Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Solothurn Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Solothurn

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,254 per month in Zurich vs $2,824 in Solothurn, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,409 per month in Zurich vs $4,426 in Solothurn, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,563 per month in Zurich vs $6,029 in Solothurn, rent included.

Zurich costs about 51% more than Solothurn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zurich and Solothurn sit above the global median – Zurich by 217%, Solothurn by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.04 CHF 24.47

$30.88 CHF 24.35

0.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 118

$143 CHF 113

4.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.83 CHF 16.42

$20.70 CHF 16.32

0.63%

Cappuccino

$6.72 CHF 5.29

$6.63 CHF 5.23

1.36%

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

$5.90 CHF 4.65

$5.61 CHF 4.42

5.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.35 CHF 4.22

$5.13 CHF 4.04

4.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.85 CHF 7.76

$6.64 CHF 5.24

48.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.82 CHF 6.95

$6.24 CHF 4.92

41.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CHF 1.78

White Bread (500g)

$3.29 CHF 2.60

$3.43 CHF 2.70

-4.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.12 CHF 3.25

$3.39 CHF 2.67

21.53%

Eggs

$7.19 CHF 5.67

$7.47 CHF 5.89

-3.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.88 CHF 23.56

$29.54 CHF 23.29

1.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.59 CHF 26.48

$30.76 CHF 24.25

9.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$49.65 CHF 39.14

$38.99 CHF 30.74

27.34%

Apples (1kg)

$4.04 CHF 3.18

$4.22 CHF 3.33

-4.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 CHF 2.29

$2.90 CHF 2.28

Oranges (1kg)

$3.05 CHF 2.40

$3.12 CHF 2.46

-2.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 CHF 4.13

$4.34 CHF 3.42

20.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 CHF 2.25

$1.93 CHF 1.52

47.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 CHF 1.88

$2.02 CHF 1.59

17.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 CHF 1.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 CHF 1.34

$1.06 CHF 0.84

60.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.96 CHF 8.64

$11.30 CHF 8.91

-3.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 CHF 11.87

$10.27 CHF 8.09

46.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 CHF 2.07

$2.65 CHF 2.09

-1.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CHF 2.55

$2.43 CHF 1.92

32.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.82 CHF 3.80

$3.60 CHF 2.84

33.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 CHF 83.7

$98.1 CHF 77.4

8.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.55 CHF 5.95

$7.67 CHF 6.05

-1.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.15 CHF 3.27

$4.19 CHF 3.30

-0.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$89.1 CHF 70.2

$73.1 CHF 57.6

21.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.29 CHF 1.81

$2.30 CHF 1.82

-0.43%

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

$41.1K CHF 32.4K

$38.3K CHF 30.2K

7.39%

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

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

$37.8K CHF 29.8K

4.13%

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

$259 CHF 204

$100 CHF 78.9

158.50%

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

$35.51 CHF 28.00

$30.95 CHF 24.40

14.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CHF 46.08

$57.8 CHF 45.53

1.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.8 CHF 70.0

$74.0 CHF 58.3

20.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$48.84 CHF 38.50

$24.25 CHF 19.12

101.40%

Cinema Ticket

$25.07 CHF 19.77

$24.39 CHF 19.23

2.79%

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

$3,470 CHF 2,736

$3,424 CHF 2,700

1.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K CHF 30.8K

$19.8K CHF 15.6K

97.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 CHF 108

$140 CHF 111

-2.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.3 CHF 49.13

$42.53 CHF 33.53

46.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$148 CHF 117

$99.3 CHF 78.3

49.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$202 CHF 159

$188 CHF 148

7.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,686 CHF 2,118

$1,265 CHF 997

112.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 CHF 1,738

$1,065 CHF 840

107.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,902 CHF 3,865

$1,854 CHF 1,462

164.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,702 CHF 2,919

$1,755 CHF 1,384

110.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$26.1K CHF 20.6K

$10.3K CHF 8,088

154.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.5K CHF 13.0K

$5,092 CHF 4,014

223.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,722 CHF 6,876

$7,149 CHF 5,636

22.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

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

Last update for Zurich: May 31, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,686 in Zurich versus $1,265 in Solothurn. 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 22% higher in Zurich, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $149 in Zurich versus $143 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $677 vs $604 – making Solothurn 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 Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,254 in Zurich, $2,824 in Solothurn – roughly 51% apart. Zurich costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,382 per month in Zurich and $4,236 in Solothurn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,254 in Zurich and $2,824 in Solothurn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Solothurn. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,254 in Zurich and $2,824 in Solothurn. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Zurich has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,824 in Solothurn to $4,254 in Zurich. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Solothurn. 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.