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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,270 per month in Zurich vs $2,830 in Solothurn, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,491 per month in Zurich vs $4,520 in Solothurn, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,712 per month in Zurich vs $6,211 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 220%, Solothurn by 112%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.84 CHF 24.98

$31.23 CHF 25.30

-1.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 CHF 119

$144 CHF 116

2.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.72 CHF 16.78

$21.30 CHF 17.25

-2.72%

Cappuccino

$6.94 CHF 5.63

$6.53 CHF 5.29

6.28%

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

$6.04 CHF 4.89

$5.64 CHF 4.57

7.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.24 CHF 4.25

$5.39 CHF 4.37

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.83 CHF 7.97

$6.88 CHF 5.57

42.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.52 CHF 6.90

$6.34 CHF 5.14

34.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 CHF 1.77

$2.22 CHF 1.80

-1.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 CHF 2.63

$3.26 CHF 2.64

-0.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.12 CHF 3.34

$3.26 CHF 2.64

26.38%

Eggs

$7.26 CHF 5.88

$7.20 CHF 5.84

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.00 CHF 24.30

$30.06 CHF 24.35

-0.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$34.06 CHF 27.59

$31.44 CHF 25.47

8.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.2 CHF 40.64

$39.66 CHF 32.12

26.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 CHF 3.31

$4.16 CHF 3.37

-1.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 CHF 2.35

$2.89 CHF 2.34

0.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 CHF 2.45

$2.99 CHF 2.42

1.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 CHF 4.03

$4.21 CHF 3.41

18.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 CHF 2.23

$1.93 CHF 1.56

42.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 CHF 1.89

$2.01 CHF 1.63

16.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 CHF 2.06

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 CHF 1.39

$1.06 CHF 0.86

62.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.29 CHF 9.15

$11.01 CHF 8.92

2.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.58 CHF 11.00

$9.73 CHF 7.88

39.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 CHF 2.13

$2.61 CHF 2.11

0.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CHF 2.61

$2.40 CHF 1.94

34.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.02 CHF 4.07

$3.66 CHF 2.97

37.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 CHF 86.7

$97.0 CHF 78.6

10.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 CHF 6.33

$7.59 CHF 6.15

2.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.31 CHF 3.49

$4.18 CHF 3.39

3.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.9 CHF 70.4

$75.1 CHF 60.8

15.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.81

$2.33 CHF 1.89

-3.86%

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

$39.7K CHF 32.2K

$37.2K CHF 30.2K

6.68%

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

$39.8K CHF 32.2K

$38.8K CHF 31.5K

2.47%

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

$258 CHF 209

$96.9 CHF 78.5

166.30%

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

$36.31 CHF 29.41

$30.30 CHF 24.54

19.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 CHF 48.11

$59.1 CHF 47.86

0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.5 CHF 72.5

$73.0 CHF 59.2

22.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.1 CHF 40.57

$24.77 CHF 20.06

102.18%

Cinema Ticket

$24.81 CHF 20.10

$25.00 CHF 20.25

-0.76%

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

$3,344 CHF 2,708

$3,422 CHF 2,772

-2.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.1K CHF 31.7K

$19.5K CHF 15.8K

101.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 CHF 112

$140 CHF 113

-1.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 CHF 49.99

$43.89 CHF 35.55

40.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 CHF 119

$99.3 CHF 80.4

48.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$200 CHF 162

$187 CHF 151

7.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 CHF 2,204

$1,278 CHF 1,035

112.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,227 CHF 1,804

$1,083 CHF 877

105.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,054 CHF 4,094

$1,859 CHF 1,506

171.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,797 CHF 3,076

$1,753 CHF 1,420

116.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$27.3K CHF 22.1K

$9,830 CHF 7,962

177.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.4K CHF 13.3K

$4,937 CHF 3,999

232.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,287 CHF 6,713

$6,802 CHF 5,510

21.83%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,721 in Zurich versus $1,278 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 $147 in Zurich versus $144 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $676 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: $4,270 in Zurich, $2,830 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 $6,406 per month in Zurich and $4,244 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 $4,270 in Zurich and $2,830 in Solothurn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 10% 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 $4,270 in Zurich and $2,830 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 $2,830 in Solothurn to $4,270 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.