Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Meilen Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Meilen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,731 per month in Zurich vs $3,432 in Meilen, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,187 per month in Zurich vs $6,009 in Meilen, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,642 per month in Zurich vs $8,587 in Meilen, rent included.

Zurich costs about 38% more than Meilen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zurich and Meilen sit above the global median – Zurich by 244%, Meilen by 150%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$37.35 CHF 30.37

$31.03 CHF 25.22

20.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 121

$122 CHF 99.3

21.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.46 CHF 15.01

$16.91 CHF 13.75

9.17%

Cappuccino

$7.03 CHF 5.72

$6.59 CHF 5.35

6.68%

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

$5.88 CHF 4.78

$5.82 CHF 4.73

1.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.40 CHF 4.39

$5.37 CHF 4.36

0.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.98 CHF 8.11

$8.83 CHF 7.18

13.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.85 CHF 7.19

$8.97 CHF 7.29

-1.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 CHF 1.75

$2.24 CHF 1.82

-3.57%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 CHF 3.30

$3.44 CHF 2.80

18.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 CHF 3.23

$3.99 CHF 3.24

-0.25%

Eggs

$8.69 CHF 7.06

$8.14 CHF 6.62

6.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.65 CHF 22.48

$27.70 CHF 22.52

-0.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.77 CHF 22.58

$26.04 CHF 21.17

6.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$61.1 CHF 49.70

$41.39 CHF 33.65

47.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.08 CHF 3.32

$3.69 CHF 3.00

10.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 CHF 2.38

$2.12 CHF 1.72

37.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.59 CHF 2.92

$2.70 CHF 2.19

32.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 CHF 4.02

$4.65 CHF 3.78

6.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 CHF 2.13

$2.03 CHF 1.65

29.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 CHF 1.87

$2.25 CHF 1.83

2.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CHF 2.11

$2.50 CHF 2.04

4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 CHF 1.05

$1.30 CHF 1.06

-0.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.92 CHF 8.88

$11.11 CHF 9.03

-1.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.57 CHF 11.04

$13.63 CHF 11.08

-0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 CHF 2.35

$2.31 CHF 1.88

25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 CHF 2.55

$2.87 CHF 2.33

9.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.57 CHF 4.53

$4.38 CHF 3.56

27.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 CHF 87.1

$104 CHF 84.2

3.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.13 CHF 6.61

$8.00 CHF 6.50

1.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.82 CHF 3.92

$4.70 CHF 3.82

2.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$92.7 CHF 75.3

$88.6 CHF 72.0

4.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 CHF 1.89

$2.28 CHF 1.85

1.75%

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

$40.2K CHF 32.7K

$40.7K CHF 33.1K

-1.26%

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

$39.8K CHF 32.4K

$41.3K CHF 33.6K

-3.59%

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

$290 CHF 235

$209 CHF 170

38.31%

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

$39.27 CHF 31.93

$39.15 CHF 31.83

0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 CHF 46.78

$67.4 CHF 54.8

-14.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.0 CHF 74.0

$93.6 CHF 76.1

-2.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 CHF 51.7

$46.36 CHF 37.69

37.08%

Cinema Ticket

$25.00 CHF 20.33

$22.36 CHF 18.18

11.81%

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

$3,759 CHF 3,056

$2,888 CHF 2,348

30.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.8K CHF 34.8K

$42.4K CHF 34.4K

1.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$143 CHF 116

$141 CHF 115

1.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.5 CHF 49.18

$60.1 CHF 48.83

0.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$167 CHF 136

$153 CHF 124

9.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$263 CHF 214

$175 CHF 142

49.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,126 CHF 2,542

$1,786 CHF 1,452

75.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,503 CHF 2,035

$1,480 CHF 1,203

69.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,322 CHF 5,140

$2,927 CHF 2,380

116.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,166 CHF 3,387

$4,153 CHF 3,377

0.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.2K CHF 23.0K

$16.7K CHF 13.5K

69.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K CHF 13.3K

$12.7K CHF 10.3K

29.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,301 CHF 6,749

$8,450 CHF 6,870

-1.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.07

1.72

20.35%

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

Last update for Zurich: September 1, 2026

Last update for Meilen: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,126 in Zurich versus $1,786 in Meilen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Meilen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $149 in Zurich versus $122 in Meilen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $681 vs $589 – making Meilen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Meilen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zurich costs about 38% more than Meilen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,096 per month in Zurich and $5,148 in Meilen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Meilen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 3% less in Meilen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,759 per month in Zurich and $2,888 in Meilen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,731 in Zurich and $3,432 in Meilen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Meilen costs $3,432 versus $4,731 in Zurich. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Meilen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zurich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.