68.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 CHF 2.25
$1.32 CHF 1.03
118.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 CHF 1.78
$1.87 CHF 1.46
21.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 CHF 2.02
$1.82 CHF 1.42
41.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 CHF 1.35
$0.72 CHF 0.56
140.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.16 CHF 8.72
$10.84 CHF 8.46
2.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.04 CHF 11.74
$11.78 CHF 9.20
27.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 CHF 2.07
$2.26 CHF 1.76
17.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 CHF 2.61
$2.28 CHF 1.78
46.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.82 CHF 3.77
$2.72 CHF 2.12
77.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$110 CHF 85.7
$97.5 CHF 76.1
12.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.64 CHF 5.96
$6.94 CHF 5.42
10.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.29 CHF 3.35
$4.21 CHF 3.29
1.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$87.2 CHF 68.1
$80.0 CHF 62.5
8.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.30 CHF 1.80
$2.12 CHF 1.65
8.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1K CHF 32.1K
$33.8K CHF 26.4K
21.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K CHF 31.3K
$41.3K CHF 32.2K
-2.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 CHF 197
$330 CHF 258
-23.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.27 CHF 28.33
$24.61 CHF 19.22
47.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.4 CHF 45.59
$46.35 CHF 36.20
25.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$87.7 CHF 68.5
$74.6 CHF 58.3
17.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 CHF 39.13
$30.69 CHF 23.97
63.28%
Cinema Ticket
$24.74 CHF 19.32
$20.97 CHF 16.37
17.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,342 CHF 2,610
$1,489 CHF 1,163
124.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.6K CHF 30.1K
$19.2K CHF 15.0K
101.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138 CHF 108
$115 CHF 89.5
20.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1 CHF 47.69
$59.5 CHF 46.45
2.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$148 CHF 116
$122 CHF 95.4
21.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$199 CHF 155
$119 CHF 92.9
67.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,700 CHF 2,109
$1,063 CHF 830
154.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,181 CHF 1,703
$1,049 CHF 820
107.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,895 CHF 3,823
$2,480 CHF 1,937
97.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,804 CHF 2,971
$2,208 CHF 1,725
72.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$25.5K CHF 19.9K
$8,402 CHF 6,562
203.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.3K CHF 12.8K
$6,474 CHF 5,056
152.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zurich
Locarno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,581 CHF 6,702
$7,210 CHF 5,631
19.03%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Locarno: April 12, 2026

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

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